Why Even One Point Matters on the ACT®
College-bound students know that GPA, class rank, extracurricular activities, and college-credit courses are major determinants in college acceptance. But there is an additional factor that can help students get their choice colleges’ attention: a high ACT® score.
Submitting a solid ACT® score can make a huge difference for students; not only in influencing their acceptance, but also in being considered for additional financial benefits like merit scholarships and awards based on their academic achievement.
ACT® recommends that students take their first ACT® test during their junior year of high school. By doing so, students then have plenty of time to decide whether or not to retake the ACT® their senior year.
It’s important to note that, overall, students who retake the ACT® are able to increase their composite score. This is even more of a reason for students to allot themselves enough time to take and retake the ACT® and give themselves the opportunities to boost their score.
A perfect score on the ACT® is a 36, however, the current average composite ACT® score is a 20.7. What that means is that any score above a 21 is regarded as a great score.
So, then, what’s 1 more point in the grand scheme of things, you ask?
What Raising One Point on the ACT® Actually Looks Like
A single test point on the ACT® can make a massive difference for students - from automatic college admittance and acceptance to reach schools to thousands of dollars in financial aid and scholarships. Regardless of where a student lands on the ACT® score spectrum, an increased composite score - even one increased by 1 point - can still give students an advantage.
Check out these benefits:
Automatic College Admittance - Some colleges and universities offer automatic admittance for students who have an ACT® score of 24 or greater. These schools are also considering students’ GPA and curriculum requirements, however, a student who can display a solid ACT® score is bound to get the attention of these schools.
Acceptance to reach schools - Reach schools are colleges and universities that are more difficult for students to get into. Whether it is due to their prestige or their low acceptance rates (typically between 20-30% of students who apply get in), students really need to bring their A-game when applying to these schools. Depending on the school, an ACT® score of 27 or higher can either open one of these doors to students or get them automatically admitted.
Financial Aid and Scholarships - Students with an ACT® composite score of 24 or greater are in the range in which many colleges and universities offer merit scholarships or monetary awards based on academic achievements.
That said, a 1-point increase on the ACT® can mean the difference between a $1,000 yearly scholarship (or $4,000 over 4 years) and no scholarship at all for college-bound students. That’s a noteworthy difference.
Every school has its own set of requirements for granting financial aid and scholarships. For example, here are two specific cases that demonstrate just how much of a difference an ACT® composite score can make:
Iowa State University: For a composite score of 32 on the ACT®, Iowa State University offers a $3,000 yearly scholarship (or $12,000 over 4 years).
Eastern Michigan University: For a composite score of 25 on the ACT®, Eastern Michigan University’s Presidential scholarship covers full tuition plus room and board for all 4 years (an approx. $100,000 value).
Furthermore, students who submit a solid standardized college admittance test score (ACT® or SAT®), open themselves up to a variety of benefits of which students without are not able to enjoy.
For example, The University of Iowa’s Admissions notes, “students who are admitted with test scores above institutional averages (25.7 ACT®/1230 SAT®) will have more opportunities for merit scholarships compared to students who are admitted without a test score.”
Even more of a reason for tutors to promote the importance of submitting test scores in this “test-optional” era.
Formulating a Plan for Increasing ACT® Scores
An increased composite ACT® score can make a world of a difference to your clients, but how can you go about it? What’s the best course of action to help your students get the most out of their test-prep sessions and set themselves up for success on their next ACT® test?
Well, there are a few different ways to go about increasing their score. Since a composite score is an average of all four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science), the ideal goal for a retake should be to try to gain at least 1 point in each section.
However, each student is different - with unique strengths and weaknesses - so it may make more sense to focus on those strengths and on increasing their score in those sections.
For example, if your client excels in English and Reading, they probably have the best shot at improving their scores in those sections.
A concentrated plan for practice and study will help make the most out of your test-prep time and make all the difference in helping your students to increase their ACT® scores.
Setting Attainable ACT® Goals Can Have a Big Impact on Test-Prep Success
Once you and your client have worked out the best approach to increasing their composite score, you need to set realistic, feasible goals and expectations. These goals can have a huge effect on the outcome of their retake.
Here are some tips for setting achievable ACT® test-prep goals. Goals should be:
Attainable - Make sure that the goals set are realistic growth goals. You don’t want to have your students feeling overwhelmed by overreaching, so be sure that they are comfortable and confident with the goals before you launch your plan.
Focused - Remember that setting these goals provides students with a clear target for their hard work. By establishing clear objectives, test-prep sessions will maintain focus and be productive.
Incremental - Slow and steady wins the race, right? Rather than having eyes solely on the finish line, set smaller goals. Taking small steps toward the end goal will help keep students on track, foster confidence through small successes, and build momentum leading up to the end result. Shorter, formative goals allow tutors to check in more easily with their student’s progress and make minor adjustments along the way.
Clear Choice Prep helps make setting and achieving academic goals simple. With a test-prep curriculum tailored to students’ individual learning goals, tutors can make the most of their test-prep sessions and the time in between to help their students set their track, keep the pace, and ultimately shape the direction of their future.
To see all that Clear Choice’s 100% custom-branded program has to offer, schedule a quick demo and experience for yourself how an individualized, growth-focused approach can transform your business's test-preparation efforts.
