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Well let us start with some context. Here are my scores. The first set is from December of 2011 and the second set is the scores that I just got. Oh, I'll add October 2011 scores for fun in the third spoiler tag. Fuck chronological order. (For those of you who don't know, every score is out of 36...AND just to get an idea of the test: the questions are pretty easy and basic, but there is a very strict time limit for the test that give you, on average, less than a minute per question.)
+ Show Spoiler [December] +
+ Show Spoiler [April] +
+ Show Spoiler [October] +
So technically, I improved, but I'm still having mixed feelings.
English: My English score dropped by 4 points which really sucks. If it wouldn't have dropped, I would have got my 33 (goal) and I wouldn't have to give the ACT another thought. But, I guess my English score was pretty lucky in December, and I took the 35 for granted. Overall, I'm disappointed that it dropped. The next time I take it though, I will know not to be lazy and consider it the easy portion of the test. I guess this is a valuable learning experience.
Math: I'm going to have to blame my shitty school for this one. Well I know that it is ultimately my fault, but if my school didn't blow ass, I'd have a much easier time. My school does Block scheduling, except we don't really have the classes to support it. This semester, I had no math classes at all. And due to some personal emotional strains, having to take people's shifts at work, and my English teacher deciding to randomly start giving us truck loads of homework, I had absolutely zero motivation to continue to sharpen my math skills. As a result, I became sloppier, forgot some basic stuff, and dropped 1 point. If my school had the teachers (we have a huge lack of supply of teachers) to be able to support more classes, then I might not have this problem since I'd have a math class this semester...or if my school would go back to the 7 classes a day schedule, I wouldn't have this problem. Oh wait, the school is switching next year X_X
Alas, math is a subject that I'll need to start studying again if I want to improve my score. And I'm confident I can. Since summer break is coming up, I won't feel so drained to not study math. And since I just had a spring break, I'm surprisingly out of my "NEED TO PLAY DOTA2 ALL DAY" rage. And since my math score is soooo low at the moment, I have a lot of room to improve. I'll be thankful for that.
Reading: My 34 in reading surprised my, and this score alone is making me happy. My main focus for this particular ACT was to improve my reading score, and perhaps I succeeded too much. To improve my reading score, I followed Sparknote's advice, and I just started to read more. I actually read the class assigned novels without waiting until the last minute, and in between novels, I read Don Quixote (great book by the way) for pleasure. I'm happy I did this because I rediscovered some passion I had for reading...and well look at my freaking reading score!
The lesson I'll take from this score is that I know that I can improve, but I also cannot take this and other scores for granted.
Science: I'm content with my Science score. I'm not focusing on improving it because it is just reading through graphs and stuff. Except they make it 100x harder by throwing in a bunch of scientific jargon to throw you off. But my science score is still 30+, so it isn't holding me back too much. I suppose I'll just need to start doing science practice ACT tests to learn the art of deciphering the scientific jargon. I think my score could've improved more, but I really had to take a piss during the test.
Well that was some rambling that I just wanted to get out. Here is a question I have for you guys. I took a Vyvanse for this test, and I can't really decide if I should use it again. The Vyvanse was peaking during English and Math, but those scores obviously dropped. It also had some effect during the Reading though, and my Reading score soared.
I remember for the December test (I didn't take a Vyvanse for this), I was naturally focused and pumped for the English portion, and sort of for the Math portion. But, my focused dropped tremendously for the Reading and Science portion. (For those of you who don't know, there is a 15 minute break between the Math and Reading part.) So maybe this "break" is making me lose my focus due to socializing with my friends and my general want to go home. So maybe I should take a Vyvanse right after the Math portion at the start of the break? The 15 minutes will allow it to kick in very slighly, and it'll be in full force in the middle of the Reading test, and the entirety of the Science test. It would help a good deal for the Science test too it seems. I usually just have feelings of wanting to GTFO by the time the science test comes around.
Anyways, thanks to all of you who read this, and I hope my 1 AM writing skills aren't completely terrible. And here's to June 9th, the next test date! 
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I remember the ACT! Only took it once and was too lazy to re-try. Did really well in everything but bombed English which brought my score down a bit. Fucking commas.
I remember the science section... That was so fun/crazy. It's like.. ton of information that you can ignore, find the one chart/graph you need, and move on asap because you're short on time.
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Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32?
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I mean, a 32 isn't bad per se. If you're on vyvanse, take it. If not, do not. It's illegal/against ACT rules. Also, generally your best score is on second, and it goes downhill from there. You can certainly improve, but according to a couple college counselors I know, that it the general trend.
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I scored a 33 the first time I took the ACT about 4 years ago.
I took it a second time and got a 31, decided I was done. No need to try any harder.
I'm attending the University of Michigan Honors Program, and was waitlisted at Harvard. I had a 4.13 weighted, 3.973 unweighted GPA in High School, if that helps you any.
I think a 33 is pretty well into the 99th percentile range.. after that anything more is just padding.
Note: This is not a brag post, I'm not bragging about my sweet statistics as a high schooler. Just giving the OP some information to relate.
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On April 30 2012 15:25 Alacast wrote:
Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32?
I'm not trying to get into a high tier school, but according to this "Available Scholarships" flyer from ULL, getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship. That's what I get from it anyway; I'm not looking deep into the scholarship application process yet.
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On April 30 2012 20:17 Whole wrote:Show nested quote +On April 30 2012 15:25 Alacast wrote:
Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32? I'm not trying to get into a high tier school, but according to this "Available Scholarships" flyer from ULL, getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship. That's what I get from it anyway; I'm not looking deep into the scholarship application process yet.
... Whaaaaat... 
I got a 34 and my school didn't give me shit...
I should've gone to ULL it seems.
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On May 01 2012 00:24 UmiNotsuki wrote:Show nested quote +On April 30 2012 20:17 Whole wrote:On April 30 2012 15:25 Alacast wrote:
Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32? I'm not trying to get into a high tier school, but according to this "Available Scholarships" flyer from ULL, getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship. That's what I get from it anyway; I'm not looking deep into the scholarship application process yet. ... Whaaaaat... I got a 34 and my school didn't give me shit... I should've gone to ULL it seems.
Lol same. Got a 35 and didn't get any academic merit scholarships. Fucking jealous (although I know nothing about ULL)
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On April 30 2012 20:17 Whole wrote:
getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship.
Ridiculous. As if the test meant something
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I had a friend who got a 34, but because his GPA was relatively low, some admissions officers saw that and thought it meant that he was not applying himself towards school. According to him, his high score was detrimental, and it would have been better if he had gotten a lower score.
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On May 01 2012 01:13 Bagration wrote:
I had a friend who got a 34, but because his GPA was relatively low, some admissions officers saw that and thought it meant that he was not applying himself towards school. According to him, his high score was detrimental, and it would have been better if he had gotten a lower score.
I had friends who thought this exact thing so wrote their essay entirely about how they were applying themselves or were in the midst of personal issues or "finding themselves" or whatever. Obviously can't say how successful it was cause I can't talk to their admissions officers but idk.
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Well, I also need to have a 3.0 GPA, but I'm good in school (4.0), so it doesn't bother me. Not saying that it means much since my school is sub-par.
On May 01 2012 01:01 DystopiaX wrote:Show nested quote +On May 01 2012 00:24 UmiNotsuki wrote:On April 30 2012 20:17 Whole wrote:On April 30 2012 15:25 Alacast wrote:
Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32? I'm not trying to get into a high tier school, but according to this "Available Scholarships" flyer from ULL, getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship. That's what I get from it anyway; I'm not looking deep into the scholarship application process yet. ... Whaaaaat... I got a 34 and my school didn't give me shit... I should've gone to ULL it seems. Lol same. Got a 35 and didn't get any academic merit scholarships. Fucking jealous (although I know nothing about ULL)
That's crazy though. What state do you live in because I know the ACT is only really used in the South and Midwest.  And ULL is just some public university in Lafayette, Louisiana...nothing that special.
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Damn. I really bombed the english and math sections, 29 and 28 respectively. I've slept through so much of high school so far. I got 32 on my first and only attempt. if I really apply myself senior year, could I make myself desirable from higher tier colleges?
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On May 01 2012 05:03 MattBarry wrote:
Damn. I really bombed the english and math sections, 29 and 28 respectively. I've slept through so much of high school so far. I got 32 on my first and only attempt. if I really apply myself senior year, could I make myself desirable from higher tier colleges?
From what I remember, a 32 is a good score. If you have a decent GPA (3.5+) and some volunteering / extracurriculars and leadership, I'd say you have a shot at some higher tier universities.
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On May 01 2012 04:56 Whole wrote:Well, I also need to have a 3.0 GPA, but I'm good in school (4.0), so it doesn't bother me. Not saying that it means much since my school is sub-par. Show nested quote +On May 01 2012 01:01 DystopiaX wrote:On May 01 2012 00:24 UmiNotsuki wrote:On April 30 2012 20:17 Whole wrote:On April 30 2012 15:25 Alacast wrote:
Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32? I'm not trying to get into a high tier school, but according to this "Available Scholarships" flyer from ULL, getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship. That's what I get from it anyway; I'm not looking deep into the scholarship application process yet. ... Whaaaaat... I got a 34 and my school didn't give me shit... I should've gone to ULL it seems. Lol same. Got a 35 and didn't get any academic merit scholarships. Fucking jealous (although I know nothing about ULL) That's crazy though. What state do you live in because I know the ACT is only really used in the South and Midwest. And ULL is just some public university in Lafayette, Louisiana...nothing that special.
From Illinois but I go to college in Boston. From my experience (applied to schools all over, midwest, west and east coasts) most everyone will take ACT scores at this point, the test just isn't commonly administered anywhere other than the regions you mentioned. There was like one school (forget where) that didn't accept them but the ACT-SAT conversion is easy to do and pretty much universally accepted anyways, which was especially good for me because the conversion was very favorable (35=miss 2 questions, convert that % or whatever to SAT and it was an amazing score). Ended up not applying there so I forget what school it was/what SAT score it ended up being but yeah.
edit- For what it's worth the school I go to now is notorious for not giving out many academic scholarships, most of the other schools I applied to gave me something. I got far more financial aid where I am for some reason, and that + actual tuition costs meant that it ended up cheaper to go where I go now despite the lack of academic scholarships.
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For a shot at a full ride I'd keep on retakin @.@
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On May 01 2012 05:18 DystopiaX wrote:Show nested quote +On May 01 2012 04:56 Whole wrote:Well, I also need to have a 3.0 GPA, but I'm good in school (4.0), so it doesn't bother me. Not saying that it means much since my school is sub-par. On May 01 2012 01:01 DystopiaX wrote:On May 01 2012 00:24 UmiNotsuki wrote:On April 30 2012 20:17 Whole wrote:On April 30 2012 15:25 Alacast wrote:
Where are you trying to apply that you need better than a 32? I'm not trying to get into a high tier school, but according to this "Available Scholarships" flyer from ULL, getting a 33 guarantees a full paid scholarship. That's what I get from it anyway; I'm not looking deep into the scholarship application process yet. ... Whaaaaat... I got a 34 and my school didn't give me shit... I should've gone to ULL it seems. Lol same. Got a 35 and didn't get any academic merit scholarships. Fucking jealous (although I know nothing about ULL) That's crazy though. What state do you live in because I know the ACT is only really used in the South and Midwest. And ULL is just some public university in Lafayette, Louisiana...nothing that special. edit- For what it's worth the school I go to now is notorious for not giving out many academic scholarships, most of the other schools I applied to gave me something. I got far more financial aid where I am for some reason, and that + actual tuition costs meant that it ended up cheaper to go where I go now despite the lack of academic scholarships.
Oh, you made it seem like the school just denied specifically your application for whatever reason lol
On May 01 2012 07:24 Froadac wrote:
For a shot at a full ride I'd keep on retakin @.@
yea, that's the plan. I'll actually prepare this time, and I think it'll be enough to boost me up one point. I hope at least
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