can you retake the act

OK, so you've gotten your Deed score report and you're unhappy with your ACT score—now you're wondering, "Can you retake the Human activity?" Or maybe you haven't taken the Deed test, simply are already worried near whatever score y'all'll earn during your initial go-effectually, and are hoping to take the pressure off with the possibility of a retake.

Well, breathe easy: the answer is yes, you tin retake the Human activity.

But a better question is, should you? There are a lot of things to consider earlier you make a programme to retake the Act.

The All-time Reason to Retake the Human action: Score Improvement

Taking the Act even once requires an investment of time, coin, and effort. Why bother going through it all again? The reason most people give is that they want to improve their Human activity score, but just how realistic an aspiration is that?

It'south a pretty safe bet, as it turns out. In a 2016 ACT Policy Briefing, researchers closely examined the phenomenon of "multiple testers" and reached the conclusion that for the sizable minority of students (between xl-45%) who took the Deed more than one time, their average blended scores were most 3 points higher. Moreover, there was a slight but articulate tendency among re-testers: with each additional time a student took the ACT again, their boilerplate score increased.

Here at Piqosity, we take data analysis seriously, and whenever nosotros're examining statistics (particularly about test results), we always remind our readers: don't confuse correlation with causation. In this case, what that ways is that non every student who takes the Act for a second, third, fourth, or even tenth fourth dimension is guaranteed a high score. It's important to remember that in most cases, students who retake the Human activity also spend extra time studying for their retest. Their comeback is thus partially attributable to their increased preparation.

It's also important to note that while taking the Human activity over and again volition most likely improve your scores, this doesn't mean that somewhen yous volition accomplish a perfect score. Recollect that statistic from earlier, most how students saw an average of a 3-point improvement? If you lot had earned a 20 the beginning time around, the odds of your and then achieving above a 23 are worse-than-average (and the odds of getting a perfect 36 are very slim indeed).

So while at that place'due south a articulate statistical advantage to retesting, and while in most cases we recommend it, it'southward not a "magic bullet" and at that place are always other considerations to keep in listen. Adjacent, we will break down five important things to consider before diving into the ACT a 2d, 3rd, or fourth time.

ane. Understand Your ACT Score

Now that you know the respond to "tin can y'all retake the ACT?" is "yeah," it's time to reverberate on what you are hoping to accomplish with a retake. In club to practise that, you will offset demand to make sure you fully sympathize your Act score and what it means for you and your goals.

Generally, the beginning affair people want to know is, "What is a Proficient ACT Score?" While you might think the answer is a perfect composite score (36) or close to it, the reply is actually much more complex, as nosotros explore in the linked commodity.

Note: Your Act Student Report includes many metrics other than your Composite Score, all of which are described in the linked article. For the purposes of this article, when we refer to an "Act Score," we mean the Blended Score metric.

One major function of these standardized tests is to bear witness to colleges of your choice that your academic strengths are above average. For example: in 2021, the average composite Deed score was 20.iii. For many students, earning in a higher place this number meant they attained a "good" score.

However, there are other aspects to retaking the Act that y'all must take into consideration equally well, most chiefly how your electric current ACT score fits into your larger postsecondary instruction goals.

two. Does Your Current Human action Score Align With Your Goals?

Do you lot program to attend college? Are y'all setting your sights on an Ivy League school? Earlier deciding to retake the Human action, y'all need to decide if your current score is in line with your goals. For case, if you're not planning on going to higher, you may have simply taken the ACT because your state required it for high school graduation. If this is the case for you, you don't need to retake the Act.

But, if you do hope to get into a higher, you may want to consider retaking your Human activity. This is because your choice schoolhouse may favor applicants that achieve a certain score or higher. For example, to get into Harvard, you should aim for a considerably college-than-average ACT score, say, between 33 and 35. For a smaller or less competitive schoolhouse, similar the University of Houston, you can aim a bit lower, say for a score betwixt 22 and 27.

Note: both of these schools, similar many others, are currently "test optional." This ways that neither school requires you to send in any Deed (or Saturday) scores at all. That doesn't mean information technology'due south a bad idea to send in scores, though: on the contrary, doing so will simply assist your application.

Finally, regardless of where you are hoping to nourish college, you may be hoping to gain more scholarship money. Higher ACT scores are frequently a criteria for certain kinds of financial aid. If this is one of your goals, retaking might be your all-time bet, merely to see if you lot can get an extra boost financially.

In summary, inquire yourself the question higher up: Does my Act score align with my goals for afterwards high school? If your answer pushes you to retake the ACT, hither are a few more things to consider.

3. How Many Times Tin Y'all Retake the Human activity?

You can accept the unabridged ACT up to TWELVE times (in other words, you tin can retake it eleven times afterward your initial testing). Many students accept it at least ane extra fourth dimension, if not a 2d—in 2020, just over xl% of students took the ACT more than than once.

You may have heard that if you cull to retake the Act, you accept the option to simply retake certain sections. While this was indeed a proposal, plans to implement section retests are currently postponed. This means that if you are planning on retaking the Human activity, yous volition need to take the whole exam again, not just one or two sections.

Simply while the ACT section retake is not currently available, some other perk nevertheless is: the ACT superscore! If you take the Act more than than once, you have the selection of receiving a superscore based on the highest scores you lot have attained on each section of the test. For instance, if on your retake y'all score better in the English and Science sections, but not Math and Reading, only the college-scoring sections will be used to summate your new superscore.

You might experience tempted to take the Deed over and over over again until your superscore is soaring. Merely it'due south important to notation that it's however upward to individual colleges whether they consider scores on a superscore basis or not. Remember that nearly colleges would consider a very high one-time composite score to be more than impressive than the same score achieved through superscoring.

Additionally, earlier committing to all of those retakes, information technology's important to consider your fourth dimension and financial commitments equally well.

4. Does Taking the ACT Again Piece of work With Your Schedule?

For every ACT retake you do, that's an afternoon of time lost. Moreover, each test requires dozens of hours of grooming. Practise yous have the fourth dimension to commit to such a feat? For many, it may exist difficult to take the ACT more than once or twice, simply due to the time commitment. If this sounds similar you, that's okay. Cull the ACT retake option that works best for you and your state of affairs.

Take a look at Human action test dates  to see if you have multiple days and times available. If you exercise, plan ahead and continue those days free of work and social commitments.

5. How Much Does information technology Cost to Retake the ACT?

Taking the ACT once again is as well a financial delivery. Each ACT without Writing section is $60, and the Human activity with Writing is $85. If you took the full ACT three times, for case, you would be out $255 in test fees alone. (Although unlikely, if you accept the full ACT all twelve times, that'southward $i,020 in test fees!) And remember, this doesn't include the cost of test prep materials, whatsoever additional fees, and travel expenses to and from your multiple tests. For some students, multiple retakes is not a very financially prudent strategy.

Regardless of how many times you are planning to have the Deed, you may qualify for an ACT fee waiver: if you qualify, you lot may be able to take the ACT upwards to four times completely Complimentary! To see if you might authorize, and for up-to-engagement information on fees, check out our post nearly Deed Costs & Fee Waivers.

Prepare for Your Act Retakes with Piqosity!

So, tin can y'all retake the ACT? You sure can, just information technology might not be the right answer for you. Remember about your goals, and if y'all have the time and finances to commit to such a venture. And remember, while retaking the ACT is often a good idea, it doesn't guarantee that y'all will score higher—especially if y'all do non set up.

So if you are going to accept the Deed again, nosotros'd recommend taking some time to carefully consider how to better your Human action score. Spoiler alert: it's all most training! And when it comes to online ACT examination prep, Piqosity has you lot covered, with ACT exercise tests with answers and explanations to assist get you ready for exam solar day.

Piqosity's Reasonably Priced ACT Test Prep Packages Include:

  • Upward to 10 Total ACT Exercise Tests
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When you sign upward for Piqosity, you take access to our exam prep materials for 365 days. So, no thing how many times you take the test, you volition accept the resources of Piqosity on your side. Don't hesitate, bring together Piqosity for free today!

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