Will the ACT and SAT Matter for the Class of 2021???

The UCs and many other colleges have gone test-optional for the coming admission cycle. Will the ACT and SAT matter for the class of 2021?

The short answer is yes. Likely more than ever before.

Before we get to why this is so, let’s cover the basics of what has happened so far—

In response to the cancellation of the March, April, and May standardized exams, many selective colleges, UCs included, have switched to test-optional for the class of 2021.

We view this as a positive development because many low-income students will have restricted access to standardized exams this year in particular due to COVID-19.

So why will ACT and SAT scores play a more important role in admission to selective colleges than ever before?

Follow my logic…

Admissions officers from selective colleges around the country tell us that the top two factors in determining admission to a selective college are GPA and a standardized test score (ACT or SAT).

But the GPAs of students from the class of 2021 will be compromised.

Many schools have switched to pass/fail for the second semester of this school year. Class of 2021 students will be missing the single most important semester of grades in high school — 2nd semester of Junior year. With less reliable information on GPA, a greater focus will shift to standardized test scores.

So while fewer students will apply to UCs with standardized test scores this coming year, those who earn strong ACT and SAT scores will enjoy an even more significant advantage than they otherwise would have in a normal undisturbed admissions cycle.

These students will also enjoy substantial advantages when it comes to scholarships — especially those who have both strong GPAs and strong ACT or SAT scores.

Let’s drill into the UCs a little more deeply. I suspect that students with strong ACT or SAT scores in the class of 2021 will enjoy a particularly strong advantage when applying to the UC system. The recent UC report on the use of ACT and SAT in the admissions process states:

“At UC, test scores are currently better predictors of first-year GPA than high school grade point average.”

It stands to reason that if test scores are better predictors of grades at UCs than high school grades are, then UCs are even more likely to increase their reliance on test scores given the compromised nature of GPAs for the classes of 2021 and 2022.

The report goes on to explain that high school GPA is becoming a less-reliable predictor of academic success in college due to grade inflation:

“(We) found that California high schools vary greatly in grading standards, and that grade inflation is part of why the predictive power of high school GPA has decreased since the last UC study (in 2001).”

So again, if the predictive power of high school grades is decreasing due to grade inflation, the UCs (especially the most selective UCs) are very likely to place more emphasis on ACT and SAT scores in the coming admissions cycle.

In summary, fewer students will apply to UCs and other test-optional colleges with standardized test scores this coming year. However, those who earn strong ACT and SAT scores will enjoy an even more significant advantage than they otherwise would have. Students with strong GPAs plus strong test scores to match will enjoy more choices among selective colleges (and scholarship opportunities) than in any admission cycle in memory.

Live Updates: AP, SAT, ACT updates due to Coronavirus

We continue to deliver one-on-one teaching for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams, as well as mock exams for the SAT, ACT, and AP exams.

Hang in there. We can get through this together. 

Updates on how the coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting college admissions testing:

AP Exams:

• For the 2019–20 exam administration only, students can take a 45-minute online exam at home.

• Students will get to pick one of two dates to take their AP exams. Dates will be announced on April 3, when the College Board also plans to reveal what types of questions will appear for each of the dozens of subjects.

• To be fair to all students the exam will only include topics and skills most AP teachers and students had already covered in class by early March.

• Colleges support this solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they have worked this year to earn.

• Students will be able to take their AP exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option.

• Test security is a concern. The exam questions are designed and administered in ways that prevent cheating; including a range of digital security tools and techniques, including plagiarism detection software, to protect the integrity of the exams.

• For detailed course-specific AP exam information, click here.

• AP Exams this year will not include any multiple-choice questions, only free-response questions adapted for secure testing at home.

• The exam will be “open book” and “open note”. Yes, you can use your notes during the exams.

• AP Exam Schedule

• AP Exam FAQ

IB Exams: IB Exams scheduled from April 30th - May 22nd will be canceled for the 2019-2020 school year. Students will receive their IB diplomas or certificates based solely on their previous course performance.

Standardized Exams for the Class of 2021:

Many colleges have decided to switch to test-optional for the class of 2021. Even though it seems, counter-intuitive, this will likely make ACT and SAT scores more important for the class 2021 than any class in recent memory — read more here.

The ACT:

• Canceled:

  • April 4, 2020

• Not Canceled:

  • June 13, 2020

  • ACT has stated they will add an extra exam on June 20

  • July 18, 2020

  • ACT has stated they will add an extra exam on July 25

  • Sep 12, 2020

The ACT has announced that it will add extra test dates in June and July: https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/04/16/college-board-and-act-announce-plans-continue-testing-fall

Live Updates from ACT: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid-19.html

Note: All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT with instructions for free rescheduling to the June 13 ACT or a future national test date. 

The SAT:

• Canceled:

  • March 14, 2020 (as well as the make-up March 28 2020)

  • May 2, 2020

  • June 6, 2020

• Not Canceled:

  • August 29, 2020

  • September (date to be announced)

  • October 3, 2020

  • November 2, 2020

  • December 7, 2020

Live Updates from College Board: https://pages.collegeboard.org/natural-disasters

Contact Test Prep Gurus to Create a Personalized Plan for the ACT, SAT, or AP Exams

This is going to sound crazy -- but it might be more advantageous to apply to fewer colleges

Contrary to popular belief, students may disadvantage themselves when they apply to too many selective colleges.

The thinking goes like this -- the more top colleges I apply to, the higher my chances of getting into at least one of them!

But surveys with our students prove that this is not a successful strategy. It’s often students who apply to fewer colleges, who are the most successful.

Why?

In short, college admission officers want to see three things in your essays and personal statements—

1. You have a strong sense of who you are and what makes you unique

2. You have a strong sense of the college’s culture, programs, and what makes it unique

3. You have an idea of how you (see item #1) will be a good fit for the college (see item #2) during your four years at the college and in the world after you graduate.

If you apply to too many schools, it will be difficult to understand what makes each one different, let alone articulate in your essays how you will be a good fit at each one of those schools.

What is the right number of schools?

That depends on each student. But it’s safe to say that more than 15 is almost certainly too many (or at least you have better have a compelling reason for doing so)

Typically, students are encouraged to apply to between 6-12 schools, with an even distribution between:

• likely schools (your GPA and SAT or ACT score is above their typical applicant),

• target schools (your GPA and SAT or ACT score is similar to their typical applicant)

• reach schools (your GPA and SAT or ACT score is below their typical applicant)

So how do you determine if you should apply to 2, 3, or 4 each of likely, target, and reach schools?

If you have access to an excellent college counselor, ask him or her what they recommend (if you don’t have one, we will be happy to recommend an honest one to you).

If you don’t have access, ask yourself this simple question — how many essays can you reasonably expect to write to accurately articulate who you are why you want to attend each particular college? 

In the end, don’t obsess over picking the right number of schools to apply to — focus instead on:

• creating a balanced list (an even number of lieklys, targets, and reaches)

• properly researching a wide variety of schools to determine what colleges will be an excellent fit for you

• writing unique, original personal statement essays that articulate your voice

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

How I Learned to Not Hate the ACT

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 easy steps:

1) Complete free mock ACT and SAT exams.

(Learn where your student is scoring today and whether their current scores will help or hold back their applications to their first-choice colleges.)

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

(ACT and SAT scores must be understood in their proper context, taking into account the specific tests, when they were taken, and how they stack up against your student’s goals for college.)

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

(We work with students of all levels. Whether you’re shooting for a perfect score, simply want to be more comfortable with standardized exams, or anywhere in between, Test Prep Gurus is here to help you reach your goals.)

Make a plan to score higher on the SAT and ACT

Step 1: In 10th grade, all students should take the PSAT in October at their high school. Their results will be available in December. They should then take a mock ACT — either through their high school or Test Prep Gurus.

Step 2: Choose between SAT and ACT based on the scores in step 1. No college requires both SAT and ACT. They only want your highest score on one test or the other. No college prefers one exam over the other. As such, it behooves each student figure out which exam best suits their natural strengths, and stick solely to that test. Ideally, this decision should be made near the end of 10th grade. Please note that if your school administers a Pre-ACT during the Fall of 10th grade instead of the PSAT, take both a mock SAT and ACT in the Spring of 10th grade. Our team can help families compare their PSAT and ACT scores to make sure they choose the right path.

Step 3: Choose one of the three prep paths: Standard, Accelerated, or Summers Only.

Standard: Students typically begin preparing for the ACT or SAT in the Fall of 11th grade. They typically take their first official exam in the Spring of 11th grade. This is followed by additional preparation during the Summer prior to 12th grade. They typically take a second official exam in the Fall of 12th grade. They should schedule an additional test date in the Fall of 12th grade as backup.

Accelerated: Some special cases, such a being a highly recruited athlete, require that a student complete their college admissions testing by the end of 11th grade. Some naturally high-scoring students choose to complete all of their testing by the end of 11th grade. This is the accelerated timeline. These students typically begin prep during the Summer prior to 11th grade. They typically take their first official exam in the Fall of 11th grade. This is followed by additional preparation during the 11th grade school year. They typically take a second official exam in the Spring of 11th grade. They should schedule an additional backup test date in the Fall of 12th grade.

Summers Only: Some students prefer to complete all of their test preparation for the SAT or ACT during the Summer so they can completely focus on their test prep without competing demands on their time from school. These students typically begin prep during the Summer prior to 11th grade. They typically take their first official exam in the Fall of 11th grade. This is followed by additional preparation during the Summer prior to 12th grade. They typically take a second official exam in the Fall of 12th grade. They should schedule an additional test date in the Fall of 12th grade as backup.

Additional Notes:

• Early Applications: The September ACT and October SAT will qualify for Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED) applications.

• Subject Tests: It is typically recommended to take subject tests on the May or June SAT exam dates. Take Subject tests that align with your AP courses.

• Super-scoring: After choosing between ACT or SAT, we encourage all students to take at least two official exams to make use of potential super-scoring at various colleges.

Start the three-step process toward your dream college!

Three Steps to Success:

1) Complete a free mock ACT or SAT exam.

(Learn where your student is scoring today and whether their current scores will help or hold back their applications to their first-choice colleges.)

2) Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

(ACT and SAT scores must be understood in their proper context, taking into account the specific tests, when they were taken, and how they stack up against your student’s goals for college.)

3) Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your student’s goals for college and beyond.

(We work with students of all levels. Whether you’re shooting for a perfect score, simply want to be more comfortable with standardized exams, or anywhere in between, Test Prep Gurus is here to help you reach your goals.)

How will the ACT's new "section-retesting" affect students?

Our Chief Guru, Nick Standlea, was recently interviewed by the Scarlet Scroll at Mater Dei High School about how students will be affected by the ACT's decision to allow section re-testing beginning in September 2020. The full interview is below—

Who will be the most impacted by this?

Students will be the most impacted by the changes to the ACT. To recap, the biggest change is that starting next September, ACT is going to allow students to retake individual sections of the exam. In other words, they theoretically won't need to re-take the entire ACT exam to improve their overall score. 

What is your take on the new ACT rules? 

Everything hinges on how colleges decide to interpret individual section retaking. So far, I’m not aware of any colleges coming out and saying that they will accept individual section re-taking on the ACT.

It is very possible that the majority (or all) of selective colleges simply won't consider individual section retakes in the 2020-21 admissions cycle. This is down to the fact that all of the data colleges currently collect on how ACT scores correlate with higher grades in their respective institutions is based on students taking the full exam in one sitting. Individual section retakes will change the fundamental structure of the ACT. As such, any college admissions stats department that knows what it is doing will need to re-test the correlation of individual section scores to students' future GPA at their respective university. Until they have some reliable data that has been proven statistically sound over multiple admissions cycles, I don't see how admission officers can trust scores from individual section retakes.

Do you have other concerns?

I have several—

One, individual section re-taking will only be available at digital testing centers. This is going to be problematic because there will only be a limited number of testing sites that will offer the digital version of the ACT.

Two, it will potentially be challenging for students to switch from the paper based version of the exam to the digital version.

Three, students might be better off re-taking the entire ACT because it’s easier to raise your score on certain sections of ACT than others. Simply re-taking your lowest score might not be the best path to reaching your highest possible composite superscore on the ACT.

Why do you think students should or should not be excited about these new rules? 

Like so many aspects of standardized testing, the answer is, "it depends."

On the one hand, this change could potentially lower the anxiety students feel in the college admissions testing process. Students will feel less pressure on any given day they take the exam because they'll know that they can retake individual sections in the future. Obviously, lowering student anxiety is a positive development.

On the other hand, every time a testing agency changes its exam, there are unintended consequences. For example, virtually all students perform significantly better on individual sections than when they sit for the entire exam (the ACT runs over three and one-half hours). This is especially true for the science section because it's the last part of a very long test. Since nearly everyone performs better on individual sections, it is possible that this change will create unintended pressure on students to test more times than they otherwise would have under the current rules.

In fact, I'm already hearing a lot of chatter from parents about their plans to game the new system by retaking every section of the ACT. If a student takes the full exam once, plus a retake on each section, that's five separate sittings. That type of approach isn't going to minimize testing anxiety or intrusion into students' lives, it's going to increase it. Not to mention that college admissions officers tend not to like anything that looks like a student or family is trying to game the system — so it is highly likely such a strategy will backfire spectacularly.

While we’re on that topic, I want to make sure to emphasize that until we hear directly from colleges on how they plan to interpret individual section re-testing, families should not plan to be able to utilize re-taking individual sections of the ACT.

When will these rules be implemented? 

The new rules come into play beginning with the September 2020 exam.

How do you think it will change the test and the number of people who take it? 

The fundamentals of the test prep process have not changed. Every student should begin with taking a mock SAT and a mock ACT. They should then meet with a professional who can help them interpret the results, choose between SAT and ACT, and create an optimum college admissions testing plan.

Where do you see the ACT’s new rules going into the future? Do you think they’ll be temporary or permanent? 

To sum up, section re-taking on the ACT may or may not actually become a new reality in college admissions testing. Again, everything hinges on how colleges decide to interpret individual section retaking.

So, until we hear directly from the colleges, families should create a prep plan for college admissions testing that is based around taking the entire exam every time.

As soon as we have more concrete details from leading colleges on if and how they plan to use ACT section re-takes, we will make sure to share that information!

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

"I am Excited" -- How to Deal With Pressure Situations

Below you’ll find a trick that many top performers, athletes, and musicians use to perform at their peak under stress. We’ve taught it to hundreds of our 1-on-1 students to help them score higher on the ACT, SAT, APs, and any other tests they take.

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

ACT and SAT Experimental Sections

Both the ACT and SAT contain 20-minute experimental sections. These experimental sections do NOT count toward your score on either the SAT or ACT — they are used to calibrate the difficulty-level of questions for future test-takers.

ACT Details:

Students who take the ACT test will see a 20-minute experimental section as their “5th” section (right after the Science section). The experimental section does NOT count toward your score. Only test-takers who qualify for extra time are exempt from the section. ACT test-takers will encounter the experimental section just after the Science section, but still before their 40-minute essay. Please note that if you are applying to selective colleges, the essay should be considered “required”.

SAT Details:

Some students who take the SAT test will be randomly selected to take a 20-minute experimental section as their “5th” section (just after the Calculator Math section). The experimental section does NOT count toward your score. Only test-takers who qualify for extra time are exempt from the section. Please note that if you are applying to selective colleges, the essay should be considered “required”.

The SAT 'Adversity Score' is Dead!

There is big news in the world of college admissions and standardized testing!

1) The SAT 'Adversity Score' is dead

So, I was recording a video describing the absurdity of the SAT's new adversity score--

Literally, I was in the middle of this sentence, "...as though something as nuanced and complicated as adversity could be boiled down to a single number..." when one of my staff walked in to inform me that the College Board (makers of the SAT) had decided to abandon the ill-advised adversity score.

There are many steps that we can take to address education inequality in America. The College Board's PR stunt to address education inequality with an oversimplified standardized score was not going to help. That the College Board is abandoning the score is good news for students everywhere.

The adversity score will be replaced with "Landscape." This new tool will allow families to see the same information about their high schools and neighborhoods that colleges see. We applaud this added transparency.

I will have more to say on this topic as Landscape is rolled out this admissions season--

2) In 2020 the July test date for the ACT is coming to California

This is good news for Californians who need this test date.

Two things to keep in mind--

*there is little time to prepare for this exam after the end of the school year. For this reason, September will continue to be the optimum official exam for the majority of students who engage in test preparation during the summer.

*you'll want to register early. There will be significantly fewer testing sites available during the summer, so they will quickly fill up.

3) This year the cut-off for California's national merit semi-finalists is 222

It looks like the cut-off for national merit semi-finalists dropped by a point this year in California. Congrats to our students who made the cut! This is a state-by-state competition, so surviving the cut in a high-population state like CA is a huge achievement!!

As always, our team is here to help if you need:

mock ACT or SAT exams

referrals for a private college counselor

1-on-1 instruction to maximize your ACT or SAT scores

Perfect Score!!!

Junior at Orange Lutheran High School works with Test Prep Gurus and earns a perfect score on the ACT!!!!

From the student’s proud mother: "We have some good news to share with you. She earned a perfect 36 on her ACT thanks to your solid training!"

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

College Admissions Cheating Scandal is Alarming and Disgraceful

Nick Standlea weighs in on the college admissions scandal.

Background info: In the largest college admissions scam ever prosecuted, wealthy parents, Hollywood actresses, coaches and a college consultant have been accused of carrying out a nationwide fraud to get students into prestigious universities. The scheme had two major pieces. In the first part, parents allegedly paid a college advisory organization to take tests on behalf of students or to correct their answers. Second, the organization allegedly bribed college coaches to help admit the students into college as recruited athletes, regardless of their abilities. In all, 50 people were charged in the criminal investigation that went by the name "Operation Varsity Blues." Those arrested include two SAT/ACT administrators, one exam proctor, nine coaches at elite schools, one college administrator and 33 parents.

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

5 Tips to Raise Your ACT or SAT Score — for FREE!

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

CEO Nick Standlea Speaks at National Charity League District Event

Nick Standlea MC'd and spoke at the National Charity League District 5 Ticktocker Day of Inspiration. Click below for a snippet from his talk about awareness and how it shapes our experience in life and throughout the process of applying to college, along with clips from other speakers from the day

CEO of Test Prep Gurus, Nick Standlea, offers strategies for reducing anxiety in the college admissions process. This talk was given at the National Charity ...

Nick regularly speaks to high school parents on a range of topics, including:

• SAT vs ACT -- Everything You Need to Know

• Reducing Anxiety in College Admissions and Standardized Testing

• 9 Ways to Teach Growth Mindset

• PSAT and/or Pre-ACT Scoreback Nights

• LDs and Standardized Testing

Nick is a published author and a former Research Associate at the Quality of Life Research Center at Claremont Graduate University - a think tank that studies education, learning, creativity, and motivation. He is also the founder of Test Prep Gurus. He earned a perfect score on the SAT, but is much more proud of Test Prep Gurus students' many successes and achievements. He holds a BA from Pitzer College and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.  Nick is also a member of WACAC and a member of the NACAC Orange County College Fair team.

Past engagements include: UC Berkeley, Pitzer College, Claremont Graduate University, Golden West College, Loyola Marymount University, the Western Association of College Counseling (WACAC), National Association of College Counseling (NACAC) college fairs, A Better Chance foundation, The Orange County Private School Association, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), The Webb Schools, Rosary Academy, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, JSerra Catholic High School, Connelly School for Girls, Fusion Academy, Orange Lutheran High School, New Roads School, Newport Harbor High School, Northwood High School, Capo Valley High School, Santa Monica High School, Sage Hill School, and many others.  

Nick Standlea, CEO, Test Prep Gurus, www.PrepGurus.com

Our Newport Beach Branch is in a sweet, new location :)

We are excited to announce that we have moved our Newport Beach branch to a new location.  We had to move in order to accommodate our growth, and we are very excited about the new upgraded digs! 

23 Corporate Plaza Drive, Suite 150, Newport Beach, CA 92660

(Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/kZzBakCQXbN2) 

We look forward to meeting with you at our new spot!

Thank you,

The TPG Team

2018 PSAT National Merit Cutoff is... 223 (+1 from last year)

We've received a lot of emails lately asking what the PSAT national merit scholarship semi-finalist cutoff score would be for California this year. The results are in. The semi-finalist cutoff is 223. This is an increase of +1 from last year.

This places California among the toughest states in the country to qualify as a national merit scholarship semi-finalist. Due to that fact that semi-finalists are chosen on a state-by-state basis, it is generally much more difficult to qualify as a semi-finalist in states with large populations. In such states, more students take the PSAT exam, which tends to mean more high-scoring students, which pushes up the cut-off scores for said states. 

If you just missed the cutoff this year (one of our students was in tears yesterday with her PSAT score of 222), try not to worry too much. Any score in the neighborhood of 222 is an incredible achievement.  You might have missed the distinction of being a national merit scholar, but on the other hand, we can state with an extremely high level of confidence that you will score very high on your official SAT or ACT exams. Those high scores will undoubtedly open many doors for you in the college admissions process. So whether or not you can add "national merit scholar" to your resume, your future is extremely bright!

Is the ACT curved?

Is the ACT curved?  Yes, but not the same way that a test in your geometry or history class might be. It works like this...

The ACT "curve" is designed to correct for minor fluctuations in the difficulty of the test. In essence, when an exam contains a few more difficult questions, students can actually miss a few more problems to achieve a certain score. Likewise, when an exam contains a few more easy questions, students need to answer more of them correctly to achieve the same score. In this way, there is no advantage to taking a test with easier questions (again, you'd have to answer more of them correctly), and no disadvantage to taking a test with harder questions (because you'd be able to miss a few questions).

Before we look at an example, let's define some terms. A "scaled score" is the one you're most likely familiar with. It's the score for each section that ranges from 1-36.

The scaled score is derived from your "raw score", which is the number of questions answered correctly.

Example: suppose that on the ACT math section, you answer 31 questions correctly out of the 60 total. With a raw score of 31, you might receive any one of three different scaled scores: 19, 20, or 21. The scaled score you receive would be determined by how difficult the exam was.

• For instance, on the April administration of the ACT, you would have received a math score of 19 because the test was a little easier than average. 

• On the June ACT, you would have received a 20 because the June test was close to average. 

• On the December ACT, you would have received a 21 because the December test was harder than average.

Another way to look at it: in order to score a 20 in math, you would need a raw score of 31 on the easier test (April), 30 on the average test (June), and only 29 on the harder test (December).

Please note that the months used in the above example were picked at random. The difficulty of any month's exam is not released to the public ahead of time. A common myth about the ACT curve is that the average test taker should avoid a particular test month if a large group of strong students will be taking the ACT that month, and instead take the test when a large group of weaker students will take the test. The (mistaken) assumption here is that the curve will push down the average student's score in the first situation (large group of strong students) and pull it up in the second situation (large group of weak students). The reality is that the curve is set before the exam is administered because it is based on the difficulty of the questions, not the quality of students taking the test. So even if in a particular month, a large group of strong students all earned perfect 36s, your score would be the same as it would have been if they not taken the test at all. In the same way, a large group of weaker students taking the test will not affect your score.

Bottom line: Take the ACT when it best suits your schedule and you have ample time to concentrate on your preparation for the exam. Don't worry about other students. Their scores will not affect your scores or vice versa. Instead, focus on yourself and what you need to do to reach your scoring potential.  

At Test Prep Gurus we teach students how to raise their ACT and SAT scores so they can reach their goals for college and beyond.

It all starts with 3 steps:

1. Complete mock ACT and SAT exams.

2. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to review your exam results.

3. Create a 1-on-1 test prep plan to reach your goals for college and beyond.

New Table to Translate ACT to SAT Scores, and SAT scores to ACT scores

ACT and SAT have adjusted their concordance table (the chart used for translating scores between the two exams).

The biggest change affects scores on the higher end of the scale (1270 and up on the SAT, 28 and higher on the ACT).

In most instances, the change resulted in a slight downward movement for SAT scores. For example, 1360 on the SAT used to be considered equivalent to 29 on the ACT; on the new table, 1360 is equal to 30. 

Click here to download the new table