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What to do with a bad ACT score and how to remove colleges from seeing it?
This was my first time taking the ACT and I was unprepared and did not study well. My score has been sent to my dream UC and I regret it so much. What should I do?
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Kim’s Answer
Vicky,
There is no substitution for being well-prepared. This includes academically as well as physically and mentally. Sleep, diet, and exercise all play a role. So, when you re-take it, be sure to be totally well-prepared.
Also, unless things have changed, the ACT does not penalize you for wrong answers. That means, do not leave ANY questions blank. My strategy for taking such a test is as follows.
1. Walk into the room knowing there WILL be things on the test I have never seen before in my life. There will be questions I don't know. Accept it. Don't stress over it.
2. Walk into the room with a letter in my head. Today, I choose B. For every question I flatly cannot figure out, I will mark "B' and move on.
3. Try to narrow the question down. Perhaps it is A or C? Perhaps A or B? Since there are multiple possible scenarios, in this case I always decide to just choose the letter furthest to the left. And move on.
4. Prior to running out of time (watch the clock!) quickly mark all remaining questions with whatever letter you chose in step 2.
Logic: if you have 10 questions that you mark with the same answer, 2 or 3 will likely be correct. If you have 10 questions marked with random answers, perhaps A,B,C,D, A, B,C,D, A, B - you run the risk of missing them all. I worked with a student taking the military ASVAB. He applied my strategy and increased his score so much they made him re-test and fingerprinted him for ID purposes!
I don't know how to remove a score from a school. I think Michelle covered that pretty well.
Best of luck!
Kim
There is no substitution for being well-prepared. This includes academically as well as physically and mentally. Sleep, diet, and exercise all play a role. So, when you re-take it, be sure to be totally well-prepared.
Also, unless things have changed, the ACT does not penalize you for wrong answers. That means, do not leave ANY questions blank. My strategy for taking such a test is as follows.
1. Walk into the room knowing there WILL be things on the test I have never seen before in my life. There will be questions I don't know. Accept it. Don't stress over it.
2. Walk into the room with a letter in my head. Today, I choose B. For every question I flatly cannot figure out, I will mark "B' and move on.
3. Try to narrow the question down. Perhaps it is A or C? Perhaps A or B? Since there are multiple possible scenarios, in this case I always decide to just choose the letter furthest to the left. And move on.
4. Prior to running out of time (watch the clock!) quickly mark all remaining questions with whatever letter you chose in step 2.
Logic: if you have 10 questions that you mark with the same answer, 2 or 3 will likely be correct. If you have 10 questions marked with random answers, perhaps A,B,C,D, A, B,C,D, A, B - you run the risk of missing them all. I worked with a student taking the military ASVAB. He applied my strategy and increased his score so much they made him re-test and fingerprinted him for ID purposes!
I don't know how to remove a score from a school. I think Michelle covered that pretty well.
Best of luck!
Kim
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
Hello!
I agree with the above answers, but I also did a bit of searching on admission requirements for UC. It appears standardized test scores are not required for admission, as of 2020. So you may be able to reach out directly to UC to have the score removed or not considered as a part of your application (if you have already applied).
For any schools you have had your test scores sent to, go review their admission requirements. See if the ACT is a requirement! If it is, I recommend retesting and sending the scores again after you know the score. This should replace the score you've already had sent.
I agree with the above answers, but I also did a bit of searching on admission requirements for UC. It appears standardized test scores are not required for admission, as of 2020. So you may be able to reach out directly to UC to have the score removed or not considered as a part of your application (if you have already applied).
For any schools you have had your test scores sent to, go review their admission requirements. See if the ACT is a requirement! If it is, I recommend retesting and sending the scores again after you know the score. This should replace the score you've already had sent.