ACT policy change may allow easier path to higher scores
On Tuesday, ACT officials announcing major policy changes to the college admission test. Soon, students will be able to retake one section of the test they did poorly on – without having to repeat the entire exam.
The change is one of three the testing company announced. Along with the option to retake an individual section, students will also be able to take the exam online, and combine scores from multiple test sessions into a “superscore” that can be sent to colleges.
The standard ACT exam consists of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 36, and the composite or overall ACT score is the average of a student’s scores for the four sections. Students will still be required to take the complete test with all four sections at once before they can attempt individual sections in a retest.
The three changes will go into effect beginning with the September 2020 ACT test date. Since the adjustments take effect after the admissions season, many seniors who recently submitted their scores to colleges may feel cheated.
Students who opt to take the exam online will also receive their scores sooner, which gives students more time to plan for which colleges they will apply to. Retaking sections will only be available in the online format.
In the past, applicants could self-report their superscore, which combines the best scores on multiple exams, to colleges that accepted superscores. The ACT’s new policy means that the testing company will report the superscores on behalf of applicants, giving the score more legitimacy.
The ACT’s rival is the College Board’s famous SAT exam. Some colleges accept either test, while some require one or the other. Students are usually allowed to send results from both. However, the new policies will mark a large difference between the two exams which may lead colleges to prefer the less forgiving SAT.
The company ACT, Inc. said research suggests superscoring more accurately predicts how students will perform in college courses.
