For almost 50 years, the SAT has played a pivotal role in the college admissions process. The upcoming transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil format to a digital, adaptive SAT marks one of the most significant changes since its inception in 1926. The Class of 2025 will be the first cohort of U.S. students to undergo both the PSAT and SAT in a digital, adaptive format.
Early acceptance rates at these institutions showed a significant advantage over regular decision rates, according to U.S. News data. Though crafting a standout college application can be a time-consuming and stressful process, submitting an application in the fall, well before the typical winter deadline for regular admissions, is possible.Read on to find out more.
In this guide, we will unravel the mysteries surrounding ACT scores, shed light on the factors that determine a “good” score, and provide invaluable insights into achieving your academic aspirations. Whether you’re a student aiming for the Ivy League or contemplating the best approach to standardized testing, this guide will navigate you through the nuances of ACT scores, helping you make informed decisions about your college journey.
Standardized tests play a crucial (albeit often feared) role in the college admissions journey. The significance of exams like the ACT extends beyond admission considerations; they are instrumental in curbing prospective college debt by bolstering the scholarships and financial aid you secure. But what exactly is the ACT, and how can you ready yourself to enhance your score? Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of the ACT, including registration procedures, score computation, and strategies to boost your performance. Continue reading, taking proactive steps to elevate your score and position yourself for the most lucrative job opportunities available to high school students.
Test prep in the summer prior to junior year isn’t for all students, but it’s a good idea for those students who are targeting an early fall test date in their junior year, as well as those who feel that they need extra help in certain subject areas before taking a first test later in their junior year. The first step is to take baseline diagnostic tests for both the SAT and the ACT to determine which test is best for you. Once you have baseline scores, a tutor will work with you to determine an appropriate test date to target as well as to develop a testing plan.
ACT Streamlines Accommodations Eligibility Requirements for Students with IEPs, 504 Plans
ACT, the nonprofit developer of the ACT test, will approve allowable accommodations already included in students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 plans.
Beginning with the 2021-22 testing year, students who already receive accommodations at their school under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act will automatically be eligible to receive the allowable testing accommodations when they register for the ACT with accommodations.
The IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act contain rigorous requirements that public schools must follow in determining who is an eligible student with a disability and what accommodations eligible students need to access their education. This includes what accommodations are needed to access classroom and standardized tests, like the ACT test.
“Students with disabilities already face many barriers in their lives, and we don’t want the accommodations process for taking the ACT to be one of them,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “This policy change simplifies and expedites the process for requesting accommodations, so that students can focus on learning all that they can in school and showing what they know on test day.”
In conjunction with the policy change, ACT is updating its system for requesting accommodations to require less information and documentation to support requests submitted on behalf of students with a current IEP or 504 plan.
“By aligning to a standard that is already applied in schools where the majority of our students with accommodations are learning, we simplify and expedite the process for students, families, and educators,” said ACT Senior Director of Accessibility Katie Featherston.
While this change benefits the majority of students who test with accommodations, ACT will continue to offer accommodations to test-takers who do not have a current IEP or 504 plan. The organization will continue to use the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard to determine whether there is a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity” and whether the requested accommodations are reasonable for the ACT test.
More information about the policy change and process for requesting accommodations can be found here.
VHES offers online mock SAT and ACT tests Saturdays at 9:00 am through Lessonspace, a teaching platform that enables our proctors to oversee virtual exams and gauge students' test readiness. Upon registering for mock tests, students will receive a test packet in the mail that includes the following:
ACT/SAT answer sheet
ACT/SAT test booklet
Testing instructions
Please sign up no later than Monday during the week of the mock test. The day before each test, students will receive an emailed link to join the virtually proctored test.
Upon completion of the test, parents and students receive a 9-page diagnostic report showing how the student is performing in each dimension of the SAT or ACT. This detailed report is used to establish a baseline score, is the basis for test-prep planning, and is instrumental in helping us customize a tutoring program that addresses the most pertinent test sections. For students taking both the ACT and SAT, we also provide a concordance chart with test recommendations. See what our baseline test reports look like: ACT and SAT. There is a $25 test registration fee.
Register for a mock test by clicking on a specific test date below.
Mock ACT test dates:
January 8, 2022
February 5, 2022
March 5, 2022
April 16, 2022
May 21, 2022
Mock SAT test dates:
January 15, 2022
February 19, 2022
March 19, 2022
April 9, 2022
May 14, 2022
Visit our Mock Testing page to learn more.
Learn more about our test prep program.
Find out how an academic coach can help.
Interested in one-to-one tutoring? Contact us to get started.
Time Management
Time management can be a challenge for some students mainly because they overestimate the amount of time they have for a task and underestimate how much time it will take for them to do it. Allowing enough time to get ready for class, study for an exam or complete an assignment can be tricky. The key is to always do what must be done first such as studying, and doing what can wait later on. For example, if you’re getting ready for class, resist checking texts, emails or searching the web. Do those more pleasurable things after the task at hand is completed. This simple strategy reduces a lot of stress that comes with last minute rushing.
Organization:
In order to maintain organization, students should schedule a “clean sweep” session to organize their binders and backpack. Set aside 20-30 minutes weekly. Sunday evening after dinner is a good time as it will help to get organized and plan ahead for the coming week. Program these reoccurring dates into your cell phone as a reminder.
Record assignments on a paper or electronic calendar even if your teachers post them online. Record the final due date and then set self-imposed incremental due dates and associated tasks to get it done. Research indicates that when big tasks like studying for a test are broken down into explicit, manageable chunks, they are more likely to be completed. For example, if a test is coming up on Friday, the student should record tasks like “complete 1-4 review problems on page 23” and “create flashcards for vocab terms”, etc. on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. These specific tasks are far superior to writing down something vague like “study for test”.
Remember, no task you record should be more than 30 minutes. It’s a proven fact that when a task that takes over 30 minutes is on an individual’s “to do” list they are far more likely to procrastinate and avoid it.
For students who are not in the habit of consistently writing down assignments, utilizing an app can really help. - https://myhomeworkapp.com/ and - http://istudentpro.com/
Focus:
Whenever possible, change the homework location from time to time. Some students do better in the hum of a busy area. Those people work well in study groups, at Starbucks, or in a more public area. Others know they must have silence. These students often do better in the library. Regardless, change the location daily. The best place to study is actually outdoors!
In order to resist temptations like texting, put your phone across the room or in another room and leave it there. That way, if you want to check your texts, you have to physically get up and walk over to retrieve it. Many students report that this significantly limits the amount of texting distractions that typically occur. If this is hard for you, set the timer for 20 minutes and work as hard as you can during that time. When the timer goes off, get up, check your messages for one minute, and then get back to work. Set the timer again. A study at Stanford has shown this approach to be highly beneficial for students.
Believe it or not, there’s a direct correlation between the number of windows a student has open at the bottom of the screen and his or her GPA. The more windows, the lower the GPA and the fewer windows, the higher the grade point average. Having too many windows open decreases focus and when individuals are unfocused, they spend less time studying and their memory retrieval is impacted. Reduce the amount of windows open at the bottom of your screen as much as possible.
When students are having a hard time getting started with homework, it’s always a good idea to begin with an easy assignment, followed by a hard one, and then an easy task again. This helps get work completed with less stress. In essence, the student is being rewarded with an easy task after completion of a difficult assignment.
Reading and Studying:
Many students equate reading with studying, but simply reading is not studying because it is too passive. Reading must be interactive or it will not work when preparing for an exam. Active reading strategies include margin notes and highlighting. As reading becomes more challenging, these strategies aid students in comprehending more advanced topics.
Whether you are assigned reading or you want to review text to study for a test, read one section at a time. After you’re done with a passage, go back and highlight the most important information. Studies have shown that the color of the highlighter does not matter; it’s personal preference.
Most importantly, engage in “self talk” at the end of each section or passage. This means that the student should ask his or herself, “What did I just read?” or “What’s important here?” Self talk helps students focus and comprehend better.
Margin notes are another interactive way of studying and are far superior to merely reading the information. In brief sentences or phrases, summarize the main points in the margins of novels or text books. The act of writing improves retention.
If you are reading a text book online or hard copy, try the SCAN pre-reading strategy. Before reading:
S = Survey Headings and Turn Them into Questions
Find each bold heading, and turn it into a question.
C = Capture the Captions and Visuals
Glance at the pictures or diagrams and read each caption.
A = Attack Boldface Words
Now, focus on the bolded terms, quickly reading these words to gain an understanding of the main idea concepts.
N = Note and Read the Chapter Questions
Register for a mock ACT by clicking on a specific test date below.
Mock ACT test dates:
Register for a mock SAT by clicking on a specific test date below. :
Mock SAT test dates:
We also offer one-to-one mock testing at our offices. This consists of a full-length practice test for your child. Tests include: ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. We provide the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, calculator, and pencils.
We can send parents a practice test as well, to administer to their student in-home. We will send out a free practice test packet along with proctoring instructions. Parents must send the answer sheet back to us via email or mail.
ACT and SAT
$25 Registration Fee (1 Mock Test: ACT or SAT) Includes test scores comparison
Mock testing for the ACT and SAT, held in a group setting. Parents will receive a diagnostic score report and phone consultation. View sample student score reports: ACT and SAT.
For the ACT and SAT, we will compare scores in order to determine which test is better for the student to take. See virtual mock test dates above for the 2021-2022 school year.
ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT and SAT Subject Tests
$125 Standard Test (In-office)
$175 Special Accommodations (In-office)
FREE Parent Administration (In-home)
One-to-one testing at our offices or in-home testing proctored by a parent. A perfect fit for students that need to get acclimated to the test format, structure, and timing. This can help to relieve nervousness and anxiety. Parents have the option of administering the test to their child for free. They can also choose to drop their student off at our offices and we will administer the test to the student. Parents will receive a diagnostic score report from our testing software.
4263 Aiken Drive Suite 102, Warrenton, VA 20187
Phone: 540-680-4004 Email: contact@vinthilles.com
Website: www.vinthilles.com
We offer one-to-one in-home test prep which encompasses all subject areas. This is ideal for students looking to achieve the largest score increases. Tutoring sessions are customized based upon the student’s strengths and weaknesses, which are revealed by having the student take one of our practice baseline tests or by submitting official score reports from previous tests. Our 36-hour program includes unlimited full-length practice test reports, unlimited course books, session notes for parents, and weekly homework assignments. Virtual prep is available through Lessonspace. Tutors can also meet students at our offices, local libraries, outdoor parks, or nearby coffee shops. *Our test prep tutors must pass ACT/SAT/SSAT/ISEE/HSPT diagnostic tests before being hired. We hand-pick the best tutor for your child based upon our matching process.
WHEN DETERMINING WHAT makes for a good ACT score, test-takers have to ask another question: "Good enough for whom, exactly?"
Like various other factors on a college application, the criteria for what makes a good test score are largely dependent on what schools want. A good ACT score at one school may fall below the mark at another based on admissions standards set by individual colleges.
"I think it varies considerably, depending on what schools you're targeting, and also what their current position is on testing, which seems to be quite a fluid situation these days," says Jill Madenberg, principal at Madenberg College Consulting in New York.
The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many colleges to go test-optional, meaning students can decide whether to submit ACT and SAT scores. Other colleges have gone test-blind, meaning they won't even look at scores submitted as part of applications. Many colleges made such moves after a string of cancellations by testing companies made it difficult for students to take these standardized exams.
The composite score on the ACT ranges from 1 to 36. The national average composite score was 20.6 for the class of 2020, per recent data from the ACT organization. This number marks a slight dip from the prior year, when the composite score averaged 20.7 for the class of 2019.
The national average may be down, but what ultimately is a good ACT score?
"Quite simply, there's no such thing as a good or bad score," Tony Le, a test prep expert at Magoosh, a California-based online test prep company, wrote in an email. "It's relative to the school that you are applying to & the context of the admissions process. The first place to look is the college's range of scores & you'll want to stay within this range to stay competitive."
But one ACT score that some college counseling professionals point to as the high water mark for selective institutions is a 34.
"We get a lot of students aiming for the Ivy League, and for the Ivies, it's a 34 that seems to be the magic number that students feel will give them their best shot," says Shahar Link, owner and founder of North Carolina-based Mindspire Tutoring and Test Prep.
Madenberg adds that "achieving a 34 or higher will get your application read at pretty much any school in America."
But students can and do get into many schools with much lower scores. After all, testing is only one part of an application, and colleges also consider letters of recommendations, high school GPA and admissions essays, among other factors.
Ultimately, schools' benchmarks vary. The national average ACT score for 2019 reported by nearly 340 ranked National Universities to U.S. News in an annual survey was 25.5.
Regarding ACT scores, experts advise students to look at the 50th percentile of students admitted in the most recent freshman class to know what ACT scores individual colleges value. Scoring in the 50th percentile means a test-taker scored equal to or higher than 50% of his or her peers. Theoretically, the higher the percentile rank the better the odds of admission at that school.
Students can use this benchmark as a rule of thumb, experts say. Being above the 50th percentile is a good sign. Although being below doesn't automatically disqualify students, it may mean that a school is a reach based on their ACT scores. In such cases, students may want to consider not submitting scores if that college is test-optional because submitting scores is unlikely to help their application.
Madenberg encourages students to personalize applications for each college according to where they landed in the 50th percentile range, so that they're sending scores to schools where they hit that target. "You don't have to do the same thing for every college," she says. "If you're applying to eight colleges, you can submit your scores to two or three of them and not the others."
And while many colleges are test-optional, submitting a score can still be worthwhile.
"If you submit a strong score, it's going to help you," Link says. "Or at least it definitely won't hurt you."
Similarly, Le suggests fewer students may take standardized exams as they remain optional at many schools, which means taking a test and submitting a score may offer another data point to evaluate an applicant and may help him or her stand out in the admissions process.
As for test-blind schools, there's no point in sending exam results to institutions that aren't even going to look at them as part of the admissions process or for determining scholarships, experts say.
Performing well on the ACT often starts with taking a practice exam so students can see where they stand and what needs improvement. See the bottom of this page for information on taking a practice test online.
ACT practice tests can be a good way for students to familiarize themselves with the content and can serve as a diagnostic exam. Once students have identified their weak spots, they can work toward improving in those areas.
Test prep and college counseling experts generally encourage students to take the ACT at least twice. Nearly half of the students who take the ACT end up taking the exam more than once and typically improve their score, says Erika Tyler-John, ACT curriculum manager at Magoosh.
"One of the best things you can do to ensure your retake goes well is to learn as much as you can from your first attempt. Did you run out of time on any sections? Were there any question types you struggled with in particular? Did you experience more test anxiety than you do in your practice tests? Use your retake as an opportunity to address the things that impacted you (and your score) most on test day," Tyler-John wrote in an email.
She also encourages students to prioritize learning from their mistakes by investing time in the areas where they struggle.
"A great idea is to try to never make the same mistake twice – so once you make a mistake, dig into it to figure out what you did, why you did it, and how to recognize and fix it in a different problem," Tyler-John says.
In dealing with test anxiety, Madenberg encourages students to recognize that the ACT is just one of many exams they'll likely take in their high school career and to consider it "another day on the job." She also encourages students to recognize that the ACT score is just one of many factors that colleges consider and not a complete picture of an applicant.
"Colleges recognize that a test score is only a few hours of your time on one day," Madenberg says, "and it is not reflective or encompassing – good or bad – of who you are."
Buy Any Test-Prep Package, Get 3 Hours Free
Through Apr 30, 2021
Prep with us for a spring ACT or SAT and receive 3 one-to-one test prep hours for free when you purchase a 12-hour package ($345 value). Please contact us to learn more by clicking the link below.
Contact us to schedule a 20-minute test prep phone consultation. We can also help decide on which test to take, ACT or SAT. After we provide our recommendation, we’ll hand-pick the best tutor for your student. Sessions can be held in-person or virtually through Lessonspace.
We are here to support! As we handle the academics, this gives you time to ensure they are ready for “the world”.
Vint Hill Educational Services offers mock tests for the ACT and SAT. These are taken in a group setting to simulate the testing environment. For the ACT and SAT, we will review the scores to see which test the student is scoring higher on. Since all colleges and universities accept both tests, it's beneficial to know if your child is scoring higher on the ACT or SAT. Check out our ACT versus SAT comparison chart for test differences. Sometimes the difference is like night and day, and for others, it may be a hairline higher on one versus the other. The student won't know which test is better, unless the individual takes one of each. We'll use our score concordance chart in order to make a test recommendation.
Register for a mock ACT by clicking on a specific test date below.
Mock ACT test dates:
Register for a mock SAT by clicking on a specific test date below. :
Mock SAT test dates:
We also offer one-to-one mock testing at our offices. This consists of a full-length practice test for your child. Tests include: ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. We provide the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, calculator, and pencils.
We can send parents a practice test as well, to administer to their student in-home. We will send out a free practice test packet along with proctoring instructions. Parents must send the answer sheet back to us via email or mail.
ACT and SAT
$25 Registration Fee (1 Mock Test: ACT or SAT) Includes test scores comparison
Mock testing for the ACT and SAT, held in a group setting. Parents will receive a diagnostic score report and phone consultation. View sample student score reports: ACT and SAT.
For the ACT and SAT, we will compare scores in order to determine which test is better for the student to take. See virtual mock test dates above for the 2020-2021 school year.
ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT and SAT Subject Tests
$125 Standard Test (In-office)
$175 Special Accommodations (In-office)
FREE Parent Administration (In-home)
One-to-one testing at our offices or in-home testing proctored by a parent. A perfect fit for students that need to get acclimated to the test format, structure, and timing. This can help to relieve nervousness and anxiety. Parents have the option of administering the test to their child for free. They can also choose to drop their student off at our offices and we will administer the test to the student. Parents will receive a diagnostic score report from our testing software. View sample reports: ACT, SAT, SSAT, ISEE, and HSPT. An individual test scores comparison chart is provided for the ACT and SAT.
Private Mock ACT Administration
Private Mock SAT Administration
Private Mock SSAT Administration
Private Mock ISEE Administration
Private Mock HSPT Administration
Private Mock ACT Administration - Extended Time
Private Mock SAT Administration - Extended Time
Private Mock HSPT Administration - Extended Time
For the class of 2021, the College Board has asked colleges to be flexible with students who have not had the opportunity to test, test late, or may have only tested once. In the longer term as the admissions process stabilizes post-covid-19, the College Board will support its higher education members as they transition back to all students having the opportunity to submit scores. Research shows the value of using SAT scores as one part of the admissions process.
You can improve your ability to focus by changing your brain or changing your behavior. And it’s best if you do both. We talk about changing your brain. And the best way to change your behavior is to make sure that anything that might distract you is far away. Simply put, make your environment as boring as possible when trying to focus. Research shows even having a phone in the room can be distracting.
ACT announced recently that it is introducing three new options for students taking its test used in college admissions. The changes would first go into effect for students taking the test in September, 2020.
The ACT and SAT are two competing examinations for college entrance. Most schools will accept either an ACT or an SAT score BUT check with the school you are considering to see what they prefer. We suggest that you take both the ACT and SAT and see which one you score higher on, then concentrate on that test.
You know your scores will impact your college acceptance, and you figure you should probably get started with your preparations. But questions abound. What’s the best way to practice? Does tutoring make sense? How can you bulk up your vocabulary?
Read on for seven helpful tips and strategies that every test-taker should know to prepare for the SAT and ACT exams.
Parents often go into a panic thinking about how to help their children through the college application process.
SAT and ACT prep can be particularly flummoxing for parents, many of whom may not be familiar with the material tested on those exams. (It’s challenging! And it’s probably different from what you remember.)
Stay up-to-date with our newsletter:
Click here to access the parent and tutor login portal
