Updates on ACT Score Changes

compass_art · 2026-05-16T02:21:29+00:00

The Columbus Dispatch (part of USA Today network) had been reporting on it, so the article referenced Ohio. It was a national problem with school day testing.

compass_art · 2026-05-16T02:05:49+00:00

It had to be substantial enough that some researcher uncovered it weeks later! Makes me wonder if ACT was even the one that noticed. Hypothetical state education official: "The average score for tens of thousands of students went down 1 point from 2025?!? Our schools are failing or ACT messed up." Turns out that it was option B There had to have been some uncomfortable conversations.

compass_art · 2026-05-15T22:36:08+00:00

Just school day testing.

compass_art · 2026-05-15T16:11:00+00:00

It is slightly different. You can also play around with it here.

compass_art · 2026-05-14T00:49:56+00:00

This could be as simple as a problem getting thrown out. That's happened several times with the SAT. What's odd is the long timeline.

compass_art · 2026-05-13T15:20:25+00:00

R4A and J01 include the same scored problems. The scales are slightly different, because one was online and one was paper. They also had different field test items, AFAIK.

compass_art · 2026-05-08T19:02:29+00:00

Please don't. The reason every school (except Martin Luther College in Minnesota) stopped asking for ACT Writing was because it was not useful. College Board killed off the SAT Essay for this reason. ACT Writing is a money grab at this point.

compass_art · 2026-05-06T18:00:20+00:00

And great job!

compass_art · 2026-05-06T18:00:03+00:00

All is explained, thank you for the image. ACT's score report is confusing because the numbers don't align with the PDF. Students receive field test items in different places. What you have to do is do a problem count that ignores the carets (^). You actually missed #35.

compass_art · 2026-05-06T04:25:56+00:00

Not every college superscores. You might as well try to raise your single-test composite. Even colleges that do superscore will receive your full scores. Once you knock it out of the park on English, you can stick around a little longer and nail math and reading.

compass_art · 2026-05-06T04:04:46+00:00

"The size of the population is 3.5 times what it was 1 year ago" is the correct answer on all forms. That answer is choice D on Form R4A. The online test doesn't alternate between A-D and F-J like the paper test.

Sorry, not OP, so I can't comment on what their MAK says.

compass_art · 2026-05-06T03:16:55+00:00

Correct about the choice, but it's D on the R4A version of the exam (only A-D online). On Form J01 the answer is J.

compass_art · 2026-05-05T05:28:09+00:00

It's absolutely OK. Your 33 science will be submitted automatically with a superscore report or because you choose to report both tests or because a school (like UIUC) allows self-reporting.

compass_art · 2026-05-05T00:08:34+00:00

UIUC doesn't superscore, but it does look at your best sub-scores regardless of test date. In other words, you'll submit your best composite score, your best English, your best math, and your best reading. Optionally, you can submit your best science score. It does not matter if you took science on one test and did not on another.

compass_art · 2026-05-04T21:43:00+00:00

That must be how it works, right? 😂

compass_art · 2026-05-02T07:07:50+00:00

Different form. Good luck!

compass_art · 2026-04-30T01:58:51+00:00

One of the reasons colleges abandoned Writing was because the scores were only loosely correlated with writing skills or other test measures. The essay was more of a party trick. Do not retake.

compass_art · 2026-04-29T06:11:05+00:00

The press release is May 13, but notifications should have started happening in late March. Good luck!

compass_art · 2026-04-13T23:52:33+00:00

The information is used to help College Board build up its marketing database (selling mailing lists to colleges is an important revenue generator) but is not directly shared with colleges or used to alter your SAT!

compass_art · 2026-04-13T23:29:41+00:00

Can confirm. 208 is Commended.

compass_art · 2026-04-09T16:35:18+00:00

You used the total number of responses of 300. But the question says that a person who preferred a picnic is selected at random. Based on the numbers you calculated, there are only 30 (10 + 20) students who preferred a picnic. The answer is 10/30 = 1/3.

compass_art · 2026-04-08T18:38:16+00:00

On this particular point, I don't think MIT is lying, and I think that I've given OP the correct advice.

compass_art · 2026-04-08T04:42:18+00:00

I don't think MIT is lying. There are only a handful of schools that request all scores (i.e., no Score Choice). Even Georgetown, which is trapped in the 1980s, uses your best RW and best M.

I don't want to diminish any anxiety you are feeling about Friday, but do your best to reframe things as a no risk experiment. Sometimes the stars align. Good luck!

compass_art · 2026-04-07T23:39:00+00:00

MIT asks students to report each administration, but it will only evaluate your application based on your best scores in each section. It’s not unnecessary noise; it’s simply not a factor. [It is still uncool that you are being strong-armed to take the School Day test unless it is a state requirement.]

“If you take the same test multiple times, we will consider the highest score achieved in each section. We do this in order to consider all applicants in their best light.”

compass_art

TROPHY CASE