2024 ACT Scores Are In: Should I Take The Test Again For A Better Outcome?

After taking the ACT many students feel disappointed by their scores and wonder if they can do better. With ACT scores starting to arrive, many juniors find themselves wondering, “Should I take ACT Test again“?

Before making your decision, there are several factors to consider.

First and foremost, review the key reasons you might want to retake the exam:

You’re unsatisfied with your current score and feel it doesn’t accurately reflect your abilities in the tested areas.
The college you’re applying to requires the Writing Test, and you haven’t taken it yet.
You faced a specific issue during the test, such as illness, malfunctioning materials (like a calculator), or misunderstanding certain guidelines.
Your high school grades don’t align with your ACT scores.

The last point is often the hardest to evaluate. Not all straight-A students excel on the ACT, and some students with average or below-average grades may achieve high scores.agree that the ACT exam really only tests your ability to do well on the ACT, not much more.

So, Is retaking the ACT test the right choice?

That said, no student should ever give up. The data from ACT.org, the creators of the exam, show the following:

Students who took the ACT more than once:

57% increased their Composite score on the retest

21% had no change in their Composite score on the retest

22% decreased their Composite score on the retest

The data shows that you have, essentially, an 80% chance of not doing any worse on your next try and a 57% chance of improving.

Simply experiencing the exam will help improve your performance on your next attempt.

When you factor in the potential score improvement from ACT test prep courses, study guides, or online preparation tools, there’s always a compelling reason to consider retaking the exam.

Let me take a moment to say this: Taking the ACT is not a fun activity for any student, nor should it be treated lightly. We always recommend approaching the exam with a focused, strategic plan, rather than taking it just for the sake of it.

The experience can be stressful and tiring. Preparing for the ACT takes time and energy for already sleep deprived students. Don’t simply take it for the heck of it.

To begin with, there are several sources of retired actual exams you can take for practice. Our company provides free practice exams with complimentary scoring services. We generate a six-page diagnostic report, detailing each student’s performance on the different subcategories of the exam.

This type of free service is available in many forms. Taking the exam in the comfort of your home may be a good way to get an initial sense of your score range.

Each time you take the actual exam you should have a specific strategy in mind. Hopefully, you have identified your areas of challenge and taken steps to improve upon them.

The following retesting restrictions apply even if your scores are canceled by you or by ACT:

You can test only once per national, international, or state ACT test date.
You may take the ACT no more than 12 times total, unless you apply for an exception.

The most important thing to remember about the ACT is that it serves a specific purpose: college admission.

The best approach is to proactively identify the universities you plan to apply to, research the score requirements for those schools, and set a clear goal.

There’s no need to aim for a perfect 36 if your target schools only require a 30. Focus on what’s necessary—your time is better spent on other priorities.

Set your goal, work hard to achieve it, and once you do, move on confidently.