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ACT Change Will Allow Students to Retake Individual Sections ACT Change Will Allow Students to Retake Individual Sections
(about 11 hours later)
High schoolers will find it easier next year to submit a high ACT exam score as part of the competitive college admissions process.High schoolers will find it easier next year to submit a high ACT exam score as part of the competitive college admissions process.
Officials at ACT, which makes the exam, said on Tuesday that starting next September, students would be able to retake specific sections rather than the entire test, which lasts about three hours.Officials at ACT, which makes the exam, said on Tuesday that starting next September, students would be able to retake specific sections rather than the entire test, which lasts about three hours.
The change would allow students to avoid getting a worse grade on a section they had scored well on earlier. Although a growing number of colleges and universities have made test scores an optional part of college applications, many high schoolers feel pressure to score highly on the ACT and SAT exams.The change would allow students to avoid getting a worse grade on a section they had scored well on earlier. Although a growing number of colleges and universities have made test scores an optional part of college applications, many high schoolers feel pressure to score highly on the ACT and SAT exams.
And as the changes were announced Tuesday, some parents, student and tutors wondered if they would fan the frenzy over test scores, further disadvantaging students who did not have access to coaching.
There are five subsections on the ACT — reading, math, science, English and writing, which is optional — graded on a scale of 1 to 36. Scores on the four required sections are averaged into a composite score. But a student’s highest composite score may not necessarily include the highest subscores if they were achieved on a test with a lower composite score.There are five subsections on the ACT — reading, math, science, English and writing, which is optional — graded on a scale of 1 to 36. Scores on the four required sections are averaged into a composite score. But a student’s highest composite score may not necessarily include the highest subscores if they were achieved on a test with a lower composite score.
Starting in September, students will get a new “superscore” that combines their highest scores on the subsections from the different times they took the test. Currently, if students who have taken the test more than once want colleges to see their best subscores, they have to send in multiple test results.Starting in September, students will get a new “superscore” that combines their highest scores on the subsections from the different times they took the test. Currently, if students who have taken the test more than once want colleges to see their best subscores, they have to send in multiple test results.
“They might think, ‘Why do I have to sit through and take all these tests again if I only need to improve my math score?” Ed Colby, an ACT spokesman, said. “We’re trying to save them time. We’re trying to save them money.”“They might think, ‘Why do I have to sit through and take all these tests again if I only need to improve my math score?” Ed Colby, an ACT spokesman, said. “We’re trying to save them time. We’re trying to save them money.”
Test experts said that the changes would probably allow many students to up their game. Testing coaches now generally work with students on the entire test. Under the new rules, they would be able to serially work on one subject at a time, trying to boost a student’s score in math, before moving on to English or science, experts said.
But the ability to tweak test results in this way could make test prep even more important than it is now, disadvantaging those who cannot afford it or are not advised to seek it out, said Sally Rubenstone, senior contributor at College Confidential, a college admissions and advice sharing online forum.
“These ‘improvements’ don’t move the admissions process any closer to the destination that I recommend, which is not eliminating tests entirely, but downgrading their importance and allowing only one — or maybe two — test sessions per student,” Ms. Rubenstone said.
“I worry that most of the high-achieving kids in my orbit will retest and retest until they can bump subsections of 33 and 34 up to 35 and 36. So standardized testing will become even more of an extracurricular activity than it already is.”
Akil Bello, a college consultant who specializes in working with under-resourced and underprivileged students, said that while being able to retake individual sections of the test sounded “lovely,” “in the world we live in, it advantages the rich, who have coaches, who have advisers, who are strategically crafting their plan to take them to college.”
Another admissions consultant, Joshua Mauro, of Signet Education Cambridge, Mass., said he thought that super-scoring would primarily benefit the ACT, by inducing students to take it instead of the rival SAT, and colleges, by allowing them to publicly display better test scores.
He said that a number of schools already construct their own superscores, based on the test results that students send them, because “it improves their standing, their metrics.”
But he said that being able to retake individual subsections would be beneficial to students. Just the stress and fatigue of taking a multihour test can reduce scores, so taking just part of it would mitigate that, he said.
“In my experience, students taking individual sections do drastically better than when they sit for the full exam,” Mr. Mauro said. “I see that as a way to reduce anxiety.”
The ACT says its research shows that superscoring is more predictive of how students will perform in their college courses than other scoring methods.
The company also says that ACT scores for students who take individual section tests are consistent with those earned when they take the entire test.
“We are simply offering new ways to take the ACT, saving students time and giving them the ability to focus only on subject areas needing improvement,” the ACT said in a statement announcing the changes.
It is not clear whether colleges would evaluate applicants with the same test score differently if one acquired the score in a single sitting and one had a superscore. Some colleges already do their own superscoring, combining a student’s highest section scores across multiple test dates. But until now, the ACT had not provided an official superscore.It is not clear whether colleges would evaluate applicants with the same test score differently if one acquired the score in a single sitting and one had a superscore. Some colleges already do their own superscoring, combining a student’s highest section scores across multiple test dates. But until now, the ACT had not provided an official superscore.
Students can take the test up to 12 times, though most take it only once or twice. According to the ACT, research shows that students who take the test more than once have slightly higher first-year college grades than those who take the test a single time. The organization’s theory is that those students are motivated to succeed, which translates into better academic performance.Students can take the test up to 12 times, though most take it only once or twice. According to the ACT, research shows that students who take the test more than once have slightly higher first-year college grades than those who take the test a single time. The organization’s theory is that those students are motivated to succeed, which translates into better academic performance.
Taking the whole test costs $52 without the optional writing section, and $68 with it. ACT officials said taking an individual section would be cheaper, but they had not yet decided on a price.Taking the whole test costs $52 without the optional writing section, and $68 with it. ACT officials said taking an individual section would be cheaper, but they had not yet decided on a price.
If the change encourages more students to retake portions of the exam, it may increase revenue for the organization.If the change encourages more students to retake portions of the exam, it may increase revenue for the organization.
Students will also be given the option to take the ACT online, rather than with paper and pencil, on days when it is administered nationwide. The test is now given online only at international test centers and in school districts that administer the test during the school day.Students will also be given the option to take the ACT online, rather than with paper and pencil, on days when it is administered nationwide. The test is now given online only at international test centers and in school districts that administer the test during the school day.
Online results will be available within two business days, rather than the two to eight weeks it takes to get results from the paper-and-pencil tests.Online results will be available within two business days, rather than the two to eight weeks it takes to get results from the paper-and-pencil tests.
“It’s all about what works best for them individually,” Mr. Colby said.“It’s all about what works best for them individually,” Mr. Colby said.
The changes come amid rising doubts about the value of standardized testing and competition for market share between the two dominant test makers, ACT and the College Board, which administers the SAT. About 1.9 million students a year take the ACT, and about 2.1 million take the SAT.The changes come amid rising doubts about the value of standardized testing and competition for market share between the two dominant test makers, ACT and the College Board, which administers the SAT. About 1.9 million students a year take the ACT, and about 2.1 million take the SAT.
Standardized tests have been criticized for score differences among groups of students that correlate with race, family income and education levels of parents. White and Asian-American students perform better than other groups, as do students from higher-income families with educated parents.Standardized tests have been criticized for score differences among groups of students that correlate with race, family income and education levels of parents. White and Asian-American students perform better than other groups, as do students from higher-income families with educated parents.
But after criticism from parents and educators, the College Board recently withdrew its plan to measure student disadvantage with a single number on the SAT, which became known as the adversity score.But after criticism from parents and educators, the College Board recently withdrew its plan to measure student disadvantage with a single number on the SAT, which became known as the adversity score.