What do you do if you fail the ACT test? The good news is that technically, you cannot fail in the said test. Any score matters, as long as it is at par with the requirements of your chosen colleges. Otherwise, if you do not keep up, then that’s what failing means. Everything about the ACT score is about that which is required by the colleges or universities that you want to enroll in. The score that you have to achieve depends on the standards set by your target college, and that happens to be your passing score. Here are some tips pertaining to what your options are if you fail in the ACT test.

• Take the ACT test again. There’s always a next time of up to 12 tries for the ACT test, although 6 retakes is considered as too much. Retaking the ACT test is a common phenomenon for numerous junior and senior high school students. You’ll have a good chance of improving your score if you do so, especially as data has indicated that 55% of students who retake the ACT increase their ratings. Another benefit of this deed is that you also get to choose from which of among your scores to send to your target colleges. Retest all you can, and choose the best score.

• If you fail in the ACT test, try taking the SAT. Both SAT and ACT scores are credited by a majority of colleges and universities in the United States. If you take these two college admission tests, you will be in a better position to forward your best scores to your chosen schools. If your ACT score is low, consider getting an SAT score. You might ace the latter test than the former. A different set of your skills and knowledge will be tested in the SAT, and it does not contain a Science section. Note as well that the SAT takes longer to accomplish than the ACT.

• Apply to study in a school that will credit your ACT score. Almost all colleges and universities in all the 50 states of the United States accept ACT scores. It is possible that there are schools from among this list that accept low scores in the aforementioned test. With a not-so-catchy score, why not widen your options and enroll in a less competitive college that accepts low ACT scores?

• Consider enrolling in a school that does not require an ACT score. You can, in the meantime, enroll in a community college that accepts students regardless of their ACT score. You can spend your time studying there for a few years and ultimately transfer to a better school. You will skip taking the ACT test by then. Look for prestigious schools that don’t require ACT scores at the same time. There are prominent schools that are not so stringent with their admission test requirements. Such schools that believe that standardized tests are not a true measure of students’ abilities do exist.

These are some of your options if you fail in the ACT test. However, you can avoid the quandary of failing this test if you sufficiently prepare for it in the first place. Be dedicated and committed to an effective ACT test prep program. Even though you can retake the ACT, do not get too complacent. Your best bet still is to take and ace it on the first time, like it’s the only time you’ve got. Passing the ACT with flying colors on your first time presents you with more promising choices and you do away with wasting your precious time and money.

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