Opinions

ACT individual section retakes allow students to improve test scores

Tierney Kugel '22, Paper Arts Editor|October 23, 2019

An American College Testing (ACT) test preparation book. Starting in 2020, students will have the ability to retake any of the four individual sections.

Many high schoolers know the feeling of suffering through a long ACT test session, only to find out weeks later that they scored lower than expected. American College Testing, or the “ACT” is a three hour long test, consisting of four seprate sections, each focusing on a specific subject or skill set. Fortunately, students will no longer have to retake the whole ACT test to improve their scores.

Starting in September 2020, students will be able to retake individual sections of the ACT, as opposed to retaking the whole test. These new changes are beneficial to students and will ultimately lead to higher scores, because students who struggle with testing anxiety or one specific subject can improve with greater ease. They also have the opportunity to genuinely display their knowledge of a subject rather than their stamina for long test sessions.

The ACT already allows students to retake the test and submit their highest scores, but retaking individual sections will save time and allow students to focus on one specific subject. This is extremely beneficial, and students’ test scores will portray their knowledge more accurately.

When a student has more time to prepare and focus on a section, they naturally perform better. Many test takers struggle with one subject, and if they are able to retake the section they find the most difficult, their scores will improve. Section retakes grant students the ability to be tested on their understanding of content, rather than their ability to power through a long and tedious test.

In addition to benefiting their scores without feeling drained, students will be less inclined to cheat on the test if they feel as though they are not at a disadvantage due to anxiety or stress.

Take the college admissions scandal in March of 2019. In this instance, parents and students cheated their way into colleges because the pressure of performing well on a singular test was too great. With decreased pressure, students will be less apt to cheat.

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These new changes are beneficial to students and will ultimately lead to higher scores, because students who struggle with testing anxiety or one specific subject can improve with greater ease.

— Tierney Kugel '22

These changes to ACT are controversial, as some argue that section retakes are a resource only available to wealthier students. Because students will have to pay for these retakes, not everyone will have the ability to utilize them. This leaves those who can not afford the retakes at a disadvantage.

However, section retakes are expected to cost less than a complete retake, which should make them more accessible. Even though they may be costly, these retakes still prove to be beneficial.

Overall, the new retake option is a positive change that students can utilize to achieve the best score possible. The ability to retake individual sections offers an opportunity to improve on a specific subject and skill, as well as provide students with low testing stamina, a chance to succeed.