Should I Take the ACT Science Section?
For most students, our answer is yes.
Science Is Now Optional
But optional does not necessarily mean you should skip it.
ACT Science is now optional, and the standard ACT Composite is calculated using only English, Math, and Reading. Colleges, however, are allowed to decide for themselves how they use the optional Science score.
That creates an interesting opportunity.
How Some Schools Are Using Science
There is no single policy.
A few examples show why taking the section can still matter.
Science can help the superscore.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville will include Science in its superscore only when doing so raises the student’s score. If Science lowers it, UT leaves it out.
Science “can only help.”
Vanderbilt uses essentially the same approach: Science can be included when it improves the superscore and left out when it does not.
The higher calculation wins.
Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship program calculates the ACT with and without Science and uses whichever result is higher.
So What Should You Do?
Let your college list decide when you have one.
If you already know exactly where you are applying, check each college’s policy.
But if you do not know where you will eventually apply, we recommend taking Science.
You may end up applying somewhere that ignores it.
Or you may end up applying somewhere where that Science score gives you one more chance to raise the number that matters.
See What Science Could Do for You
Want to see how you score on the Science section?
We’d love to have you join us for one of our live-proctored Zoom Mock ACT events. You can see how you score on Science and whether that score might benefit you for admissions or scholarships.
