# Is 33.5 on the ACT the same as a 34? Colleges and ACT score rounding **URL:** \ **Category:** Answers\ **Tags:** scorereports, act-scores, act\ **Created:** [November 30, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/is-33-5-on-the-act-the-same-as-a-34-colleges-and-act-score-rounding/7367 "2015-11-30T12:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fred\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/b487fb/32.png) [@Fred\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Fred_PrepScholar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/is-33-5-on-the-act-the-same-as-a-34-colleges-and-act-score-rounding/7367/1 "2015-11-30T12:05:05Z")
On the ACT, I got a 33 on English, 31 on Math, 34 on Reading, and 36 on Science. The exact average is a 33.5, but on my score report it's rounded up to a 34. Can the colleges tell that my actual score was a 33.5? ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/b487fb/32.png) [@Fred\_PrepScholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Fred_PrepScholar)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 12:11pm UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/is-33-5-on-the-act-the-same-as-a-34-colleges-and-act-score-rounding/7367/2 "2015-11-30T12:11:35Z")
**Yes, colleges can definitely distinguish between a 33.5 and 34 on the ACT and generally any exact fractional score**. This is simply because colleges get your section-by-section breakdown and can calculate the average themselves. However, your technical composite score is still a 34, so for any scholarship or application that requires a 34 composite score, your ACT score should still technically count. Practically, a 0.5 score improvement is indeed better, but not _that much better_ than it is worth stressing a retake over. The only reason to retake is if you're applying to schools that [superscore the ACT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-that-superscore-act-complete-list) and you had one or two particularly low sections that you believe you can [improve on a retake](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-does-act-superscoring-affect-your-test-strategy). To summarize, a **33.5 is NOT the same as a 34** : - If you care about whether colleges can tell the difference _at all_. - In that a 34 is definitely strictly better. However, **a 33.5 is similar to a 34** in that: - For technical cutoffs of 34 on the composite score (since the composite score is rounded), you should pass the cutoff. - For students worrying about whether it will make a large difference or not - **it likely will not**. Source: - Reviewing the score report that colleges receive. - [ACT Policy On Rounding](https://www.actstudent.org/scores/understand/) ---
**Author:** ![Cecilia](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Cecilia](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/Cecilia)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/is-33-5-on-the-act-the-same-as-a-34-colleges-and-act-score-rounding/7367/3 "2023-04-06T19:43:26Z")
My Feb ACT was 32 Composite 29 Science 29 Math 34 English 36 Reading.( I am a Junior) I prepped for 2 hours the day before. I am retaking the ACT in June. What is your favorite study guide/ recommendation to increase Math and Science scores? I DID run out of time on Math, so I had to guess on the last few questions. Assuming I should work on timing? I will be applying to Stanford as a creative writing major ; they offer the best financial aid for my circumstances. Obviously, I have several other safety and reach schools. I was accepted to Kenyon’s Summer Young Writers program ( 20% admittance rate). I look forward to your response. I am exploring working with an advisor to maximize my chances.