Every year, parents ask us two important questions: “How much can my student realistically improve on the ACT or SAT?” and “Will a higher score actually make a difference in college admissions or scholarships?” The answers depend on the student, but research from ACT and the College Board provides valuable insight into what families can reasonably expect. And here's something worth considering: A relatively modest score increase could make a meaningful difference in a student's college opportunities—and potentially the cost of attending.
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What Happens When Students Retake the Test Without Preparation?
Many students assume that taking the ACT or SAT a second time will automatically produce a significantly higher score. After all, they'll be more familiar with the test, its timing, and the types of questions they'll encounter. That assumption has some truth to it. But research suggests that simply retaking the test typically yields only modest gains.
What ACT research tells us:
In a 2022 study, ACT found that students who took the test exactly twice improved their composite scores by an average of just 0.7 points between their first and second attempts. Students who ultimately tested three or more times experienced first-to-second-test gains averaging approximately 1 point. ACT also found that additional retesting produced diminishing returns. For example, among students who tested four times, the average gains were:
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First to second test: 1.05 points
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Second to third test: 0.59 points
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Third to fourth test: 0.32 points
These findings do not separate students who prepared from those who didn't, so they should not be interpreted as a true "no-prep" average. However, they demonstrate that retesting alone is not a dependable strategy for achieving large score increases.
What Difference Can Preparation Make?
This is where the research becomes particularly interesting.
College Board research on SAT preparation found that students who completed:
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6–8 hours of Official SAT Practice was associated with an average score increase of 90 points.
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20 hours of Official SAT Practice was associated with an average score increase of 115 points.
These findings come from research originally published in 2017, before the current digital SAT. The results demonstrate a relationship between practice and improvement, but they do not prove that preparation alone caused the gains or guarantee similar results for today's students. Nevertheless, they support an important principle: Consistent, purposeful preparation is associated with stronger testing outcomes. Students who identify their weaknesses, learn effective strategies, and practice deliberately may improve beyond what they would achieve through test familiarity alone.
What Are Realistic Score Improvement Goals?
Based on published research and the variability in individual student performance, families can use the following as a starting point for setting goals.
| Testing Situation | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Retesting without a structured plan | Modest improvement or normal score fluctuation | Modest improvement or normal score fluctuation |
| Structured, targeted preparation | A 3-5 point gain may be an appropriate individual goal | A 100–200 point gain may be an appropriate individual goal |
| Significant improvement | 6+ points is possible, but not typical for every student | 200+ points is possible, but not typical for every student |
The preparation ranges above are illustrative goals, not national averages, research-established effects of tutoring, or guaranteed outcomes. Results depend on starting scores, academic foundations, preparation quality, available time, and individual circumstances.
Students who start with lower scores may have more room for improvement, while those already scoring near the top of the scale often face a harder path to additional points. The goal should never be to promise a particular score increase. It should be to identify what's realistically possible for that student and create a plan to pursue it.
Another Important Finding: The Value of Superscoring
ACT's 2025 graduating-class research found that among graduates who took the ACT multiple times, students improved their ACT Superscore by an average of 2.4 points. Superscoring combines a student's highest qualifying section scores from multiple test dates, potentially producing a stronger overall result. This is particularly valuable because a student doesn't necessarily need to improve in every subject on the same test day. However, families should understand that a superscore increase is not the same as an increase in a single-test composite score. Colleges also differ in whether and how they use superscores for admission and scholarships.
Why Do a Few Extra Points Matter for College Admissions?
Consider three hypothetical students:
Student A: ACT 20 → 24
This improvement may help the student become more competitive at colleges where their original score fell below the typical admitted-student range.
Student B: ACT 26 → 29
This student may become a stronger applicant at more selective institutions and potentially reach new merit scholarship thresholds.
Student C: ACT 32 → 34
Already a high-performing test-taker, this student may strengthen an application at a highly selective university. However, the improvement may have less financial value at institutions where the student already qualifies for top merit awards.
The takeaway? Not all score improvements matter equally. Sometimes the most important point is the one that moves a student across an admissions or scholarship threshold. Of course, standardized testing is only one component of an application. Grades, course rigor, activities, essays, recommendations, and each college's admission policies also matter.
The Scholarship Connection: Could a Higher Score Save Thousands?
For many families, this may be the most important reason to take test preparation seriously. While some colleges are test-optional or don't award merit scholarships based on scores, others use ACT or SAT results to determine scholarship eligibility. Consider this hypothetical example of how merit awards might increase as scores improve:
| ACT Score | Annual Scholarship | Four-Year Value |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $8,000 | $32,000 |
| 28 | $12,000 | $48,000 |
| 31 | $16,000 | $64,000 |
Illustrative example only. These are not published awards from a particular university. Actual scholarships, renewal requirements, and score policies vary.
In this example, raising an ACT score from 25 to 31 could add $32,000 in scholarship funding over four years.
And the financial impact of score improvement isn't merely theoretical.
A Real-World Example: Tennessee's HOPE Scholarship
ACT reported that 3,678 additional Tennessee students qualified for the state's HOPE Scholarship after the fall 2025 senior ACT retesting opportunity. Those students met the qualifying ACT threshold of 21, expanding access to state scholarship funding. This powerfully illustrates how reaching a specific score threshold can change a student's financial opportunities. Importantly, this finding demonstrates the value of retesting and reaching scholarship benchmarks; it does not establish that tutoring caused those students' improvements.
Why Personalized Preparation Matters
No two students approach standardized testing with identical strengths or challenges. One student may know the math but struggle with pacing. Another may read well but lose points because of inefficient strategies. Others may have foundational skill gaps that require more substantial instruction. Simply taking practice test after practice test doesn't necessarily address these issues. Effective preparation involves understanding why a student misses questions and developing strategies to reduce those errors.
At Seeley Test Pros/LEAP, we've been helping students prepare for standardized tests since 1994. Our approach emphasizes diagnostic testing, targeted skill development, effective test-taking strategies, and ongoing analysis of student progress. Rather than focusing on an arbitrary score increase, we help students set goals that reflect their abilities, starting scores, and college aspirations.
When Should Families Start Thinking About Testing?
For many students, the end of sophomore year is an ideal time to start exploring the ACT and SAT, with focused preparation during junior year.
Beginning early allows families to:
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Establish an accurate baseline score.
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Determine whether the ACT or SAT is the better fit.
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Identify academic and test-taking weaknesses.
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Set realistic improvement goals.
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Schedule testing and potential retesting strategically.
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Research admissions expectations and scholarship opportunities before deadlines approach.
The earlier families understand the role testing may play in their college plans, the more options they have.
The Bottom Line: It's About Opportunity, Not Just Points
No universal formula explains how much a student can improve on the ACT or SAT. Some students make substantial gains. Others see more modest progress. Preparation does not guarantee a particular result, and the value of any score increase depends on the colleges a student is considering. But the research gives families good reasons to take preparation seriously. A stronger score may expand college choices, strengthen an application, or help a student qualify for additional scholarship consideration. When a few additional points can potentially translate into thousands of dollars in college savings, understanding a student's testing potential is a worthwhile part of college planning.
Let's Discover What's Possible for Your Student
At Seeley Test Pros/LEAP, we help families make informed decisions about the ACT, SAT, and the role standardized testing can play in college admissions. Through diagnostic assessments, personalized instruction, and data-driven preparation, we help students work toward meaningful, achievable goals. Whether your student is preparing for a first test or hoping to improve an existing score, we're here to help them approach the process with a clear strategy and greater confidence. Reach out to us to learn about our customized test prep options.
📞 Cleveland: 216-965-5162
📞 Cincinnati: 513-754-2240
📧 Email us at info@leaprogram.com