Chippewa Valley students get perfect score on the ACT
For many students interested in post-secondary education, the ACT is one of the most important parts of a high schooler’s junior year.
As a standardized test, students study in a total of four different subjects: mathematics, science, reading and English, with writing as an optional test. ACT scores range from one up to 36, which can give an edge towards post-secondary education as all four-year universities and colleges in the country accept the results.
Getting the highest score, 36, on the test is not only impressive, it is also rare. With data from recent junior classes showing that an estimated 1.4 million students took the ACT in 2023, only 0.2% achieved a 36.
In the Chippewa Valley, Leader-Telegram spoke to two students who are celebrating their achievement after receiving the highest score possible on the ACT.
Lydia Williams, Fall Creek High School in Fall CreekAs she received the news, Williams said, “I double checked with my friends and I was like, ‘It’s not a 36 is it?’... It was a bit of a shock at first, and a lot of people around me were going crazy.”
Before even taking the test, Williams said she had interest in going to a four-year university with an interest towards UW-Madison. Now that the results were sent to her, she said she is using this time to take another look at potential universities to attend.
On top of enjoying AP Psychology and having skills in math, Williams also is very active vocally, participating in school musicals.
In preparing for the test, she said she went back to practice tests that she had taken earlier in high school.
When asked what advice she would give to other students looking to take the ACT, she said, “Trust your abilities. Focus on also getting rest and sleep, because if you’re too stressed then it is not going to help you. And whatever happens, happens.”
Brady Wosick, Memorial High School in Eau Claire“There was an email and I clicked on the link. It said 36, so my heart started going really fast and I wanted to make sure that it was the actual score so I had to send it to my friends so they could confirm it,” said Wosick, recalling his initial reaction.
Recalling back even further, Wosick said part of his motivation towards doing the best he could on the ACT was from pre-ACT scores that he managed to place high with. When it came time to his first go at the real ACT, he said he wanted to see if he could get a 36.
As Wosick looks towards college, he said that he will likely pursue a degree in mathematics because it is one of his interests.
“I like that when we learn a new concept, it can be applied in so many different ways,” he said.
Although Wosick has not necessarily decided on where he wants to go, he said that he has an interest in somewhere close to home in Wisconsin or Minnesota.
