Theatre
March 3, 2008March 5
March 5, 2008
While most students are frantically trying to score average on the rigorous ACT exam next year, Vandebilt Catholic High School student Charles Gyer’s biggest challenge will be deciding which four-year university to attend.
The Vandebilt junior completed half of the college admissions battle in December by earning a top score on the ACT, which is used by many universities to judge whether a student is college material.
And a perfect score of 36 is evidence that Gyer has what it takes.
“I knew the test would be hard. But statistically I didn’t realize how difficult it would be,” Gyer said. “It was quite scary.”
Vandebilt’s Child Development Director Lisa Vegas said Gyer sees the world from a different perspective. “He sees the bigger picture,” she said. “Charles has a quest for knowledge. He isn’t a child who does the bare minimum. He always strives to be the best.”
Among 15,000 Louisiana students who took the exam in December, Gyer is the only one to score perfection. Only 39 students nationally attained a perfect score, although all Vandebilt Catholic students who took the test scored above the national average as well as surrounding Tri-parish schools.
According to ACT officials, the average student ratio for a perfect score is one in every 5,000. The ratio on the December 2007 test was closer to one in every 9,500, Gyer said.
The 215-question test has four sections – math, reading, science and English – which are graded separately and averaged into a composite score. Even though a student may not answer all questions correctly, his average can still total 36, according to test officials.
The exam is offered nearly six times a year. Gyer attempted the exam twice prior to his December test date: Once in the seventh grade and again in the 10th grade, both times coming extremely close to his present top score.
For his latest attempt, his only preparation was a study book from Books-a-Million. Gyer practiced for two months before taking the exam.
“The study materials and the additional curriculum classes in math and English help me prepare this time. I felt good going into the test, not because it was easier, but because I was more prepared than before,” Gyer said.
Waiting for the final results wasn’t easy, either.
“I asked my dad how did I fare on the test. He said, ‘What do you think you got?'” Gyer said. “When I found out the results I almost fainted. I was so shaky. I knew I would score extremely well, but perfection was the farthest thing from my mind.”
Taking the ACT is the first step to entering college, making at least an average composite score of 21 is the next. At this point, Gyer has to complete one of three tasks prior to entering a higher educational institute and securing scholarships. He hopes to attend Yale University, where he would study political science.
