Student from South High School in Downers Grove Achieves Perfect ACT Score

South High School Junior Samarth Malhotra Achieves Perfect ACT Score

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Samarth Malhotra, a junior at South High School in Downers Grove, earned a top composite score of 36 on a recent ACT test. Among the 1.6 million test takers in the high school graduating class of 2011, only 704 students, or less than one-tenth of one percent, earned a composite score of 36.
 

“There are really just two keys to taking the ACT: familiarity and relaxation,” says Malhotra. To prepare, he took the test 21 times, read a lot of books about testing strategies and registered for a Kaplan study course. “Students who are super-stressed don’t do as well. You need to be relaxed, and then you’ll get your best score.”

Malhtra says he would like to major in economics or accounting and go on to earn an M.B.A. He knows that some of the more selective, Ivy League schools look for more than just a perfect test score. In addition to rigorous academics, colleges consider extracurricular participation. As a tennis player for three years, school president and state vice president of DECA (an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management), math team member, National Honor Society president, chess team member and mentor to school freshmen, he is confident that he is highly involved at the school.
 

“Samarth is an outstanding student, but more importantly, he’s a well-rounded and grounded one, and serves as an excellent role model for other students,” says Principal Steve Bild. “We congratulate Samarth on his outstanding achievement.”

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