Local student is part of half-percent of students who scored perfect on ACT test

Posted: Aug 15, 2012 7:57 PM by Connie Tran, KSBY News
Updated: Aug 15, 2012 10:08 PM

Only approximately 700 students out of 1.6 million who took the ACT test in June received a perfect score, including one student from Arroyo Grande High School.

Incoming senior Joseph Simonian said on Wednesday, "just because I got a 36 on the ACT, doesn't meet i'm automatically going to be the top student at MIT."

Simonian remains humble, despite the fact that he aced the standardized test required by many colleges for admission.

"The ACT is more about what you've learned in school, than about raw intelligence and reasoning," said Simonian about the difference between the ACT and the SAT.

The ACT is a 3-3 1/2 long test that comprises of English, math, reading, and science, and an optional writing portion.

Simonian walked around his physics class on Wednesday, reflecting the place where he's learned much of his science knowledge from. He spends hours of his time in Mr. Helete's class and often turns to him for guidance.

Mr. David Helete said, "we try to make kids understand that they have a choice in everything that they do and everything in life you have a choice, and Joseph understands that."

When it came time for Simonian to take the ACT test in June, he says he was prepped, but not as confident as he thought.

"When I left that day, I was thinking, 'oh, I didn't do so well'!" said Simonian.

But, once the 17-year old received his results while on vacation in Britain, he said he was not only relieved, but he quickly realized that he was now part of a small half-percent of students in the country who had earned a perfect score of 36.

He said, "one-point six million took it, and like 700 got a perfect score... I'm really happy about it, it's nice!"

Simonian says balance between work and play is the solution for anyone to get a perfect score too.

He plans on applying to MIT, Harvey Mudd, and UC Berkeley.