Warren student scores perfect 36 on ACT

When the ACT exam rolls around in April as part of the state testing session, Warren Township High School junior Katrina Litke wants to improve upon the score she earned in February.

While her composite score of 36 is the highest possible, she estimates she missed two math questions and one science question on the test she took during a national ACT testing day in February.

"I want to make it a truly perfect score," she said.

Litke advanced to Warren after attending Woodland District 50 schools. She wants to study astrophysics after high school and she took the exam on her own during the national test date in February to set a benchmark before the April exam.

"I did not think I would ever get a 36 in February," she said.

She did, however, prepare for the February test. In January she signed up for a test preparation session held at Warren by a private company and she also purchased a book of ACT practice tests to go over.

Litke is the fifth consecutive student at Warren to receive a perfect score on the exam, and the first female from the high school. Warren is one of just 16 high schools in the state to post four or more consecutive years of a student achieving a perfect score. Senior Yuanxuan Xia earned a perfect score in the spring of 2009; he was one of 47 Illinois students to do so. The state composite score average in 2009 was 20.8. Nationally, ACT says that just one tenth of 1 percent of the students receive a perfect score and the average national composite score in 2009 was 21.1.

The oldest of three, Litke maintains a full schedule that includes being secretary of the Astronomy Club at Warren. She also is active in Math Team, International Club and National Honor Society and is a member of the Warren color guard, plays flute in the band and works after school at a part-time job.

When asked what advice she would give to students preparing for the ACT, she said, "Don't stress out about it. Don't overthink it."