Brandon Heil, a junior at Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School, received a top score on the ACT exam he took in October.
The ACT is a standardized test taken by high school students in the U.S. for college admissions offices to use to determine college readiness. It comprises four subject areas: English, math, reading comprehension and scientific reading.
Only about a quarter of one percent of students who take the ACT earn what is considered a top score. This is achieved when the average score from all four sections – each of which is scored on a scale of one through 36 – comes out to 36.
Janet Godwin, the CEO of ACT, called earning a top score on the test “a remarkable achievement,” saying that it provides colleges and universities “ample evidence of (a student’s) readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead.”
Heil had taken the ACT twice before, scoring high both times but not as well as he did in October. He attributes his top score to the many practice tests he took as well as an ACT preparation course he took his sophomore year at DeSales.
“This course was incredibly helpful to me,” he said. “Taking the practice tests allowed me to see examples of what I would be seeing on the test, and it allowed me to learn how to manage my time while taking the test.”
Time management was crucial for Heil during the test’s math portion, which he said he found to be the most difficult.
“When (previously) taking the math section … I always felt really confident until I got to the last 10 or 15 questions, when the problems got more difficult and the pressure of the clock ticking down really started to set it,” Heil said. “In order to work on this, with my last ACT I focused on pacing myself through the math section and not spending too much time on any specific problem.”
The reading section of the test proved to be the easiest for Heil.
“I have loved reading since I was a kid, and I have always had a knack for being able to analyze what I am reading,” the 16-year-old said. “I received a perfect score on the reading section each time that I took the ACT, and it was always what I felt the least amount of stress over. I just thought of the reading section as if I was reading a book for my own enjoyment.”
Heil’s parents, Doug and Karen, said their son has been an avid reader since childhood. “He has always been a fast reader,” Doug said. “When he … first started with chapter books, he would quickly read a book and, if he liked it, he would read it again. If he didn’t have a new book to read, he would just pick a favorite off the shelf and read it again! He (especially) loved books in series.”
“We loved that he loved to read so much when he was younger,” Karen said, “but sometimes we would have to limit his reading time because he could sit for hours with a good book! We hated to stop him, but we knew he needed to move around, do chores or spend some time with the family.”
Heil, who has an older brother and two younger sisters, hopes to attend the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Karen believes that this school will allow her son to “continue being formed in a holistic way where faith is at the forefront.” Heil plans to pursue a career in the medical field, specifically as a surgeon.
Molly Barrett, Heil’s teacher at DeSales for both his anatomy and physiology class as well as his AP biology class, said he has a notable interest in human anatomy. “Brandon asks outstanding questions, and he loves to figure out why the immune system responds a specific way,” she said. “(He) has the patience, perseverance and focus to excel (and) … is such a positive and enthusiastic young man.”
Throughout his high school career, Heil has participated in a plethora of sports and activities, including cross country and tennis, for which he served as team captain, as well as youth ministry, National Honor Society and Business Club. He will graduate in 2024 from DeSales.
