CEDAR FALLS - Taking and retaking the American College Tests entrance exam in hopes of a higher score is a rite of passage for many high school students.

But two Cedar Falls High School juniors are opting out of the ritual because they don't see any possibility of getting a higher score.

Both boys aced it on their first try.

Sam Condon and Michael Miller each earned a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT. Miller took the test in February and Condon took it last month. Neither had any inkling they would do so well.

"There was no way I expected it. I was really excited and surprised," said Miller, when he got the letter revealing his score. "I just kind of stared at it for a little while."

"I was absolutely positive I wasn't going to get a perfect, because I thought I did awful on the math," said Condon.

"I would put little question marks on the ones I didn't think I'd got and there were like six of them," he explained. "I almost didn't have enough time to finish the math portion. But somehow I managed to get a good score on them."

The ACT, one of two national exams used by most four-year colleges or universities in their admissions process, has English, math, reading and science sections. Students answer 215 questions over a four-hour period. An optional writing portion (which isn't included in the composite score) adds another 30 minutes to the test time.

No one could recall a Cedar Falls High School student earning a 36 in at least 15 years, said Principal Rich Powers. He called two perfect scores in one year "a pleasant surprise" for the school.

"It's a neat honor for them, and I know that won't be the paramount of their career," he added. "I think it speaks to the tradition of not only the school, but the school district and the community as a whole."

The perfect scores also put the pair among an elite few students in the state and nation.

According to Iowa City-based ACT, the company that created and administers the exam, about 1 in 4,000 students nationally from the class of 2007 scored a 36. That equated to 314 of 1.3 million 2007 graduates who took the test as juniors or seniors. Six of those students were from Iowa, where 23,016 people took the test. A similar report for Miller's and Condon's class won't be available until after they graduate in a year.

The pair said keeping themselves challenged by taking difficult classes has been a great way to prepare for the ACT. And both have excelled academically.

Miller has earned a 4.0 grade point average. Condon falls just short of the 4.0 GPA because he got an A-minus in a freshman construction and manufacturing class.

"Both of them are exemplary students so this is just a validation of the success they've already had," said Powers.

Both of them also considered the possibility of retaking the test if their score wasn't high enough. The test is administered multiple times each year, making retakes possible.

"I just wanted to make sure the score showed my abilities," said Miller, noting it's a "relief" not to feel the need to retake the test.

"I was thinking if I get a 33 or below, I was going to retake the test," said Condon. He actually took the test in eighth and ninth grade through a special program that allows younger students to measure their skills against the test's standards. Both boys took a practice exam since arriving at the high school to prepare them for the ACT.

"My mom was kind of pushing me to take the prep class they offer here," said Condon, but he chose not to. Miller didn't take the class, either. It is a popular option at the school, though.

"We have over 100 students that participate in our ACT preparation class," said Powers. He noted about 85 percent of the school's students go on to a postsecondary education and about 65 percent take the ACT because they are going to a four-year college or university.

Miller and Condon are a year away from graduating and neither has settled on a college yet.

Miller is interested in the "smaller feel" of private liberal arts colleges.

"I'm probably looking out-of-state," he said. But he may also consider Iowa's Grinnell College.

Condon will likely attend one of Iowa's public universities.

"I'm thinking in-state because it's good education in Iowa and it's cheap," he said. Condon hopes the perfect score helps him get into his first choice and enhances opportunities for scholarship money.

"If someone sees it and gives me a free ride, I'll be like, 'OK, I'll take it,'" he said.

Neither boy is planning on slacking off next year just because they've passed the ACT.

Condon noted colleges also look at other factors such as GPA or class rank in deciding who to admit. He is taking six advanced placement classes next year while Miller is taking five.

Of course, they've also got to stay sharp for the next college entrance exam. Both are planning to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, sometime next year.

Contact Andrew Wind at (319) 291-1507 or andrew.wind@wcfcourier.com.