Richard Hill, a junior at North Atlanta, has worked hard to get to his current position. As of now he is number one in the junior class with regards to his GPA, but that isn’t even the greatest of his numerous accomplishments. In November the noteworthy student got word that he achieved a perfect 36 score on the ACT. In attaining the lofty score, Hill finds himself among the top echelon of our nation’s test-takers. Barely one percent of those taking the ACT achieve a perfect score.

“I was surprised because I had never scored that high on a mock test,” he said. “What I came to learn is just how rare a 36 score is.”

Hill’s teachers view the IB student as driven, a student who constantly strives to push himself. “He’s never satisfied with half way done. Everything he does reflects the quality Richard always strives for,” said IB literature teacher Emily Galloway.

Among his IB peers, Hill is frequently congratulated for his 36 on the ACT, a score that will open up nearly unlimited options for his collegiate career. At present, his top college choices are Harvard, Georgia Tech, or possibly the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An exceptionally strong math student, he plans on studying engineering in college.

The phrase “practice makes perfect” is evidently true in Hill’s case. In terms of preparation, he truly hunkered down by taking countless practice tests and even attending a course to learn the tips and tricks to a high score. “I would recommend not only a tutor but good personal study habits to anyone trying to improve their scores on any test,” said Hill.

Not content with one perfect score, he said his next goal is a perfect score on the SAT. “I’m just this way. I like to go all the way in life and that holds true for any test I take as well,” he said.

The IB Program surely has challenged Hill, as it does for any student, and as the days go by the rigor is beginning to display in his actions. His potential is great, his standards are high, and with such leadership and academic success, Richard Hill is surely on his journey toward success.