Joshua Johnson, 17, and a junior at South Aiken High School, was one of only two students in the state of South Carolina to make a perfect score on ACT. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

Student achieves perfection

Web posted April 17, 2000

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By Lisa M. Lohr
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN -- Joshua Johnson, a junior at South Aiken High School, has achieved perfection. At least on the American College Test.

He was honored by the South Carolina State Board of Education on Wednesday as one of two students in the state to achieve a perfect score. Out of more than a million students who took the test in 1999, only one in 12,000 scored a perfect 36, according to the Department of Education.

The ACT is one of two national assessment tests used to measure high school students' general knowledge and their ability to complete college work. The test has four sections: English, math, reading and science reasoning.

``The science section is very difficult,'' Joshua said. ``Last time it really took my score down.''

The perfect score was Joshua's second attempt at the test. The 17-year-old also took the SAT twice, scoring a perfect score on the verbal section, and the pre-SAT four times.

Although the SAT is more commonly accepted, Joshua's focus was on the ACT because that is used by Brigham Young University in Utah, where he will be attending college.

Although he scored well on each test, his goal was a 33 for the ACT in order to be eligible for a scholarship from Brigham Young.

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``I was guessing maybe a 33 or 34; I was really pleasantly surprised,'' he said.

Joshua said he didn't do much to prepare for the test and was even running a little late the morning of the test. But his preparation actually began years before he ever thought about college exams.

He began reading advanced books when he was younger, often aggravating librarians who didn't think books about historical events such as World War II were appropriate for a second-grader.

His appreciation of academics grew with him. He is a member of South Aiken High School's Academic Team, which competes with other schools in matches similar to the prime-time quiz show Jeopardy! Joshua said this complemented his test-taking efforts.

Out of the seven courses he is taking at South Aiken, two are advanced placement and four are honors classes. He also attended summer school and an Aiken Technical Institute night class last summer to graduate a year early.

But for this specific test, he did not study.

``It's hard to study for something like this,'' he said. ``But I will say right off the bat, I prayed about it.''

Church activities helped develop his self-discipline and goal-setting.

As a seminary student with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he takes an Old Testament class each morning before school and a home-study New Testament class each evening. He also is an Eagle Scout, which demands continuous goal setting.

When he turns 19, Joshua plans to take two years out of college to serve as a missionary for church, before completing his education.

He has worked part time at Chick-Fil-A since his sophomore year. He recently took a leave of absence, however, to focus on college applications.

As the oldest of six children in an academic-oriented family, Joshua grew up with the understanding that scholarships would be extremely important to his college career.

The family learned this weekend that Joshua has received the Gordon B. Hinkley scholarship, worth about $4,300 per year, or about half of what it will cost to attend Brigham Young, said Joshua's mother, Marlane Johnson.

``He has the kind of mind that just retains facts,'' his mother said. ``And it is very important to him to do well. This has really helped to open some doors, and that was a real gift.''

Reach Lisa M. Lohr at (803) 279-6895 or scbureau@augustachronicle.com.