ABERDEEN - Jacob Fuhrman is in elite company. Only one out of every 5,500 students who take the ACT test gets everything right.

But Fuhrman, 17, who will be a senior at Aberdeen Christian High School, is one of them. He got a perfect 36.

"The ACT is basically a measure of the education you've gotten," said Fuhrman. "I can't say enough about where I go to school. For a high school of 20 people, that's not half bad."

It might be all in the family. "My cousin took it last year and she got a 35," Fuhrman said. "I thought I could beat her."

He said he did have some struggles on the ACT, a curriculum-based test often used as a measuring stick for college admissions.

"The science part worried me," he said. "The questions don't deal with actual scientific knowledge. You look at graphics and diagrams and read through sections to find the answers. I got to the fourth question and I was not doing well for time."

Fuhrman said he decided he didn't have to read through the entire section before getting to the questions. He adapted and finished just in time.

He said he'd like to major in economics at Wheaton College in Illinois, and maybe do something relating to church music. He also said he loves to play the organ at his church.

"It's the most perfect job a high schooler can dream of," Fuhrman said. "I get paid to do something I love."

After graduate school, Fuhrman said he might want to enter the world of politics.

While at Boys State this year, Fuhrman ran for many offices, including county party chairman. But when the election went south, Fuhrman played his ace.

"I thought my election was in doubt, so I said I got a 36 on my ACT," he said. "After that, I didn't have any problems."