Last Updated: November 15, 2023
What is a Good ACT Score?
ACT is an assessment test that determines the examinee's preparedness for entering a college/university space and also a great means to avail
scholarships. All this can be made possible by attaining a "good ACT score" that changes from test to test.
First of all, the highest score attainable in the ACT is 36 which will be an average of marks obtained in individual subjects. The subjects that are dealt with in this exam, as is known, are English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The average obtained in such a manner is called a
composite score. As is evident, comparing this percentile to the general population of examinees in the particular test provides one with a good
ACT score.
The good in a "good ACT score" is relative. That statement is putting the truth out too mildly. In other words, the score that an examinee aspires to achieve should be based on the colleges or universities they are applying to. When a score of 23 is considered the national average, it is to be assumed that an aspirant must attain a higher percentile to be admitted to a better college/university.
Comparing ACT Scores
The two ways in which ACT scores can be compared are through averages and percentiles.
- Averages-While comparing through averages one must keep in mind that scoring above the average, i.e. scoring among the upper half of all examinees, already makes the score good. The higher this is, the better it will be considered. On the other hand, a score in the lower half of the same section reflects a poor grade that might not open up chances for better higher education.
The average composite score is deemed to be 20.8 and it is divided among the four different sections with 20.2 for English, 20.5 for Mathematics, 21.3 for Reading, and 20.8 for Science. Through this data, one can ascertain that any score above 21 will be considered a good ACT score.
- Percentiles-This being the percentage of examinees that have scored the same as or above the candidate is an adequate means of estimating what score should be aimed for by the aspirant. If one gets a percentile of 70 it can be assumed that they have scored relatively better than 70% of all examinees that have taken the test.
In other words, a composite score(percentile) of 29 would imply that they have surpassed above 90% of examinees and scored above them with a good score. A score of 14 would then imply that the candidate is part of the lower 10% of examinees with a bad score.
Average, Below Average, and Above Average ACT Scores
The test is set up to follow a normal distribution which implies that the cluster that has received similar percentiles will take up the middle of the scale. Scored between 1 and 36, the average in 2022 was 19.8. When 19.8 is considered the average, below average, would be anything less than 12. Despite having an extremely low composite score on the ACT, one can always apply for college programs with a decent
GPA and an exemplary college application. This may imply that the student might have to take up remedial classes but, on the whole, any grade would not hinder an aspirant's dreams for higher education. Looking at the table that depicts a percentile variation according to State one can understand that a majority of the population of examinees are not high-end or low-end scorers but promise an average score that can let an aspirant join a college or university.
The percentile varying across states in the year 2022 would be as follows-
Average ACT Score (2022) for Students by State
State | Avg. Composite Score |
Alabama | 18 |
Louisiana | 18.1 |
Mississippi | 17.8 |
Nevada | 17.3 |
Tennessee | 18.6 |
Wyoming | 19.2 |
Kentucky | 18.6 |
North Dakota | 19.2 |
Montana | 19.3 |
Nebraska | 19.4 |
Oklahoma | 17.9 |
Arkansas | 18.8 |
Wisconsin | 19.4 |
Utah | 19.9 |
North Carolina | 18.5 |
Ohio | 19.4 |
Kansas | 19.9 |
Minnesota | 21 |
Missouri | 20.2 |
Arizona | 18.4 |
South Dakota | 21.5 |
Hawaii | 18.8 |
Iowa | 21.4 |
Florida | 19 |
South Carolina | 18.9 |
Georgia | 21.6 |
West Virginia | 20.5 |
Texas | 19.8 |
New Mexico | 19.8 |
District of Columbia | 26.9 |
Illinois | 24.5 |
Colorado | 23.2 |
Idaho | 22.8 |
Alaska | 20.4 |
Indiana | 22.8 |
New Jersey | 24.6 |
New York | 25.3 |
Connecticut | 26.3 |
Massachusetts | 26.5 |
Virginia | 24.6 |
Maryland | 24.4 |
Michigan | 24.6 |
Vermont | 23.7 |
Oregon | 23 |
Pennsylvania | 24.4 |
Washington | 24.6 |
Delaware | 24.9 |
New Hampshire | 25.7 |
Rhode Island | 25.2 |
California | 26.5 |
Maine | 25.1 |
An above-average grade on the other hand is tailor-made to the needs of students depending on the college one wants to go to. An aspirant must find the composite score average that the university/college they are applying for usually demands or at least go through the statistical data available stating the composite score average of students that were admitted into the college/university.
Average ACT Score (2022) for Students in High-End Colleges and Universities
College/University | ACT Score |
Columbia University | 34-36 |
Harvard College | 33-36 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 34-36 |
New York University | 32-35 |
Princeton University | 33-35 |
University of California-Berkeley | 33-35 |
University of Pennsylvania | 33-35 |
University of Chicago | 33-35 |
Darmouth College | 32-35 |
"Good ACT Scores" over the Years
While estimating an average "good score" over the years, one may assume that there has been a great difference with time but this hasn't been the case. The current average ACT score is 19.5. Based on the university or college one is aiming for, one should aim for a certain average score when taking the test. A strong ACT score at one university may not meet the requirements at another due to the unique admissions policies of each college. An Ivy League college such as Harvard College would consider a score of 33 to be in the 25% percentile. Nevertheless, a score of 35 places you in the 75% percentile. Anything less than that won't get you into a reputable university.
Trends throughout the years
The following are the trends over the years for both composite scores and subject-specific scores:
Years | Avg. Composite Score | Avg. English Score | Avg. Maths Score | Avg. Reading Score | Avg. Science Score |
2019 | 20.7 | 20.1 | 20.4 | 21.2 | 20.6 |
2020 | 20.6 | 19.9 | 20.2 | 21.2 | 20.6 |
2021 | 20.3 | 19.6 | 19.9 | 20.9 | 20.4 |
2022 | 19.8 | 19.0 | 19.3 | 20.4 | 19.9 |
2023 | 19.5 | 18.6 | 19.0 | 20.1 | 19.6 |
Strategies to Follow if ACT Score is Low
In case one receives a grade that is way below the 25% percentile, it should be understood that the ACT test is the only form of application that can be provided at a college/university. There are other examinations that can be taken that might showcase their skills better since English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science are not the only subjects of importance.
Putting extra effort into schoolwork and gaining exemplary grades in tough subjects along with a display of exceptional extracurricular skills will be an added bonus in getting admission into colleges of good reputation. These performances may be backed up with genuine letters of recommendation and a concisely worded college application which would bypass a lower ACT grade.
The student can choose to retake the test if time permits which is the best possible option. After attempting the test for the first time one might have been able to identify the drawbacks and limitations they faced. Sometimes, if observant enough, one would also be able to identify where they went wrong and what form of preparation would aid them in increasing their percentile.
This will include identifying the subject of weakness, finding the right prep book that is suited to one’s needs, and the patience and discipline required to focus on the task ahead. Since the ACT test is based on the school curriculum, reiterating the syllabus and learning the basics would be a good way to start preparation. Along with understanding key concepts, it should be remembered that a test with a certain time limit requires going through timed practice tests.
The student can also choose to not send the ACT score report to the college/university of choice when the grades are low which would just be considered like the test hasn't been attempted in the first place thereby nullifying the damage a bad percentile can cause.