A comprehensive guide to ACT score ranges, percentiles, and what they mean for college admissions and scholarships.
The ACT is scored on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 36 (highest) for the composite score. Your composite is the average of the four section scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science), rounded to the nearest whole number. Each year, ACT Inc. releases data to help interpret these scores.
For example, the national average ACT composite for the Class of 2023 was about 19.5 – meaning roughly half of test-takers scored below 20 and half scored above. Generally, any score above this average can be considered "good," though what counts as a strong score will depend on the colleges you are aiming for.
One useful way to interpret your ACT score is by looking at percentile rankings, which show how you did relative to other students. For instance, a composite score of 23 places you around the 72nd percentile (i.e. you scored higher than about 72% of test-takers), whereas a 30 is roughly in the 94th percentile.
| Score Range | Percentile | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | ~1st–30th | Low / Well below average |
| 16–20 | ~31st–61st | Below average to national median |
| 21–24 | ~62nd–79th | Average to slightly above average |
| 25–29 | ~80th–93rd | Above average / Top 10–20% |
| 30–36 | ~94th–99th | Top scores / Academic elite |
Overview: Students scoring in the 1–15 range are in the lowest tier of ACT performance. Such scores indicate significant gaps in understanding the tested content or major difficulties with test-taking skills.
Student Profile: Typically, a student in this range may have had very limited preparation or struggled with most sections of the exam. A substantial amount of additional study and skill-building would be required – often starting with mastering fundamental English and math concepts and building reading comprehension strategies from the ground up.
Percentile Data: A composite score of 15 is roughly at the 30th percentile, meaning about 70% of test-takers did better. A composite of 10 is around the 1st percentile.
College Prospects: Scores below 15 are considered very low at virtually any four-year college. Students in this range might look to open-admission institutions or community colleges, or take advantage of test-optional policies.
Overview: Scores in the high teens (16–20) are below the national average, but getting closer to the middle of the pack. These scores indicate a basic understanding of some tested concepts but still suggest significant room for improvement.
Student Profile: A student in this range likely has a partial grasp of the tested material but also notable weaknesses in one or more subjects. With additional focused studying, a student scoring in the high teens can often boost their score into the 20s on a retake.
Percentile Data: A composite score of about 19–20 is approximately at the national median for recent test-takers. A 19 composite is around the 55th percentile and a 20 is around the 61st percentile.
College Prospects: An ACT in the high teens may meet minimum requirements at many less-selective U.S. colleges. However, it will be below the average at more selective institutions.
Overview: ACT scores of 21 to 24 fall in the average to slightly above average range nationally. These scores demonstrate a reasonable command of high school-level material and adequate test-taking skills.
Student Profile: Students scoring in the low 20s typically have a solid basic understanding of the high school curriculum and may have put in some moderate test prep. With a bit more focused preparation, students in this band can often raise their scores further.
Percentile Data: A composite score of 22 is about the 71st percentile, and a 24 is around the 79th percentile. A 23 on the ACT is above the current national average and puts you in the top quarter of all test-takers.
College Prospects: A score in this range will make you a strong applicant at many universities. At more selective colleges (top 50 universities or Ivy League schools), scores in the low 20s would fall below the typical freshman profile. Many state universities and moderately selective private colleges report middle-50% ACT composites in the low-20s.
Overview: Scores in the mid-to-high 20s (25–29) are well above the national average and reflect strong academic ability. This range demonstrates solid mastery of high school curriculum and effective test-taking skills.
Student Profile: Students in this bracket are roughly in the top 10–20% of test-takers. They have a strong grasp of most tested concepts and likely dedicated considerable effort to their ACT prep.
Percentile Data: A composite score of 25 is around the 83rd percentile and a 28 is roughly the 91st percentile. Scoring 28–29 puts you ahead of about nine out of ten test-takers.
College Prospects: A 25–29 ACT score makes you a competitive candidate at many universities. These scores often exceed the cutoff for merit scholarships at many colleges.
Overview: Scores in the 30s represent the highest echelon of ACT achievement. A composite score between 30 and 36 demonstrates exceptional mastery of high school curriculum and superior test-taking skills.
Student Profile: These students typically have excelled in rigorous high school courses and often invested significant effort in test preparation. Achieving a score in this range usually requires mastering nearly all the tested content.
Percentile Data: A 30 composite score is around the 94th percentile, and a 33 is roughly the 98th percentile. Near-perfect scores of 35–36 correspond to about the 99th percentile.
College Prospects: Scores from about 31 and up place you among the top performers, ideal for the most selective colleges. At Harvard and Princeton, the middle 50% ACT range is approximately 33–35. Any score 30 or above will make you a very strong applicant almost anywhere.
Improving your ACT score is very achievable with targeted effort. Here are four actionable tips – one for each section of the ACT:
Master the grammar and style rules that the ACT tests. Review common grammar topics (punctuation, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage) and practice on real ACT English questions. With 75 questions in 45 minutes, move quickly and avoid spending too long on any single question.
Refresh your knowledge of fundamental math formulas and concepts, from algebra and geometry up through trigonometry. Focus on weak areas by doing practice problems. Get used to the pacing of 60 questions in 60 minutes and memorize key formulas.
Practice active reading strategies to improve speed and comprehension. Skim for main ideas and key details, and consider reading the questions before the passage. Keep an eye on the clock (40 questions in 35 minutes). Regularly doing full ACT Reading sections will train you to find answers quickly.
Focus on interpreting data and scientific reasoning rather than recalling science facts. The ACT Science section tests how well you can read graphs, charts, and experiment descriptions. Practice with ACT Science passages and learn to quickly extract information from figures and tables.