ACT Score Range – Understanding Your Scores

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're 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.

The higher your percentile, the more competitive your score is in admissions. Below, we break down the 1–36 ACT score range into five segments, explaining what each range means in terms of student profile, preparation level, recent percentile data (2023–2024), and U.S. college admission prospects.

Score Range 1–15: Low Scores

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. These scores fall well below the national average and suggest a need for substantial improvement in core academic areas.

Student Profile: Typically, a student in this range may have had very limited preparation or struggled with most sections of the exam. They might have significant challenges with reading comprehension, mathematical concepts, or scientific reasoning. To move out of this range, 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: In terms of recent percentile data, composites below the mid-teens fall near the bottom of the distribution. For example, a composite score of 15 is roughly at the 30th percentile, meaning about 70% of test-takers did better. Extremely low scores (in the single digits) are quite rare – a composite of 10 is around the 1st percentile.

College Prospects: College admission prospects with ACTs in the low teens are challenging. In fact, 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. Even if admitted to a four-year program, such students could be required to take remedial courses to strengthen basic skills before starting college-level work.

Score Range 16–20: Below Average

Overview: Scores in the high teens (16–20) are below the national average, but they're 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 in academic preparation and test-taking strategy.

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. Many who score around 17, 18, or 19 may have done some light preparation or relied mostly on knowledge from their high school classes. With additional focused studying – for example, targeting specific weak areas and practicing under timed conditions – 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. To illustrate, the data show that a 19 composite is around the 55th percentile and a 20 is around the 61st percentile. In other words, about half of students nationwide score below 19 and half score above.

College Prospects: In terms of college admissions, an ACT in the high teens may meet minimum requirements at many less-selective U.S. colleges (for example, some regional public universities or community colleges). However, it will be below the average at more selective institutions. Students in this range should research colleges' score ranges carefully. They might also consider test-optional schools if they feel their score doesn't reflect their ability, and focus on strengthening other parts of the application (GPA, essays, extracurriculars) to compensate.

Score Range 21–24: Average Scores

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, placing students solidly in the middle tier of performance.

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. This range often includes students who perform reasonably well in their classes and have decent test-taking skills, but who might not have extensively fine-tuned their ACT strategies. With a bit more focused preparation – such as practicing pacing or shoring up a particular section (e.g. grammar rules for English or algebra for Math) – students in this band can often raise their scores further.

Percentile Data: Scoring in the 21–24 range means you've outperformed a good portion of test-takers. For context, a composite score of 22 is about the 71st percentile, and a 24 is around the 79th percentile of recent examinees. In fact, 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. However, at more selective colleges (for example, top 50 universities or Ivy League schools), scores in the low 20s would fall below the typical freshman profile. That said, an applicant with a 21–24 can still gain admission to a wide range of good colleges, especially if supported by a solid GPA and other strengths. Many state universities and moderately selective private colleges report middle-50% ACT composites in the low-20s, so being in this range keeps a lot of options open for college admissions.

Score Range 25–29: Above Average

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, placing students among the top performers nationwide.

Student Profile: Students in this bracket are roughly in the top 10–20% of test-takers. These test-takers have a strong grasp of most tested concepts and likely dedicated considerable effort to their ACT prep. Many students who score in the upper 20s have taken rigorous coursework (e.g. advanced math classes, AP/honors English) and honed their test-taking strategies through practice exams. Reaching this range often requires consistent study, good time management skills, and the ability to handle the more challenging questions that the ACT throws at you.

Percentile Data: In recent percentile terms, a composite score of 25 is around the 83rd percentile and a 28 is roughly the 91st percentile. This means that scoring 28–29 puts you ahead of about nine out of ten test-takers, demonstrating exceptional performance relative to your peers.

College Prospects: College-wise, a 25–29 ACT score makes you a competitive candidate at many universities. These scores typically fall within or above the middle 50% range for admission at numerous state flagship schools and moderately selective private colleges. While a high-20s score might still be a bit below the averages at the most ultra-competitive universities, it often exceeds the cutoff for merit scholarships at many colleges. In short, being in the 25–29 bracket greatly expands your college options – potentially including honors program eligibility and scholarship opportunities – compared to the national average score.

Score Range 30–36: Top Scores

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, superior test-taking skills, and places a student among the academic elite of college-bound seniors.

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 and maintaining strong concentration and pace throughout the exam. It's not uncommon for students aiming for 30+ to spend months preparing, taking multiple practice tests, and fine-tuning their strategies for each section. The result is a performance that significantly exceeds what's expected of the average high schooler.

Percentile Data: A 30 composite score is around the 94th percentile, and a 33 is roughly the 98th percentile among recent test-takers. Near-perfect scores of 35–36 correspond to about the 99th percentile (the top 1% of students nationally). These percentiles underscore just how rare and impressive scores in this range truly are.

College Prospects: Being in the 30s has a major impact on college opportunities. Scores from about 31 and up place you among the top performers, ideal for the most selective colleges. For example, at ultra-competitive schools like Harvard and Princeton, the middle 50% ACT range for incoming students is approximately 33–35 – meaning even a 32, while excellent, is at the lower end of their typical range. Generally, any score 30 or above will make you a very strong applicant almost anywhere. Students with 30+ often stand out for admissions and scholarships, and they have the best chances at Ivy League and top-tier universities (though of course, other factors like GPA and extracurriculars matter too). In summary, a 30–36 score indicates exceptional college readiness and opens doors to the most selective schools and generous merit aid programs.

Tips to Improve Your ACT Scores (By Section)

Improving your ACT score is very achievable with targeted effort. Here are four actionable tips – one for each section of the ACT – to help boost your performance:

English

Master the grammar and style rules that the ACT tests. Review common grammar topics (punctuation, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, etc.) and practice on real ACT English questions. Also work on time management – 75 questions in 45 minutes means you should move quickly and avoid spending too long on any single question. With practice, you'll start recognizing error patterns and answering efficiently.

Math

Refresh your knowledge of fundamental math formulas and concepts, from algebra and geometry up through a bit of trigonometry. Focus on any weak areas (for example, functions or geometry) by doing practice problems in those topics. Timed practice is crucial for Math – get used to the pacing of 60 questions in 60 minutes. As you practice, memorize formulas and learn to quickly identify the approach needed for each problem (whether it's plugging in numbers, drawing a diagram, or applying a specific formula).

Reading

Practice active reading strategies to improve speed and comprehension. When tackling passages, skim for main ideas and key details, and consider reading the questions before the passage to know what to look for. Try different approaches (passage-first vs. questions-first) to see what works best for you, but in all cases, keep an eye on the clock (40 questions in 35 minutes). Regularly doing full ACT Reading sections for practice will train you to find answers quickly in the text and not get bogged down by difficult passages.

Science

Focus on interpreting data and scientific reasoning rather than recalling science facts. The ACT Science section is essentially a test of how well you can read graphs, charts, and experiment descriptions. To improve, practice with ACT Science passages and learn to quickly extract information from figures and tables. Don't get intimidated by technical jargon – often you can ignore it and concentrate on what the questions are asking about the data given. As you practice, work on identifying variables, understanding experimental setups, and comparing conflicting viewpoints. With time and practice, you'll get much faster at analyzing scientific information on the fly, which is key to a higher Science score.