A lot of us were kept awake at night because of this one daunting question—will I pass my ACT? This can truly put pressure on most students applying for college since ACT will be the key to get to the school of their choice. However, the real question should be “What is a good ACT score?”
The significance of ACT scores is something that should not be underestimated. When making admissions decision, colleges certainly take many factors into consideration, but scores on the ACT serve as one of the most viable benchmark. For instance, when two highly qualified applicants are contending for a slot, it is the job of the admissions officer to give more value to an applicant who has more attainment. Undeniably, a more impressive ACT score will deem an applicant more deserving.
In addition, most schools make their ACT data public. They understand that their reputations depend upon high numbers. A college will not be considered highly selective if its students have an average composite ACT score lower than 20.
So what is a good ACT score? The exam is divided into four parts; English Language, Reading, Mathematics and Science. Each category receives a score between 1 (lowest) and 36 (highest). Those four scores are then averaged to generate the composite score used by most colleges. The average composite score is roughly a 21. That is, about 50% of test-takers score below a 21.
For students who took the ACT with writing, the writing section is scored on a 12-point scale. The average score is between 7 and 8.
Only a handful of students get a perfect ACT score. Not even all of those who get into the country’s top colleges get lucky. In fact, anyone scoring a 34, 35 or 36 is among the top 1% of test-takers in the country.
On average, 75% of students attending the top universities in the country are scoring higher than 20. This 2014, National ACT score averages are as follows:
- Average Composite Score: 21.1
- Average English Score: 20.5
- Average Mathematics Score: 21.1
- Average Science Reasoning Score: 20.9
- Average Writing Score: 7.1
Some students are confident that their numbers are high enough to get them into the college of their choice. At Awesome Scores, we believe that unless you pulled in a perfect 36, you can always improve your score. We offer proven and effective online classes not only to help you attain a passing score but also to help you get into the school of your choice. At Awesome Scores, we strive to attain the highest achievement!