Hey everyone, I'm a junior and I just took the ACT for the first time. I was wondering what would be considered a good ACT score for someone in my grade? Are there any specific benchmarks that most colleges look for?
Hello! A "good" ACT score can vary greatly depending on the colleges you're aiming for, but I can provide you with some general guidelines. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with the average score being around 21. A score of 24 or higher is considered "above average," and anything above 28 usually puts you in the top 10% of test takers.
To give you a better idea of what scores some colleges typically look for, here are a few examples:
1. For more selective schools (e.g. Ivy League and top-tier colleges) - you'll want to aim for a score of 33 or higher.
2. For moderately selective schools (e.g. top state schools) - a score of 28 to 32 should put you in a competitive range.
3. For less selective schools - a score of 24 or higher should generally suffice.
Keep in mind, however, that many schools have adopted test-optional policies, so your ACT score may not be the sole deciding factor in your admission. Still, if you're aiming for a specific set of schools, it's a good idea to research their average ACT scores for admitted students. This will give you a better idea of what score you should aim for depending on the schools you're interested in.
If you're not satisfied with your current ACT score, remember that you still have plenty of time as a junior to retake the test and improve your score. Make sure to practice and prepare well, and don't forget to focus on other elements of your application, such as your extracurricular activities, essays, recommendation letters, and GPA. Best of luck!
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