What's considered a high score on the ACT?

Hey everyone! I'm a little bit stressed about my upcoming ACT. Just wanted to know, what would be considered a high score on the ACT? Is there like an average or something?

Hi there! I understand that taking the ACT can be stressful. In terms of what's considered a high score on the ACT, let me break that down for you.

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score. The average score for most test-takers tends to be around 20-21, which is squarely in the middle of the range. Generally, a score of 30 or above is considered to be very competitive and will likely be seen as strong by most colleges and universities.

That being said, what constitutes a "high" score also depends on the schools you are targeting for admission. More selective institutions typically have higher ACT score ranges for accepted students, while less selective schools might have lower ranges. To put this in context, a high score for an Ivy League school would likely be around the 34-36 range, whereas a high score for a less selective institution might be more in the 28-32 range.

It's important to research the average ACT scores for the schools on your list to understand what score range you should be aiming for. The higher your score is relative to a school's average, the more competitive your application will be from a standardized testing perspective. But, also remember that colleges often employ a holistic admissions process, so other factors like grades, extracurriculars, and essays will play a role in the decision-making process as well.

I hope this helps! Best of luck with your upcoming ACT test!