Is a 20 on the ACT considered a good score?

Hey everyone! I just received my ACT score and it's a 20. Is that considered a good score for college admissions? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

A 20 on the ACT can be considered a decent score, but the definition of "good" depends on your college goals and the institutions you're aiming for. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, with the national average being around 21. So, a 20 places you slightly below the national average.

When determining if your score is good enough, it's essential to consider the admissions standards and average ACT scores of the colleges you're interested in. For instance, a 20 might be a competitive score for some regional or less-selective colleges, but it might be less competitive for high-ranking or more selective universities.

Next steps you could take include researching your target colleges' admission requirements and their middle 50% ACT scores. This will give you a better idea of where your score stands in comparison to admitted students. If your ACT score doesn't fit well within the range for your desired schools, you might consider retaking the ACT after targeted preparation, focusing on areas where you need to improve.

Nevertheless, it's important to remember that many colleges evaluate applications holistically, considering various factors such as your GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, and essays. Therefore, even if your ACT score is slightly lower than the average for a particular school, other aspects of your application might compensate for it.

In summary, a 20 on the ACT can be a suitable score depending on your goals and target colleges. Make sure to research the admission requirements for the schools you're interested in and consider if retaking the test is necessary based on those expectations. But also keep in mind that other parts of your application play a role in the admissions process as well. Good luck with your college applications!