Hey guys, I'm gonna be taking the A.C.T soon and just wanted to get an idea of what an average score looks like in America. I know it varies based on personal goals, colleges, etc., but any clue what the common scores hovering around are? Thanks in advance!
Absolutely! The ACT is scored from 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score. Nationally, the average score tends to be around 21.
However, if you're shooting for more competitive colleges, you'll generally want to aim for a score in the 30s. For example, at many Ivy League schools, the middle 50% of incoming students typically have ACT scores between 33 and 35.
To break it down further, scoring above 21 puts you in the top half of all test takers. A score of 24 places you in the top quarter, while a score of 29 or above moves you up into the top 10%. A score of 33 or above places you in the top 1%.
Remember, though, what constitutes a 'decent' score can vary greatly based on your college targets, so it's always a good idea to research the average scores at the schools you're interested in applying to. This will give you a clearer target to aim for.
It's also worth mentioning that many colleges and universities have gone test-optional in recent years, so standardized test scores are just one piece of your entire application. Good luck with your study and testing!
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