What is a Good ACT Score

Understanding how the ACT is scored helps you plan where to focus your prep time. You receive individual scores for English, math, reading, and (if you choose to take it) science, each on a scale of 1 to 36. Your Composite score is calculated by averaging your English, math, and reading section scores and rounding to the nearest whole number. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should answer every question, even if you are guessing.

If you take both math and science, you will also receive a STEM score (the average of those two sections). If you take English, reading, and the optional writing test, you receive an ELA score. Starting in 2025, the ACT began transitioning to an enhanced format where science and writing are optional add-ons rather than required components.

Your score report also includes ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, which tell you whether you are on track for credit-bearing college courses. The benchmarks are: English 18, Math 22, Reading 22, and Science 23. Meeting all four benchmarks is a strong indicator of college readiness — ACT data shows that 84% of students who meet all four benchmarks earn postsecondary degrees within six years.

ACT itself categorizes score ranges on its official scoring page. Scores of 18–20 are generally accepted at many colleges, especially regional and open-admission institutions. Mid-20s scores are considered competitive at a wide range of universities. Scores in the 30s are typically expected at the most selective institutions in the country.

Here is how ACT Composite scores generally translate to percentile ranks, based on ACT’s 2024–2025 national ranks data. A score of 20 places you near the 53rd percentile, meaning you scored higher than roughly half of all test-takers. A 24 puts you at approximately the 75th percentile. A 30 places you at the 93rd percentile, and a 34 at the 99th percentile.

To set your personal target, look up the middle 50% ACT score range for admitted students at each school on your list. If your score falls within or above that range, you are a competitive applicant for that institution. If your score is below the 25th percentile for a school, that school becomes a “reach.” For example, according to ACT, admitted students at Harvard University average a 34, while those at the University of Massachusetts Boston average a 23 — illustrating the vast range of what constitutes a “good” score depending on where you apply.

ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are specific section scores that indicate you are prepared for common first-year college courses. They were developed using data from 214 institutions and more than 230,000 students. If you meet a benchmark, you have approximately a 50% chance of earning a B or higher and about a 75–80% chance of earning a C or higher in the corresponding college course.

The current ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are: English 18 (for English Composition), Math 22 (for College Algebra), Reading 22 (for social science courses like history, psychology, and sociology), and Science 23 (for Biology). There are also composite benchmarks: a STEM score of 26 indicates readiness for calculus, chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering courses, while an ELA score of 20 signals readiness for English composition and social science coursework.

For the class of 2024, only 30% of ACT-tested students met three or four of these benchmarks, while 57% met at least one. This means that nearly half of all test-takers did not meet a single college-readiness benchmark. If you are meeting all four benchmarks, you are in a strong position — regardless of your exact Composite score.

If your first ACT score is not where you want it to be, retesting is one of the most effective strategies available to you. ACT provides an automatic superscore to anyone who has taken the test more than once. Your superscore combines the highest section scores from all your test dates into one Composite — so if you scored highest in English on your first test and highest in math on your second, your superscore uses both of those highs.

For the class of 2024, 35% of graduates tested more than once, and those students improved their superscore by an average of 2.4 points compared to their first test. ACT research has shown that superscores are actually slightly more predictive of college success than any single-sitting Composite score, which is why a growing number of colleges accept them.

Starting in 2025, the ACT superscore calculation is transitioning to include only English, math, and reading (aligning with the new Composite formula). Your highest section scores can come from any test event, whether it was taken on the legacy or enhanced version of the ACT.

Not all colleges accept superscores, though the number that do is increasing. You should check each target school’s admissions website to confirm its score-use policy before deciding whether to retest.

Your ACT score is not just about admissions — it can significantly affect how much you pay for college. Many institutions use ACT scores as a primary factor in awarding merit-based scholarships, and even a few extra points on your Composite can mean thousands of dollars in annual aid. This is especially true at public universities and mid-tier private colleges, where published scholarship grids often tie specific ACT score ranges to guaranteed award levels.

If you are concerned about affordability, focus on maximizing your ACT score at schools that publish clear merit aid criteria. For many state flagship universities, scoring in the mid-to-high 20s qualifies you for meaningful scholarship offers. At smaller private colleges competing for strong students, a score of 28 or higher can sometimes trigger awards that cover a substantial portion of tuition.

Even at test-optional schools, a strong ACT score can work in your favor. Submitting a score that falls within or above a school’s typical range strengthens your application and may unlock scholarship opportunities that are not available to students who do not submit scores.

Many colleges currently offer test-optional admissions, which means you can choose whether or not to submit your ACT score. This can be a strategic decision that works in your favor if you approach it correctly. The general rule is straightforward: if your ACT score falls within or above a school’s middle 50% range, submit it. If your score is below the 25th percentile of admitted students at that school, consider withholding it and letting other parts of your application — GPA, essays, extracurriculars — carry the weight.

Some schools that went test-optional during the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to requiring standardized test scores. The trend continues to evolve, so you should verify each school’s current policy before application season. Even at test-optional schools, admissions officers still use ACT scores as one data point in a holistic review when scores are submitted.

If you are applying to a highly selective institution, a strong ACT score (typically 33 or higher) can be especially valuable because it provides an objective measure of academic ability that complements your transcript. For competitive programs in STEM fields, admissions committees may pay particular attention to your math and science section scores.

Improving your ACT score is achievable with a focused strategy, and you do not necessarily need expensive prep courses to do it. The most effective approach is to identify your weakest section and concentrate your study time there, since raising one low section score has a larger impact on your Composite than marginally improving a section you already score well on.

ACT offers free official prep resources, including full-length practice tests and The Official ACT Self-Paced Course powered by Kaplan (free for students who register with a fee waiver). Start by taking a full-length timed practice test to establish your baseline score. Then analyze which sections and question types gave you the most trouble.

For English, focus on grammar rules and rhetorical skills — these are highly learnable and often yield the fastest score improvements. For math, review algebra, geometry, and coordinate geometry fundamentals. For reading, practice timed passage analysis and learn to eliminate wrong answer choices efficiently. If you are taking the optional science section, practice interpreting data presentations, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints.

ACT recommends starting test prep as early as your sophomore year. Testing early gives you a low-stakes baseline, identifies areas needing improvement, and allows time to retest and build your superscore.

As of 2025, the base ACT registration fee is $68, which covers the English, math, and reading sections plus score reports for you, your school, and up to four colleges. Adding the optional writing section costs an additional $25, and adding science costs $4. Late registration adds a $38 fee, so registering on time saves you money.

If cost is a concern, the ACT Fee Waiver Program covers the full registration fee (including optional science and writing add-on fees) for up to two test dates. To qualify, you must be in 11th or 12th grade, testing in the United States, and meet at least one indicator of economic need — such as enrollment in a free or reduced-price lunch program, participation in a federally funded program like GEAR UP or Upward Bound, residence in foster care or subsidized housing, or household income at or below USDA levels. Fee waiver recipients also receive free access to the Official ACT Self-Paced Course, free additional score reports, and college application fee waivers.

To apply, speak with your high school counselor. They will verify your eligibility and provide you with a fee waiver code to use during online registration.