How competitive is a 24 on the ACT?

I just got my ACT scores back and I got a 24. I'm a little stressed about it. Is this a competitive score for college applications, or should I consider retaking the test?

A 24 on the ACT is considered an average score, which places you in the 74th percentile. This means you scored better than approximately 74% of test-takers. While this score may be competitive for many colleges and universities, it might not be as competitive for more selective schools.

To determine whether your score is competitive enough for the schools you're interested in, research the average ACT scores of admitted students at those institutions. It's important to remember that colleges typically look at a range of scores, often referred to as the middle 50%. If your score falls within that range, you have a good chance of being considered by the admissions committee.

Keep in mind that test scores are only one part of your college application. Admissions committees also evaluate your high school transcript, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and application essays. Making a decision about retaking the ACT should be informed by all these factors.

If you feel that you can improve your score by retaking the test, then it could definitely be worthwhile. Some students find that they can improve their score after additional preparation or simply by becoming more familiar with the test format and timing. Additionally, many schools superscore the ACT, which means they take the highest section scores from multiple test dates and create a new composite score for you.

In conclusion, whether a 24 on the ACT is competitive can be subjective depending on which colleges you're applying to. If your score falls within the middle 50% range of your target schools, or if you have a strong overall application, you may not need to retake the ACT. However, if you're aiming for more selective schools or believe that you can improve your score, retaking the test can be a beneficial choice.