Is my ACT score good for a sophomore?

Hey guys, I'm a sophomore and I just got my ACT scores back. I'm wondering what would be considered a 'good' score for someone at my grade level, and how much I should aim to improve by junior year. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hey! Congratulations on taking the ACT as a sophomore—it's great to get a head start on standardized testing. A "good" score can vary depending on your goals, but I'd be happy to provide you with some general guidance.

As a sophomore, a score around 20-22 can be considered decent since the average composite ACT score for all test-takers (across grade levels) is about 21. However, by junior year, you'll likely want to aim for a higher score, depending on the competitiveness of the colleges on your list.

If you're targeting top-tier colleges, you generally want to aim for a score of 30 or higher to be competitive. And at the absolute most selective schools (like Ivy League institutions and their peers), you'll likely need a score of 33 or above.

However, there's no need to panic if your score is currently below your target range! You have about a year to study and retake the test, and it's common for scores to increase as you gain experience taking the ACT and complete more coursework in high school.

To improve your ACT score, focus on studying areas where you're weaker and practice taking timed tests to get used to the format. Utilize free resources like Khan Academy or official ACT practice tests to identify your weaknesses and work on them. CollegeVine's blog also contains a range of posts focused on the ACT and how to study for it, which you may find helpful: https://blog.collegevine.com/category/standardized-tests/act/

All in all, no matter what your current score is, it's important to remember that you have time to improve. Keep up with your coursework, practice consistently, and you'll likely see improvement by junior year. Good luck with your preparation!