Hello! I just received my ACT scores, and I got a 31. I'm trying to understand if that's a good score or not. Can I get admission into decent schools with this score, or should I retake the test?
A 31 ACT score is undoubtedly a strong score, placing you in the 95th percentile nationally. With this score, you should be competitive for various colleges and universities, depending on the selectivity and other factors of the individual schools. Additionally, a 31 may qualify you for certain scholarships and honors programs at different institutions.
However, whether you should retake the test depends on the specific colleges you're interested in and your overall application. For some top-tier universities or highly selective programs, a higher ACT score might make your application more competitive. Research the middle 50% ACT scores for the schools on your list to see where your score falls within their accepted range. If your score is at or above the 75th percentile for those schools, you're in a strong position. If it's closer to the 25th percentile, consider retaking the test to aim for a higher score. Additionally, if the rest of your application, such as your GPA, extracurriculars, and essays, is particularly strong, a 31 ACT score could still make you competitive for those highly selective schools.
Ultimately, it's essential to weigh the time and effort required to retake the ACT against other parts of your application that you could improve, such as your essays and extracurricular involvement. If you think you can realistically raise your ACT score and it will significantly impact your chances at your target schools, retaking the test might be a good idea. However, if you'd be better served by focusing on other aspects of your application, it might be wise to move on with your current score.
Keep in mind that many colleges have adopted test-optional policies, so if your ACT score isn't representative of your academic abilities or potential, you might not need to submit it to some of the schools on your list. But overall, a 31 ACT score is indeed something to be proud of.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.