Hey everyone, so I'm planning on taking the ACT instead of the SAT. Does anyone know what the highest possible score on the test is, and what could be considered a 'high' score?
The highest possible score on the ACT is a 36. This score is calculated as an average of your scores on the four sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. Each section is also scored out of 36, with your composite score being the average.
A 'high' score can depend on your goals and the colleges you're interested in. While the national average ACT score typically hovers around a 20 or 21, most selective colleges typically look for students scoring at least in the mid to high 20s, with extremely competitive colleges looking for scores in the low to mid 30s. Of course, this doesn’t mean these scores guarantee admission, as the colleges also take into account other factors such as GPA, extracurriculars, and essays when making their admissions decisions.
It's also important to note that many colleges have moved to test-optional policies, meaning ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission. However, they can still be an asset and help strengthen your application if your score is solid. You can look up the average ACT scores for admitted students at the colleges you're interested in to give you a sense of where you stand. This information can usually be found in the school's admissions section of their website or their Common Data Set.
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