Can anyone share what a 'good' ACT score is considered? I've been practicing a lot and my scores are improving – I just want to know how high I should be aiming. Thanks a lot for your help!
A "good" ACT score can vary greatly depending on the college or university you're planning to apply to. Your score would be considered "good" if it is well within the middle 50% range for those schools. However, from a national perspective, a great score typically falls within the higher range.
To give you a bit of context, the ACT is out of 36 points, and the national average score is around a 21. A score within the mid-20s can be considered good by many universities, especially state schools.
However, if you're eyeing more selective universities, you'll want to aim for something in the 30-36 range. For example, if you're targeting Ivy League schools, their 25th percentile score is typically at least a 31 or 32, and the 75th percentile score can be a perfect 36.
Remember that this is just one facet of your application and it doesn't determine everything. Schools are interested in a holistic view of your accomplishments, involving your course rigor, GPA, extracurriculars, essays, and more.
Please also keep in mind that many schools are now either test-optional or test-blind. Test-optional schools will not require you to submit your scores but will take them into account if you choose to submit. Test-blind schools won't consider test scores at all even if you decide to submit them. Make sure to check each school's policy before deciding whether to submit your scores or retake the test.
Continue practicing and aiming high. Your hard work will definitely pay off! Good luck with your preparation.
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.