Hey guys and gals, I've been getting ready for the ACT and it’s going okay so far. What I'd really like to know is, what's considered a 'good' score? What's the average ACT score across the US? How high should I aim to be competitive for top colleges? Thanks for any advice or insights. We got this, right?
Absolutely, you've got this! When you're taking college admissions exams like the ACT, it can be helpful to have a target score in mind. Let me break it down for you.
The average ACT score tends to hover around 20.8. That said, if you're aiming for colleges that are more selective, you'll likely want to aim higher.
A score in the 30-36 range would put you in the 95th percentile or above, meaning you scored better than 95% of other test takers. This is often considered an excellent score and will make you competitive at most schools.
For the ultra-competitive Ivy League and other top-tier schools, however, scores in the 33-36 range are more typical of admitted students. For example, the 25th-75th percentile admission range for Dartmouth College is 32-35, and for Harvard University, it's 33-35.
Remember to think about the rest of your application holistically though. High ACT scores can definitely enhance your application, but make sure to invest time in your essays, extracurriculars, and other parts of your application as well.
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