I've been hearing some things about scoring at the 99th percentile or something on the ACT. What does that even mean? Also, If I got a 32, what percentile would that put me in?
Percentile ranks on the ACT can be a little confusing at first, but they're actually a pretty useful way of interpreting your scores. Essentially, your percentile rank tells you what percentage of test-takers scored the same as or lower than you did.
For example, if you're in the 99th percentile, that means you scored higher than 99% of the students who took the same test. You're basically in the top 1% of students.
As for your score of 32, various reports show that students scoring a 32 on the ACT generally fall into the 97th percentile. This means you've scored better than approximately 97% of all test-takers. This is an excellent rank and is indicative of high academic capabilities. Colleges look at percentile rankings, along with the composite score, to understand how competitive an applicant is in comparison to their peers.
Remember, though, that while test scores are an important part of your college application, they're just one aspect. Admissions officers also consider your grades, course rigor, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendation letters, among other factors.
Keep putting the hard work into all areas of your college application, and congratulations on the great test score!
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