Hi there, does anyone have a reliable source for a detailed ACT percentile chart? I'm looking for something that clearly categorizes scores. Let me know, thanks.
Sure! The best way to get the most accurate ACT percentile chart directly from the source; that is, the ACT organization itself. They publish a new ACT/scale percent rank each year which provides detailed categorization for composite and section scores.
Naturally, these percentiles may slightly change each year based on the performance of the test takers. For example, for the last published data, a composite score of 24 was in the 75th percentile, which means you did better than about 75% of test takers.
Remember, the percentile is not the percentage of questions you got correct, but rather where your score sits in relation to all other test takers. So, the higher your percentile, the better your performance in comparison to others.
To access this information, go to the ACT official website and search for the ACT National Ranks (percentiles). From there, download the most recent PDF. The table will give you detailed percentile data for the ACT composite score as well as the individual sections.
Do also remember that while your ACT score does matter, colleges look at the whole picture of your application, including your grades, curriculum rigor, extracurricular activities, and essays. So a lower percentile does not automatically disqualify you from any colleges, just as a higher percentile does not guarantee admission. I hope this helps!
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