Hey everyone, I'm about to start preparing for the ACT and just wanted to know, what is the maximum score you can get on the ACT? How big of a deal is it if you get the max score?
The maximum score that you can attain on the ACT test is a composite score of 36. This score is the average of your scores on each of the four sections - English, Math, Reading, and Science, each of which is also scored out of 36. If you were to achieve the maximum score in each of these sections, you'd earn a composite score of 36.
Obtaining the maximum score is indeed a remarkable accomplishment as less than 0.2% of all test takers achieve a perfect 36. It can make your application highly competitive, especially for highly selective schools.
However, remember that while a high ACT score is beneficial, it isn't the sole determinant of college admissions. Schools consider a variety of factors, such as GPA, course rigor, extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, and personal essays. Therefore, while you should strive for the best possible score, don't neglect the other elements of your application. Even a score that is below the max but in the strong range for your target schools can set you up for success in the college application process. For example, a student applying to highly selective colleges would still be very competitive with a score around 33 to 34.
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