Understanding Your ACT Score | Learn Percentiles - Quad Education

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ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Claude Copilot Google AI ContentsAverage ACT Scores (2025)Average ACT Scores by StateAverage ACT Scores for Top-25 Schools in the USHighest Possible ACT ScoreACT Scores By Percentile FAQs

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Reviewed by:

Mary Banks

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/1/24

If you choose to take the ACT over the SAT, you know you’ll want to achieve the highest ACT score possible to show your college readiness. This guide will teach you all you need to know about ACT scores! 

If you want to evaluate how you compare to other test-takers, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about your scores, including average ACT scores, percentiles, highest ACT scores possible, and much more.

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Average ACT Scores (2025)

ACT scores range from 1 to 36 in each category (except for writing, out of 12). The average of your three or four scores determines your ACT composite score. According to ACT Score National Ranks, the average score in each category is:

Category	Average Score
English	19
Math	19.4
Reading	20.5
Science (optional)	20
STEM	20
Composite	19.9

It’s essential to know how the ACT is scored.  First, the number of questions you got correct in each section is counted and converted to scale scores.

The average ACT score is 19.9. These rankings are based on almost 4.5 million “ACT-tested high school graduates of 2021, 2022, and 2023.”

The ACT’s website also released score information for students who decided to take the optional writing test, which contributes to an English Language Arts score (ELA). The average writing and ELA scores are 6.2 and 18.3, respectively. Remember, you’ll only see these scores if you take the ACT optional writing test.

If you want to earn a competitive score that's above-average, work with the best ACT tutor for your needs. Our experts at Quad Education will help you build a curated study schedule to fully grasp each section of the exam.

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Average ACT Scores by State

Below is a chart that illustrates the most recent statistics on average ACT scores across various states. An important thing to consider is the proportion of students participating in the exam within each state. For instance, in states where the ACT is mandatory for all high school juniors, the average scores might appear lower due to universal testing. 

State	Average Score
Alabama	18
Alaska	20.2
Arizona	17.7
Arkansas	18.6
California	25.7
Colorado	24.5
Connecticut	26.4
Delaware	24.8
District of Columbia	26
Florida	18.9
Georgia	21.3
Hawaii	17.9
Idaho	23
Illinois	24.5
Indiana	22.9
Iowa	20.8
Kansas	19.4
Kentucky	18.7
Louisiana	18.2
Maine	24.8
Maryland	24.5
Massachusetts	26.4
Michigan	24.4
Minnesota	20.8
Mississippi	19.8
Missouri	19.8
Montana	19.3
Nebraska	19.4
Nevada	17.3
New Hampshire	25.7
New Jersey	24.6
New Mexico	19.8
New York	25.3
North Carolina	18.5
North Dakota	19.2
Ohio	19.4
Oklahoma	17.8
Oregon	20.9
Pennsylvania	23.9
Rhode Island	24.5
South Carolina	18.8
South Dakota	21.1
Tennessee	18.4
Texas	19.3
Utah	19.2
Vermont	23.6
Virginia	24.6
Washington	24.5
West Virginia	20.3
Wisconsin	19.4
Wyoming	19

‍

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Average ACT Scores for Top-25 Schools in the US

Let's take a look at the average ACT scores for the top 25 schools in the United States.

School	ACT Composite Score (25th–75th Percentile)	Acceptance Rate
Columbia University	34–35	4%
Harvard College	33–36	7%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	34–36	7%
New York University	32–35	13%
Princeton University	33–35	4%
University of California—Berkeley	33–35	4%
University of Pennsylvania	33–35	9%
Yale University	33–35	5%

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Highest Possible ACT Score 

The highest ACT score is 36. The current national average ACT score is 19.9. Achieving a perfect ACT score is no easy feat. To give you some perspective, approximately 5,579 students achieved a perfect ACT score out of over 1.6 million test-takers: only about 0.33% of test-takers get a perfect ACT score. 

However, this doesn't mean achieving the highest ACT score is impossible. Sticking to a consistent study schedule, analyzing questions you get wrong during practice, and consulting helpful ACT guides and materials can better prepare you for the test.

ACT Scores By Percentile 

ACT score percentiles can show you the percentage of students you scored higher than and what percentage scored higher than you. To read the ACT percentile chart below, find a score on either side you want to evaluate, then check the number in the category. 

For example, a 23 on the English test places you in the 76th percentile: you scored at or higher than 76% of test-takers, and 24% scored higher than you. 

Score	English	Math	Reading	Science	STEM	ELA	Writing	Composite	Score
36	100	100	100	100	100	100	-	100	36
35	99	99	98	99	99	99	-	99	35
34	96	99	96	98	99	99	-	99	34
33	94	98	94	97	98	99	-	98	33
32	93	97	91	96	97	99	-	96	32
31	91	96	89	95	96	97	-	95	31
30	90	95	87	93	94	95	-	93	30
29	89	93	84	92	93	93	-	91	29
28	87	91	82	90	90	91	-	89	28
27	85	89	80	88	88	88	-	86	27
26	83	85	77	86	85	86	-	83	26
25	81	81	75	83	81	83	-	80	25
24	77	77	72	78	77	80	-	76	24
23	73	73	68	72	72	76	-	72	23
22	68	68	63	65	68	72	-	67	22
21	64	65	57	60	63	67	-	62	21
20	58	62	52	54	57	62	-	56	20
19	52	58	46	48	51	57	-	50	19
18	48	53	41	41	45	52	-	45	18
17	44	47	36	34	37	46	-	38	17
16	40	38	32	28	29	40	-	32	16
15	35	25	27	22	21	34	-	26	15
14	29	14	23	17	13	28	-	19	14
13	23	6	17	12	7	22	-	13	13
12	19	2	12	8	3	17	100	7	12
11	14	1	7	5	1	12	99	2	11
10	9	1	3	3	1	8	99	1	10
9	4	1	2	1	1	5	96	1	9
8	2	1	1	1	1	3	91	1	8
7	1	1	1	1	1	1	67	1	7
6	1	1	1	1	1	1	53	1	6
5	1	1	1	1	1	1	29	1	5
4	1	1	1	1	1	1	17	1	4
3	1	1	1	1	1	1	6	1	3
2	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	2
1	1	1	1	1	1	1	-	1	1

Source: ACT.org

Based on the table, you can see that ACT score percentiles tend not to change very much at either end of the spectrum. For example, if you received an ACT Math score of 30, retake the ACT, and score a 32, you’ve only jumped from the 95th to the 97th percentile (which is still impressive). 

However, in the middle of the table is where 1 point, either way, can make a huge difference in your percentile ranking. For instance, if your first composite score is 20 and you retake to get a composite score of 23, this 3-point difference takes you from the 56th to the 72nd percentile. 

Overall, these percentile rankings show you how you compare to other students but also show how your percentile ranking can dramatically shift if you score on the lower or middle end of the range the first time. 

Are you unsure how ready you are for the ACT? Take the ACT Readiness Quiz to assess your preparedness, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement in key subject areas and testing strategies.

FAQs 

If you still have questions about ACT scores, check out these FAQs! 

1. Is a 17 on the ACT Good? 

Although a "good ACT score" is subjective, a 17 on the ACT places you in the 38th percentile: 62% of test-takers scored higher than you. Generally, 17 probably wouldn't be an excellent ACT score. 

2. How Important Are ACT Scores for College? 

While even the College Board states that test scores are not the most important factor for college, colleges use them to compare you objectively to other applicants across different school systems. Generally, ACT scores are important because they show your academic ability and college readiness. 

3. Can I Get Into Harvard With a 30 ACT Score? 

While it’s not impossible, Harvard generally admits students with ACT scores between 33 and 36. However, Harvard is test-optional until at least 2026. You may have a better chance if you retake the ACT or have a really impressive application. 

4. What Is a Low ACT Score? 

Like what you would consider a high ACT score, a low ACT depends on your definition of "low." If you consider anything below the 50th percentile as low, the answer is 19 and below. Generally, anything below the 25th percentile (composite score of 15) may be low. 

5. How Do I Know if I Have a Good ACT Score for Colleges I Want to Apply to? 

Once your ACT score is released, you’ll want to know if your ACT score is competitive for a particular college. You can evaluate class profile data to compare your ACT score to admitted students. Aiming for the top end of the middle 50% range or higher can make you a more competitive applicant! 

6. I Got My ACT Score: How Do I Know If I Should Retake the ACT? 

If your ACT score is lower than the middle 50% range of most schools you want to apply to, you may want to consider retaking the test. Boosting your ACT score can help you become a more competitive applicant.

7. What’s the Lowest Possible ACT Score? 

The lowest ACT score possible is 1.

8. What is The Average ACT Score for the Writing Section?

The average ACT Writing score typically falls between a 6 and 7. This range reflects the national ACT writing score percentiles, based on the latest data released by ACT, Inc.

9. What is The Average Science ACT Score?

The average science ACT score is 20.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know more about average ACT scores, the highest ACT scores, and percentiles, you can evaluate your score in a broader context. If you score a 19 or above on the ACT, you've achieved an average score; scores of 30 and higher place you in the 93rd percentile or higher. 

If you have your hopes set on an Ivy League school, you should strive for an ACT score in the 30s, preferably 32 or higher. If you want to get the highest ACT score possible of 36, you can do it through training and preparation.  A good way to go about it is to test your skills with our Free ACT Practice Questions Pop Quiz. Best of luck!

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