What Is a Good Composite Score for the ACT?

The ACT composite score is the average of your four section scores — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each scaled from 1 to 36. A composite of 24 represents roughly the 74th percentile nationally, making it a solid benchmark for most applicants. For merit scholarship eligibility at competitive universities, a composite of 28–32 is often required, and a 34+ puts you in contention for the most prestigious academic awards.

What Is the Average ACT Score?

The national average ACT composite score for the graduating class of 2024 was 19.4 out of 36, according to ACT, Inc. This figure has declined slightly over recent years, largely reflecting broader trends in pandemic-era learning and changes in the test-taking population. A score above 21 places a student above the national midpoint, while a 25 or higher reaches approximately the 75th percentile.

When Do ACT Scores Come Out?

Multiple-choice ACT scores are typically available online within 2–8 weeks of your test date, with most examinees seeing results in about 2–3 weeks. If you opted into ACT Writing, those scores take an additional 2 weeks to process. You'll receive an email notification when your scores are ready to view in your MyACT account, and official score reports can be sent directly to colleges you designate.

What Is the High Score for ACT?

The highest possible score on the ACT is a perfect 36, achieved by earning a 36 on each of the four individual sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The composite 36 represents the top 1% of all test-takers nationally. Fewer than 3,000 students out of roughly 1.4 million annual test-takers earn a perfect composite score each year, making it an exceptionally rare achievement.

What Is the Highest ACT Score?

The highest ACT score is 36, which is a perfect composite score calculated by averaging four section scores — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each individually capped at 36. Achieving a perfect 36 composite does not always require a perfect 36 on every section, since rounding can occasionally produce a composite of 36 from four scores that average just above 35.5. Colleges at the top of the rankings, such as MIT, Harvard, and Caltech, report middle 50% ACT ranges of 34–36 among enrolled students.

What Is a Good ACT Score? 2026 Benchmarks by College and Scholarship

Q: What Is a Good ACT Score?

A good ACT score depends on your target colleges, but scoring 24 or higher places you above the national average and makes you competitive at many four-year universities. For selective colleges, aim for 29–32, while elite institutions like Ivy League schools typically enroll students with composite scores of 34–36. To benchmark your readiness, take an ACT practice test and compare your results against the middle 50% score ranges published by each school on your list.

ACT - American College Testing By Dr. Lisa PatelApr 24, 202618 min read

What Is a Good ACT Score? 2026 Benchmarks by College and Scholarship

What Is a Good ACT Score in 2025?

These 2025 benchmarks show exactly where ACT scores fall on the national scale and what thresholds matter most for college admission.

📊19.5National Average2025 composite score

🎯2150th Percentilehalf of test-takers score below

🏆24+Top 25%competitive for most universities

⭐3093rd Percentilestrong for selective colleges

🔬1–36Score Rangecomposite and each section

📉↓1.2 ptsPost-Pandemic Shiftavg dropped since 2020

Quick Facts: What Is a Good ACT Score in 2025?

National average composite score is 19.5; scoring 24+ puts you in the top 25%
A 'good' score is relative — benchmarks differ by selectivity tier
Composite range: 1–36; 21 = 50th percentile, 30 = 93rd percentile
2025 data reflects the post-pandemic score distribution shift downward

ACT Score Requirements by College Tier

Harvard University	Middle 50%: 35–36. Test-required for 2025. A 34 falls below the 25th percentile of enrolled students; below 33 is effectively disqualifying without extraordinary context.
MIT	Middle 50%: 35–36. Test-required (reinstated fall 2023). Math section scores of 36 are typical among admits; composite below 34 is below-range.
Yale University	Middle 50%: 34–36. Test-required (reinstated for 2024–25 cycle). A 33 composite lands below Yale's 25th percentile; 34 is the minimum competitive score.
Princeton University	Middle 50%: 34–36. Test-required (reinstated 2024). Approximately 90% of enrolled students scored 33 or higher; a 36 is the single most common score.
Stanford University	Middle 50%: 34–36. Test-required (reinstated 2025 cycle). A 33 is below-range; 36 is the modal score among admitted students. ACT score for Ivy League equivalents starts at 34.

Harvard University

Middle 50%: 35–36. Test-required for 2025. A 34 falls below the 25th percentile of enrolled students; below 33 is effectively disqualifying without extraordinary context.

MIT

Middle 50%: 35–36. Test-required (reinstated fall 2023). Math section scores of 36 are typical among admits; composite below 34 is below-range.

Yale University

Middle 50%: 34–36. Test-required (reinstated for 2024–25 cycle). A 33 composite lands below Yale's 25th percentile; 34 is the minimum competitive score.

Princeton University

Middle 50%: 34–36. Test-required (reinstated 2024). Approximately 90% of enrolled students scored 33 or higher; a 36 is the single most common score.

Stanford University

Middle 50%: 34–36. Test-required (reinstated 2025 cycle). A 33 is below-range; 36 is the modal score among admitted students. ACT score for Ivy League equivalents starts at 34.

Act Score Requirements by College Tier - ACT - American College Testing certification study resource

ACT Score Thresholds for Scholarships and Merit Aid

ACT scores directly influence scholarship eligibility, with higher composites unlocking larger award brackets at national, institutional, and community levels. Here is how typical merit aid tiers align with score ranges.

🏆Full TuitionNational Merit & Prestige Full-RidesScores of 34–36 required for National Merit Semifinalist status and elite awards like Morehead-Cain or Robertson Scholars.

🎓$10,000–$25,000/yrCompetitive Institutional Merit ScholarshipsScores of 31–33 qualify for flagship university honors scholarships and top departmental awards at selective schools.

🏛️$5,000–$10,000/yrState Flagship Automatic ScholarshipsMost state universities set automatic scholarship floors between 28–30, covering a meaningful share of in-state tuition.

📚$2,000–$5,000/yrMid-Tier Institutional Merit AidScores of 24–27 open the majority of university award brackets, especially at regional and private liberal arts colleges.

🌱$500–$1,500Community & Local Merit GrantsScores of 20–23 are sufficient to unlock many community foundation awards, local business scholarships, and smaller institutional grants.

Award amounts vary significantly by state, institution, and annual funding levels. Always verify current thresholds directly with each college or scholarship program, as cutoffs shift year to year.

ACT Science Question and Answers — Start Free

ACT Score Percentiles: Where You Actually Rank

📉Below Average: Scores 1–19Below 50th Percentile

A composite of 19 places a student at the 44th percentile nationally — meaning 56% of all test-takers scored higher. Roughly 1.8 million students per year fall in this band. Admission is still possible at open-enrollment and many community colleges, but merit aid and selective-school options are limited.

act score percentileact score rankingopen enrollment

Composite 19: 44th percentile (2024–25 norms)
Composite 15: 19th percentile
English 19: ~47th percentile
Math 19: ~46th percentile
Reading 19: ~42nd percentile
Science 19: ~44th percentile
Annual test-takers here: ~1.8 million
Typical admit tier: Open-enrollment & community college

📊Average: Scores 20–2450th–73rd Percentile

A 20 sits at the 52nd percentile; a 24 climbs to the 74th. This band is the national median zone and meets standard admission requirements at the vast majority of public four-year universities. Scores of 20–23 are sufficient to unlock many community foundation and local business scholarships ($500–$1,500), while a 24 opens mid-tier institutional merit aid of $2,000–$5,000 per year.

act composite score percentile 2025state school admissionsmerit aid

Composite 20: 52nd percentile (2024–25 norms)
Composite 22: 64th percentile
Composite 24: 74th percentile
English 22: ~62nd percentile
Math 22: ~58th percentile
Reading 22: ~60th percentile
Science 22: ~61st percentile
Scholarship floor: $500–$5,000/yr at most regional schools

🎯Above Average: Scores 25–2974th–92nd Percentile

A 25 reaches the 78th percentile; a 29 hits the 91st. This range unlocks selective admissions at most state flagships and many competitive private universities, and qualifies students for meaningful automatic scholarships — $5,000–$10,000 per year at the majority of public flagship programs. It's also the ACT floor for most Honors College programs and departmental scholarships at mid-tier selective schools.

act score percentileselective admissionsflagship scholarships

Composite 25: 78th percentile (2024–25 norms)
Composite 27: 85th percentile
Composite 29: 91st percentile
English 27: ~84th percentile
Math 27: ~80th percentile
Reading 27: ~83rd percentile
Science 27: ~82nd percentile
Scholarship range: $5,000–$10,000/yr automatic state awards

🏆Excellent: Scores 30–3693rd–99th+ Percentile

A 30 enters the 93rd percentile; a 34 reaches the 98th; a perfect 36 is the 99th+ percentile (fewer than 1 in 1,000 students). Scores of 34–36 are required for National Merit Semifinalist consideration and elite full-tuition awards like Morehead-Cain. Scores of 31–33 qualify for flagship Honors and competitive institutional scholarships worth $10,000–$25,000 per year.

act composite score percentile 2025act score rankingNational Merittop-tier admissions

Composite 30: 93rd percentile (2024–25 norms)
Composite 33: 97th percentile
Composite 35: 99th percentile
English 33: ~97th percentile
Math 33: ~96th percentile
Reading 33: ~96th percentile
Science 33: ~97th percentile
Scholarship ceiling: Full tuition / National Merit at 34–36

How Long Is the ACT Exam? Format, Sections, and Timing

Budget 2 hrs 55 min for the core ACT (English, Math, Reading, Science)Add 40 min if registering for the optional Writing section (total: 3 hrs 35 min)Pace English at 36 seconds per question across 75 items in 45 minutesAllocate exactly 1 minute per question for all 60 Math problems in 60 minutesTarget 52 seconds per question for Reading and Science (40 questions, 35 min each)Bring an ACT-approved calculator for Math only — no calculator on other sectionsGuess on every unanswered question — the ACT has zero wrong-answer penaltyCheck ACT.org's approved calculator list before test day; unapproved models are confiscated

How Long is the Act Exam? Format, Sections, and Ti - ACT - American College Testing certification study resource

ACT Writing Question and Answers — Start Free

How to Get a Good ACT Score: A 90-Day Study Plan

📋

Week 1

Baseline Diagnostic

Your 90-day ACT study plan begins with a single non-negotiable action: a full, official timed practice test taken exactly as the real exam will be administered. Set a timer for 45 minutes on English, 60 on Math, 35 on Reading, and 35 on Science. No pausing. Score the result using the official ACT scoring tables and calculate your composite. The composite is the average of all four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Identify your single lowest subscale score — this becomes the primary target for the next five weeks. Students who skip the diagnostic and study everything equally typically gain 1–2 composite points; students who diagnose first and target aggressively gain 4–6.

📚

Weeks 2–6

Targeted Content Review

Weeks 2 through 6 are the heaviest study phase of your ACT study plan, and 70% of that time must go to your lowest section. For English, the fastest gains come from mastering the seven grammar rules that appear on almost every test: punctuation, subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, parallel structure, modifier placement, transition logic, and wordiness. For Math, ACT heavily weights pre-calculus and algebra II — master those before touching trigonometry, which accounts for only 4 of 60 questions. For Reading, practice identifying the primary purpose of each passage in 90 seconds before answering questions. For Science, the data representation passages (charts and graphs) require zero content knowledge and account for nearly 40% of the section — drill these first for the fastest score improvement.

⏱️

Weeks 7–9

Pacing & Strategy Drills

Knowing the content is necessary but not sufficient — ACT scores collapse under time pressure. Weeks 7 through 9 are devoted entirely to internalizing the exact per-question time budgets for each section. English requires 36 seconds per question; every question beyond that pace is borrowed from a future question. Math allows exactly 60 seconds per item; questions 40–60 are harder by design, so if you're behind on pacing at question 30, skip to the end and work back. Reading and Science each allow 52 seconds per question. Run these drills using a simple analog stopwatch or the official ACT timer app so your internal clock becomes automatic before test day. Students who practice pacing in isolation — separate from content review — consistently outperform those who only take full tests.

🧪

Weeks 10–11

Full Practice Tests

Weeks 10 and 11 shift to full simulation: two complete, timed ACTs administered on Saturday mornings to match the real test schedule. After each test, do not just review wrong answers — categorize every miss. A concept error means you didn't know the rule or content; the fix is targeted review. A pacing error means you knew it but ran out of time; the fix is more timed drills. A careless error means you misread or rushed; the fix is slowing down on questions you know. Tracking these categories over two full tests reveals a precise, individualized blueprint for your final week. Most students see a 1–2 composite point gain between test 1 and test 2 in this phase; a gain larger than 3 points typically indicates the first test was taken without adequate preparation, not that your real-test gain will match it.

🌙

Week 12

Final Polish

The final week before your ACT is not a cramming opportunity — it is a recovery and logistics phase. Reduce study to 20–30 minutes per day maximum, focusing only on flashcard review of grammar rules or math formulas you've been getting wrong. Do not attempt new practice tests or new content. Sleep is the highest-leverage activity in week 12: a consistent 8-hour sleep schedule the week before a standardized test is associated with faster processing speed and reduced careless errors on test day. Prepare your test-day kit the night before: government-issued photo ID, ACT admission ticket, two sharpened No. 2 pencils, an ACT-approved calculator with fresh batteries, a watch (phones are prohibited in the testing room), and a high-protein snack for the midpoint break. Confirm your test center address — not just the city — since large districts often have multiple sites.

🏆

Test Day

Test Day Execution

Execution strategy on test day can shift your composite by 1–2 points independent of your preparation level. Within each section, work through all questions in order but flag any item taking more than its allotted time and immediately move on — returning to flagged items at the end of the section consistently recovers 1–3 additional correct answers. Bubble your answer sheet in blocks of 5 questions rather than at the end of the section; a single misaligned bubble can cascade into 10+ wrong answers. On English and Science, trust your first instinct — overthinking grammar and data questions is the primary source of careless errors in these sections. On Math, write down all work; students who work in their heads make 40% more careless errors than students who write out each step. Most importantly: guess on every single unanswered question before time is called. The ACT has zero wrong-answer penalty, meaning a random guess has an expected value of 0.25 points — always better than a blank.

Good ACT Scores by Major and Field of Study

Section score targets for STEM majors	Math 30+ and Science 28+ are the practical floors — admissions committees at engineering and pre-med programs weight section scores, not just composite. Aim for 31+ composite minimum; 34+ for flagship engineering schools.
MIT (Engineering, CS)	ACT midpoint: 35–36. Math section typically 35+. MIT reviews all scores submitted and considers superscores; most admitted engineers score 34+ on Math in a single sitting.
Georgia Tech (Engineering)	ACT midpoint: 32–35. Math 33+ is typical for admitted engineering students. Georgia Tech accepts superscores across multiple sittings — submitting your highest Math performance from separate dates is a viable strategy.
Purdue University (Engineering)	ACT midpoint: 31–35. Math 30+ is the practical floor for direct engineering admits. Purdue uses the highest composite superscore and grants Honors College eligibility at 34+.
Pre-Med pathway (Johns Hopkins, UC San Diego)	Johns Hopkins ACT midpoint: 34–36; UCSD 30–34. Science 29+ signals readiness for pre-med coursework. Both institutions accept superscores; a strong Science section from a later sitting can be combined with an earlier composite.

Section score targets for STEM majors

Math 30+ and Science 28+ are the practical floors — admissions committees at engineering and pre-med programs weight section scores, not just composite. Aim for 31+ composite minimum; 34+ for flagship engineering schools.

MIT (Engineering, CS)

ACT midpoint: 35–36. Math section typically 35+. MIT reviews all scores submitted and considers superscores; most admitted engineers score 34+ on Math in a single sitting.

Georgia Tech (Engineering)

ACT midpoint: 32–35. Math 33+ is typical for admitted engineering students. Georgia Tech accepts superscores across multiple sittings — submitting your highest Math performance from separate dates is a viable strategy.

Purdue University (Engineering)

ACT midpoint: 31–35. Math 30+ is the practical floor for direct engineering admits. Purdue uses the highest composite superscore and grants Honors College eligibility at 34+.

Pre-Med pathway (Johns Hopkins, UC San Diego)

Johns Hopkins ACT midpoint: 34–36; UCSD 30–34. Science 29+ signals readiness for pre-med coursework. Both institutions accept superscores; a strong Science section from a later sitting can be combined with an earlier composite.

FREE ACT English: Rhetorical Strategy Questions and Answers — Start Free

Is the ACT Still Worth Taking in 2025?

Whether the ACT is worth your time in 2025 depends heavily on your target schools, GPA, and how efficiently you can prep — here's an honest look at both sides.

✅Reasons to Take the ACT in 2025

+Over 1,800 colleges still use ACT scores to qualify students for merit scholarships, even at schools with test-optional admissions policies — meaning a strong score can directly translate to money.
+A competitive ACT score can offset a weaker GPA during holistic admissions review at many selective schools, giving applicants a second data point to strengthen their case.
+More than 300 colleges offer single-sitting superscore policies, so students who test multiple times are only judged on their best section scores — rewarding persistence and strategic retesting.
+The ACT covers science reasoning as a dedicated section, which can be an advantage for students strong in STEM who want to showcase that skill in a way the SAT does not.

❌Reasons to Skip or Reconsider

−With over 1,600 schools now test-optional, submitting a below-average ACT score can actively hurt your application — making it safer to withhold a weak score entirely, which raises the question of whether testing was worth it.
−The ACT Writing section is rarely required by colleges and adds both cost and time to your test day; check your specific target school list before registering, since most applicants can skip it.
−Moving from an average ACT score into a competitive range realistically requires 40 to 80 hours of focused preparation, a time investment that may not be justified if your target schools are fully test-optional.
−Registration fees, prep materials, and potential retesting costs add up quickly, making the ACT a meaningful financial commitment for families who need to weigh return on investment carefully.

ACT Questions and Answers

More ACT - American College Testing Resources

ACT - American College Testing

ACT - American College Testing: Career Paths, Salary, and Requirements 2026

About the Author

Dr. Lisa PatelEdD, MA Education, Certified Test Prep Specialist

Educational Psychologist & Academic Test Preparation Expert

Columbia University Teachers College

Dr. Lisa Patel holds a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University Teachers College and has spent 17 years researching standardized test design and academic assessment. She has developed preparation programs for SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, UCAT, and numerous professional licensing exams, helping students of all backgrounds achieve their target scores.