Enter your four section scores to calculate your composite ACT score (1–36) and see your national percentile.
The ACT has four sections: English (75 questions, 45 minutes), Mathematics (60 questions, 60 minutes), Reading (40 questions, 35 minutes), and Science (40 questions, 35 minutes). Each section is scored 1–36. Your composite score is the average of all four, rounded to the nearest whole number.
An optional Writing section is scored separately on a 2–12 scale and does not affect your composite. Some colleges require it, so check before registering.
| Score | Percentile | Score | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 100th | 24 | 73rd |
| 34 | 99th | 22 | 62nd |
| 32 | 97th | 20 | 49th |
| 30 | 93rd | 18 | 37th |
| 28 | 88th | 16 | 24th |
Score requirements vary widely by school. A composite of 20 or above is at or above the national average. Most four-year colleges admit students in the 18–28 range. Selective schools typically look for 30 or above. Highly selective schools (top 25 nationally) tend to have middle 50% ranges of 33–36.
A low section score pulls down your composite significantly. If one section is notably weaker than the others, targeted prep there often produces the biggest composite gains. A student scoring 28/28/28/20 has a composite of 26 — improving just the Science section from 20 to 28 would push the composite to 28.
English: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. The fastest-paced section — 75 questions in 45 minutes. Strong grammar foundation and practice with ACT-style editing questions is the most effective prep.
Mathematics: Covers pre-algebra through basic trigonometry. No penalty for guessing. A calculator is permitted on the full Math section (unlike SAT, which restricts calculator use for some questions).
Reading: Four passages in 35 minutes. Speed matters here — students who struggle on Reading often need to improve reading pace, not comprehension.
Science: Tests data interpretation and scientific reasoning, not science knowledge. The passages present graphs, tables, and experimental results — your job is to read them accurately, not recall biology or chemistry facts.
ACT middle 50% ranges (25th–75th percentile of enrolled students) vary significantly by school type. These ranges reflect where the majority of admitted and enrolled students fall — not the absolute minimum required.
| School Tier | ACT Middle 50% | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Highly selective (top 25) | 34–36 | MIT, Harvard, Stanford |
| Selective (top 50) | 30–34 | UC Berkeley, Georgetown, Tufts |
| Competitive (top 100) | 25–30 | University of Oregon, Drexel, DePaul |
| Most 4-year public universities | 19–25 | Many state flagship schools |
| Open-access / community college | No minimum | Used for placement only |
Your composite hides important information. A 26 composite could mean four balanced 26s, or it could mean a 30 in English and Reading with a 22 in Math and Science. These profiles read differently to schools with strong STEM programs versus liberal arts colleges.
Some schools look at section scores directly — particularly for placement into college courses. A 28 in Math may place you into calculus while a 22 might place you into remedial algebra regardless of your composite. If you're planning to major in a quantitative field, Math and Science section scores matter beyond the composite.
Superscoring — where schools accept your best section scores across multiple ACT sittings to construct a composite — is offered by many but not all colleges. Check the policy at each school you're applying to before deciding whether to retake.
The national average ACT composite for 2024–2025 graduates was approximately 19.5. Scoring above 20 puts you above the national median. A score of 24 or above places you in the top 27% of test-takers nationally — strong enough for most state university programs. A 30 or above puts you in the top 7%, which is competitive for selective private universities.
"Good" is always relative to your target schools. A 28 is an excellent score for most programs but falls below the 25th percentile at highly selective schools. The most useful benchmark is the middle 50% range at your specific target schools, not national averages.
Both are accepted by virtually all four-year colleges in the United States. The ACT has a dedicated Science section and moves at a faster overall pace. The SAT has more reading comprehension and data analysis, and slightly more time per question. Taking a free practice test for each is the most reliable way to find out which suits you — many students score meaningfully higher on one than the other.
Most students improve their ACT composite by focusing on their single weakest section rather than spreading effort evenly. The math is straightforward: improving one section from 20 to 26 adds 6 points to your composite. Improving four sections from 26 to 27 each adds 4 points total — significantly less efficient. Identify your lowest section and spend 60% of your prep time there.
Practice test timing matters more for ACT than SAT. The ACT moves faster — 75 questions in 45 minutes for English alone. Students who struggle on ACT often struggle with pace, not content. Timed full-length practice tests are more useful than untimed content review for most ACT takers.
A retake makes sense when: your practice scores on full-length tests are consistently higher than your official score (suggesting test-day nerves or logistics affected performance), you have identified specific skill gaps you have addressed since the last test, or your target schools' middle 50% range is clearly above your current score. Most students see improvement on a second attempt after targeted preparation. Diminishing returns typically appear after two or three attempts.
Test scores are most useful when paired with a strong GPA. See our GPA Calculator to track your academic standing alongside test preparation.
SAT Score Calculator — calculate your SAT total and percentile.
GPA Calculator — calculate your current cumulative GPA.
What GPA Do You Need for Med School? — how test scores and GPA work together in admissions.