ACT Scores

You will receive ACT Scores in each of the four tests (english, mathematics, reading and science) as well as a composite score. The ACT Scores will range from 1 to 36 and the ACT Composite score will be an average of the four subject area tests.

In addition, you will be given subscores for the English, Mathematics and Reading subject area tests. The subscores range from 1 to 18 and do not necessarily add up to your subject area ACT scores. The subscores are intended to help you identify areas of strengths and weaknesses within the subject areas.

Interpreting your ACT Scores

The best way to understand your ACT Scores is by comparing them to other students and seeing what your preferred colleges require. The table below lists your percentile compared to other students. For example, if you scored a 24 on your ACT Composite score, this implies that your percentile score is 75 (i.e., you scored better than 75% of the other students who took the ACT Test).

ACT Scores	ACT Composite	ACT English	ACT Math	ACT Reading	ACT Science
36	99	99	99	99	99
35	99	99	99	99	99
34	99	99	99	99	99
33	99	98	98	97	99
32	99	97	98	95	98
31	98	95	97	94	97
30	96	94	95	91	97
29	94	92	94	88	96
28	92	89	91	85	94
27	89	86	88	82	92
26	85	83	84	78	89
25	80	79	79	74	85
24	75	74	74	70	79
23	69	69	68	64	72
22	62	64	63	58	65
21	55	57	58	53	56
20	48	50	52	47	48
19	40	42	46	40	38
18	33	36	40	34	29
17	25	31	33	29	22
16	19	26	24	24	16
15	13	21	13	18	12
14	9	16	6	14	9
13	5	11	2	9	7
12	2	9	1	6	4
11	1	6	1	3	3
10	1	4	1	1	1
9	1	3	1	1	1
8	1	2	1	1	1
7	1	1	1	1	1
6	1	1	1	1	1
5	1	1	1	1	1
4	1	1	1	1	1
3	1	1	1	1	1
2	1	1	1	1	1
1	1	1	1	1	1

Source: ACT Student Website

ACT Benchmark Scores

ACT has derived a “benchmark” score for each of the four subject areas. The benchmark score is the minimum score needed on the test that indicates you have a 50% chance of getting a B and a 75% chance of getting a C in the first year college course in that subject. The table below shows the ACT Benchmark Scores.

ACT Test Subject Area	ACT Benchmark Scores	First Year College Course
ACT English	18	English Composition
ACT Math	22	Algebra
ACT Reading	21	Social Sciences/Humanities
ACT Science	24	Biology

ACT Test and College Requirements

The table below summarizes the ACT Test requirements for public and private 4 year institutions.

	Public 4-year institutions	Private 4-year institutions
ACT scores
Composite, 25th percentile	19.2	20.2
Composite, 75th percentile	24.1	25.3
English, 25th percentile	18.1	19.3
English, 75th percentile	24.3	25.7
Mathematics, 25th percentile	18.4	18.9
Mathematics, 75th percentile	24.1	24.8