So you’ve just received your ACT scores and now you’re wondering, how did I do? Or maybe you’ve haven’t taken your ACT test yet and you’re trying to figure out what result you need to get into your college of choice.

You’re in the right place. This page will help give students a better idea of how they did on the ACT test, what the average ACT result is and what a good ACT result is.

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ACT Scores 101

As students probably know, on the four ACT test subjects: Math, English, Reading, and Science, they will receive a scaled score between 1 to 36. The average of these four scores will then be computed to get your composite score. These figures will be shown on students result reports. Obviously, like every other test you’ve taken the higher your ACT result the better.

Related Topic: ACT Registration And Requirements

What is the Average ACT Score

The average ACT score is 20.8. That means if students score range between a 20 and 21 on the ACT test this will put students right in the middle of the pack. Students result will be higher than 50% of other test takers but also lower than the other 50% of test-takers.

Visit our Free ACT Practice Tests 2020 – Full Length Practice Questions with Explanation

Average ACT Result by Test

Here are the average ACT result are broken down by test over the last 5 years.

The average English ACT Result is 20.3.

The average Math ACT Result is 20.8.

The average Reading ACT Result is 21.3.

The average Science ACT Result is 20.8.

Learn more: ACT Math Test Overview, Content Type And Tips To Score High

What is a Good ACT Result?

Although there are ACT results, what’s considered to be a good ACT result is that which corresponds to the requirements of students chosen college. The higher students result is, the more benefits they can enjoy. A high ACT result presents more options for students pertaining to being accepted in various prestigious colleges and universities.

The highest possible result for the ACT test is 36, and the current score for the same test is 21. Obtaining a score of 23 would deem you to be a strong candidate for many universities, particularly because it is above the range of the current national average. Then again, such a result may not render you qualified to enter more selective colleges.

In the ACT test, your result will be measured on a scale of 1 to 36. Each of the subjects in the test, whether English, Math, Reading, and Science will be scored out of 36 points. The total computed scores of each of these four sections make up your composite score. The following table indicates the average scores for every subject in the ACT in 2017, along with the composite score:

SECTION AVG ACT RESULT English 20.3 Math 20.7 Reading 21.4 Science 21.0 COMPOSITE 21.0

Source: ACT

Achieving these scores for all the four ACT subjects can have you accepted in many colleges and universities, but may have you unqualified for more selective schools.

Here is a quick break down of ACT Result percentiles:

35 and above ACT Result = Top 1%

31 and above ACT Result = Top 5%

29 and above ACT Result = Top 10%

24 and above ACT Result = Top 25%

21 and above ACT Result = Top 50% (reminder 21 is the average ACT result)

16 and below ACT Result – Bottom 25%

We have ACT Reading Test Basics & Practices to Improve Scores

Here are more details on ACT eesult percentiles.

ACT Result Percentiles For 2020

If students result reports falls on the 75th percentile (a composite score of 25 or above), that means they have a right result. This means students scored better than 75 percent of the test-takers. But if students result reports are lower than the 25th percentile average ACT result(a composite score of 16 or lower), then that means their result is poor and need to take steps to improve it, whether by taking ACT review classes or working on ACT practice tests.

Note that your basis for what a good score is should be based on your desired college or university’s ACT result.

Look into the ACT result of the students who got into the college or university of their choice. UCLA, for example, has an ACT result of 29. If you want to get into UCLA, you must need to have an ACT result of 29 or higher to improve your chances of getting accepted.

Percentile English Math Reading Science Composite 90th (excellent) 29-30 28 31 27-28 28 75th (good) 24 24 25 24 24 50th (OK) 20 19 20 20 20 25th (poor) 14-15 16 16 16-17 16 10th (very poor) 11 14 13 13 13

Sources: ACT 2017 National Profile Report, ACT 2012 National Profile Report

We have ACT Prep Test that you can use: ACT English Practice Tests