Scores for the ACT Test
How can I see my scores?
Whenavailable, your scores are posted online and accessed using your MyACT account.
ACT Customer Support cannotprovide your scores by phone, email, chat, or fax.
- Multiple choice scoresare normally available two weeks after each national test date, but it can sometimes take up to eight weeks.
- Writing scoresare normally available about two weeks after
your multiple-choice scores.
If you took the writing test, your overall scores are not officially reported until your writing scores have been added.Viewing
your scores online does not speed up reporting.
Regarding the October and February test dates only:Scores from these test dates are available within3-8 weeks. During these test dates, ACT performs equating activities in order to ensure that scores reported have a constant meaning across all test forms.
Score reporting dates
Scores are delivered over a window of time after the test date and are processed continuously during business hours. ACT is committed to providing your scores as quickly as possible but cannot guarantee a specific date for your scores to be reported.
| National test date | Reporting Timeframe |
| September 10, 2022 | September 20 – November 4 |
| October 22, 2022 | November8– December 16 |
| December 10, 2022 | December 20 – February 3 |
| February 11, 2023 | February 28– April 7 |
| April 15, 2023 | April 25 – June 9 |
| June 10, 2023 | June 20 – August 4 |
| July 15, 2023 | July 25 – September 8 |
If your scores are not yet available, while during the posted timeframe, ACT is unable to provide a status or timeline about a specific score.
Occasionallywe are unable to post scores when expected. If yours are not available yet, it may be due to one of these issues:
- Answer documents from your test center arrived late or your test date was rescheduled.
- The "Matching Information" you provided on the answer document (name, date of birth, and Match Number) is not consistent with the Matching Information on your admission ticket.Scores cannot be reported until they can be accurately matched to the correct person. You provided incomplete or inaccurate test form information on the answer document, or the answer document has not cleared all other scoring accuracy checks.
- An irregularity is reported at your test center.
- You owe any registration fees.
Delivery timelines
ACT sends score report data to the recipients you provided during registration; these include your high school and any institutions with college codes you provided. ACT also provides your scores through your web account.
| Type of report | Where it's delivered | When it's delivered | What it reports |
| Student report | Your online ACT web account | About 2–8 weeks after the test date | ACT scores, college and career planning information |
| High school report | Your high schoolvia online reporting | About 2–8 weeks after the test date | ACT scores, college and career planning information |
| College report | Each valid college code you listed and paid for when you registered or tested (up to six) | Varies based on college and when ordered | Everything on the Student and High School Report, plus the grades you reported in up to 30 high school courses; it may also include predictions about your performance in specific college programs and courses |
Your scores in MyACT
MyACT now delivers dynamic score reports for National testing events.MyACT is mobile-accessible and friendly and all results can be accessed on a PC, tablet, or mobile device.
When you select score recipients, you’ll have the option of sending either score reports from the specific test event or you can choose to send your superscore.
You may print an unofficial copy of your ACT test score by using your browser’s print option.A PDF student report is currently unavailable.
Additional Services
Request a Copy of the Questions and Answers
Certain national test dates and centers give you the opportunity to order a copy of your questions, your answers, the answer key, and scoring instructions—plus the writing prompt, scoring rubric, and scores assigned to the optional writing test.
Request a Copy
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Score Verification Service
You can ask ACT to verify your multiple-choice and/or your writing test scores up to 12 months after your test date. Please download theRequest for Score Verification (PDF).
You will need to complete the form, and enclose a check payable to ACT Customer Support for the applicable fee(s).
- For multiple-choice tests, ACT will verify that your responses were checked against the correct scoring key.
- For the writing test, ACT will verify that your essay was scored by two independent, qualified readers and by a third reader in the event that the two scores differed by more than one point in any domain. ACT will also verify that your essay was properly captured and displayed to readers. If errors are discovered during score verification, ACT will rescore your essay.
ACT will inform you by letter of the results of the score verification approximately three to five weeks after receiving your request.
If a scoring error is discovered, your scores will be changed and corrected reports will be released to you and all previous score report recipients at no charge. In addition, your score verification fee will be refunded.
If required under applicable law, ACT will permit you to be present for the verification of your test scores at a mutually agreed upon location.Additional fees will apply.
Score Verification Request (PDF)
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Correcting Errors in Your Score Report
Student errors
If, after you receive your score report, you find that you made a significant error in the information you supplied to us about yourself, or if you want to change your address, you may ask us to correct your record. Write to:
ACT Customer Care
P.O. Box 414
Iowa City, IA 52243-0414 USA
Write within three months of receiving your score report.Enclose a photocopy or printed pdf of your Student Report describing the error and the change you are requesting.
There is no fee for making the correction, but you must pay the applicable fee for each corrected report you wish sent to a college, agency, or high school.
Other errors
If you think there is an error (on any information other than your test scores), write to ACT Customer Care—Score Reports at the above address within three months of receiving your score report. Enclose a photocopy or printed pdf of your Student Report describing the error and the change you are requesting.
If an error is our responsibility and requires you to retest, there will be no fee. If the error does not involve retesting, corrected score reports will be released to you and all previous score recipients at no charge.
If an error is not to be found to be made by ACTand you wish to send corrected reports, you must request and pay for Additional Score Reports.
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Changing Score Recipients
If you need to change a score recipient, you have until Thursday noon after the regularly scheduled test date.
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Need to send more scores?
In addition to the four institutions you selected upon registering, you can send your scores to others, even after you test. Requests are processed after all scores for your test option—the ACT or the ACT with writing—are ready.
Find College Codes
How to Send Scores
Can scores be cancelled?
ACT reserves the right to cancel test scores when there is reason to believe the scores are invalid. See theCompromises/Disruptions in the Testing Process—Limitation of Remediessection of the ACT Terms and Conditions (PDF)for details.
Outside of state testing and district testing, you may request to cancel scores for a particular test date. Contact us online and we will provide you a form to complete and return to us. We will then permanently cancel that score record for the indicated test date and send
cancellation notices to any score recipients.
Understanding Your Scores
What does it all mean?
There's a lot of information provided in the ACT score report.
Follow the link below to learn why we show individual reporting categories, how we arrived at your Composite score—and more!
Understanding Scores
National ranks
How do you compare?
Your national ranks tell you how your scores compare to those earned by recent high school graduates who took the ACT. Colleges use this information to help make admissions decisions, and scholarship agencies may base awards on it.
National Ranks
How schools use results
Your current and future schools want to learn more about you.
Just as you can use national ranks to get a sense of your strengths and weaknesses, so can your high school and potential colleges.A high rank in a content area may suggest a good chance of success in related college majors and careers. A low rank may indicate that you need to develop your skills more by taking additional coursework in that area. This information is helpful for you as well as your current and future schools.
How Schools Use Results
Should I retest?
43% of ACT test takers chose to take the test more than once last year, and more than half of them improved their scores.
View Infographic
Why every point matters on the ACT test
Did you know improving by just a single test point can be worth thousands of dollars in financial aid for your college education? The ACT® test is important to your future—and can open up new opportunities for college and career.
What scores are reported if I test more than once?
You determine which set of scores is sent to colleges or scholarship programs. We will release only the scores from the test date (month and year) and test location (e.g., National, State, School) you designate.
Can I combine scores from different test dates to create a new Composite score?
Yes - superscoring enables you to combine scores from different test dates.
Can I report only my writing scores or only my multiple-choice scores from a test date?
No. All scores from a test date will be reported together.
Can I combine my writing scores from one test date with my multiple-choice scores from another?
Yes - superscoring enables you to combine writing scores from one test date with multiple-choice scores from another test date.
Test Security Hotline
Cheating hurts everyone – if you see it, report it. You can make an anonymous report by using the Test Security Hotline.Discussing test content—including on social media—is not permitted.Students who don't do their own work put honest students at a disadvantage. If you suspect that someone is trying to take unfair advantages or encounter anything else out of the ordinary, please report it to ACT.
Compromises and disruptions
See theCompromises/Disruptions in the Testing Process—Limitation of Remedies section of ACT's Terms and Conditionsfor remedies available to examinees affected by compromises or disruptions in the testing process.
FAQs
How many questions can you miss on the ACT to get a 27? ›
NOTE: you cannot get a 23 on any individual section if you want to get a composite score of 26 unless you get a section score of higher than 26. Overall, you can skip/get wrong around 50 questions per ACT test to get a composite score of 26. For English, you can skip/miss 14 questions on average to get a 26.
How many questions can you miss on the ACT to get a 36? ›Use your practice test's ACT scoring chart to see how your raw scores translate into scale scores. You can miss 1-3 questions on each ACT section and still earn a 36 composite score.
How many questions can you miss to get a 30 on the ACT? ›To get a 30 on ACT English on Practice Test #1, a student must get 65 questions correct. But to get a 30 on ACT English on Practice Test #2, a student has to ace 66 questions.
What score can you get on the ACT by guessing? ›The Guessing Penalty
First things first: There is no guessing penalty, so you've got nothing to lose by guessing. That wasn't always the case. Prior to March 2016, the SAT did have a guessing penalty; a quarter of a point was subtracted from your raw score for every wrong answer.
The idea that C is the best answer to choose when guess-answering a question on a multiple choice test rests on the premise that ACT answer choices are not truly randomized. In other words, the implication is that answer choice C is correct more often than any other answer choice.
How many questions wrong is a 33 on the ACT? ›2 questions wrong drops you to a 33 in Science on that test. If you are aiming to get a 34 on 1 section and 36 on the rest to get a 36 composite score, you should aim for at most 2 wrong on that section.
Is it better to skip or guess on the ACT? ›There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT. Never, ever, ever, leave any answers blank. You have a 25% chance of getting the question right if you guess. So at the very least, always guess!
What is the lowest ACT score to get into Harvard? ›Average ACT: 34
There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 33 to have a chance at being considered. A university with Harvard's stature has equally high ACT standards.
If you're trying to boost your ACT score, the English section is the easiest to tackle. Here's why: there is only a handful of technical grammar content covered and there are really only a handful of rhetorical skills covered.
How can I raise my ACT score fast? ›- Work questions out of order. ...
- Choose a “Letter of the Day.” ...
- Forget the right answer—find the wrong ones. ...
- Know the best way to bubble in. ...
- Tailor your strategy to each section of the ACT. ...
- Build the right ACT prep plan for you.
Is 25 a low ACT score? ›
Earning an ACT score of 25 puts you above average, making you eligible at a wide variety of schools and competitive at some selective institutions. To put this accomplishment in another light, a 25 ACT score puts you at the 75th percentile — that means you scored higher than 75% of all test takers.
What is a 65% on the ACT? ›For instance, if your score percentile is 65, then you scored higher than 65% of test-takers who sat for the ACT the same day as you did. 35% of test-takers scored better than you. NOTE: Your score percentile is not the percentage of questions answered correctly.
Why is C always the answer? ›The idea that C is the best answer to choose when guess-answering a question on a multiple choice test rests on the premise that ACT answer choices are not truly randomized. In other words, the implication is that answer choice C is correct more often than any other answer choice.
Is C the most common answer? ›Let's be clear: it's not true that C is the “most common answer” on a given test. It's straight-up not, and guessing based on that is tantamount to relying on thaumaturgy to improve your SAT score. It's a poor excuse for strategy and preparedness.
What is the lowest ACT score someone has gotten? ›What's the Lowest ACT Score You Can Get? The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, meaning that the absolute minimum ACT score you could get is 1. This composite score is calculated by taking the average of all four section scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and rounding (so anything ending with a .
What's the best answer to guess on the ACT? ›- If you are guessing on the English, Reading, and Science, it doesn't matter what you guess, but you should guess in a straight line.
- On the Math section, if you are guessing in the last 10, A/F or E/K is the better guess.
Do You Feel Confident in the Content? Obviously, it's not a good idea to take the ACT® unless you have a good grasp on the content that will be tested. The ACT® Reading and ACT® Science sections are both the hardest and easiest to prepare for.
Is it normal to not answer all the questions on the ACT? ›Can I Leave Questions Blank on the ACT/SAT? On both tests, there is no penalty for guessing. Since points are not deducted for incorrect answers, students are encouraged to attempt every question.
Can you get a 36 on the ACT without writing? ›Further, because the ACT Writing Test is optional, it is scored separately from the other sections and does not affect your ACT composite score (out of 36). This means that if you've been wondering, “Can the ACT Writing hurt your score,” you can rest easy: the answer is no.
Is 19 a good ACT score? ›What Is a Good ACT Score Overall? A good ACT score ranks you higher than the majority of test-takers. As such, any composite score above the 50th percentile, or 19-20, can be considered a solid score.
Do you have to get every question correct to get a 36 on ACT? ›
Based on the ACT practice tests, most sections require you to miss 0 questions to receive a score of 36. However, in the Math section, you might be able to miss 1 question and still receive a 36. Receiving a score of 35 most often entails missing 1–3 questions in each section.
Does retaking the ACT improve your score? ›As referenced earlier, retesting at least once is associated with increases in average Composite scores when comparing first and second test instances.
What grade is the best time to take ACT? ›Most high school students take the ACT for the first time in their junior year. While you may wait to take it until the fall of your senior year, it's usually best to sit for the ACT sooner, ideally by the spring of your junior year.
Will a 27 on the ACT get you scholarships? ›A 27 ACT score puts you a good deal about the national average (20.8) and makes you eligible for acceptance at a vast majority of schools. It also makes you competitive at some selective institutions, as well as eligible for merit aid! Considering those things, it's easy to say that a 27 ACT score is good.
Is the ACT harder than the SAT? ›The SAT and ACT generally cover the same topics. Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Neither the SAT or ACT is harder than the other.
Can you still get accepted to college with low ACT scores? ›Although being able to submit good SAT or ACT scores can greatly expand your possible college choices, there are colleges and universities out there that accept students with lower than average scores, and some schools that don't require these tests at all.
What ACT score is needed for scholarships? ›At a minimum, an ACT score of 25 should qualify you for lower-level scholarship money. However, as the amount increases, scholarships become more competitive and the score ranges increase. Again, the barest minimum to shoot for is the 20-25 score range.
How much can you realistically raise your ACT score? ›Many students can improve on average 150 to 200 points on the SAT and three to five points on the ACT with hard work and tutoring."
What time of year is the ACT easiest? ›Origin of the Myth
But here's the thing: While there were studies done that showed higher scores in one month than another, those months changed year to year. First experts would cry “December is easiest! Take it in December!” and a few years later they'd swear “May is by far easier!”
Relatively speaking, the ACT has gotten “harder” over the years. As students start to do better on ACT, the test-makers gradually adjust the difficulty level of the test. And students have gotten better. In 1970, the average composite score nationwide was 18.6.
Why did I score so low on the ACT? ›
However, more often than not, low ACT scores are symptomatic of one prevailing problem: poor reading comprehension. A student who has weak reasoning and math skills may score poorly on the math and science tests. A student who doesn't understand the basics of grammar and punctuation will likely score poorly in English.
Is there a way to rush ACT scores? ›There is no rush scoring option, so you'll want to make sure your child takes the test in plenty of time for the colleges of his or her choice to receive the score report. You can find the online score release dates on our ACT Test Dates page.
How many hours does it take to improve ACT score? ›There are rough guidelines if you want to improve a certain amount of points. With the ACT, improving by 1 point requires about 10 hours of studying. 2-3 points mean 20 hours, 2-4 means 40 hours, 4-6 requires 80, and anything above that means you're looking at 150+ hours of studying to make information stick.
What is the average ACT score first time? ›| State | % taking the ACT | Average Score |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 16 | 20.6 |
| Arizona | 64 | 18.4 |
| Arkansas | 93 | 18.8 |
| California | 4 | 26.5 |
A 20 ACT score puts you at the 49th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 49% of all test takers — which is certainly something to be proud of! To increase your competitiveness during the college application process, though, you'll want to meet or exceed the national average, which is closer to a score of 21.
Is 24 an OK ACT score? ›A score of 24 on the ACT certainly makes you an eligible candidate, as well as competitive! To put this another way, a 24 ACT score puts you at the 73rd percentile, meaning you scored higher than 73% of all test takers — which is definitely something to be proud of!
What score is a 50% on the ACT? ›The average ACT score is 20.
If you've scored 21, then you've scored higher than 50% of test-takers.
The average ACT hovers just below 21, at a 20.9, making that a great benchmark for all college-bound students. Several colleges will accept an ACT score of 18, but not as many as we'd typically like to see. Re-taking the test and aiming for the 21 score would be ideal.
Is 27 a high ACT score? ›With a score of 27, you are in the 87th percentile of all test takers. More likely than not, with a score of 27, you'll often be in or near the commonly accepted range at selective colleges. The exception may be the Ivy League where the score required may be higher than 30 on average.
Should you guess B or C? ›Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.
What letter is most common on multiple choice test? ›
Remember, the expected likelihood of each option being correct is 25%. And on tests with five choices (say, A, B, C, D, and E), E was the most commonly correct answer (23%). C was the least (17%).
Are you penalized for wrong answers on the ACT? ›On the ACT there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so students are encouraged to guess if they aren't certain on the answer. Wrong answers don't take away points you've already earned, they simply don't give you any points at all—so you might as well chance it and maybe get one right!
What makes C so special? ›CA are highly knowledgeable in every aspect. CA's are not limited to Audit and Accounts only. They handle the taxation matters as well, provide the Financial consultancy and also handles the cost accounting matters. Whereas all such things could not be possible for a person pursuing CS only.
Why do we prefer C? ›The programs that you write in C compile and execute much faster than those written in other languages. This is because it does not have garbage collection and other such additional processing overheads. Hence, the language is faster as compared to most other programming languages.
Why is C so important? ›C is a procedural language that supports structured programming; it has a static system and a compiler written in C itself. Since its release, C has become a milestone in computing history and has become the most critical component throughout the computer industry.
What is the lowest ACT score ever accepted to Harvard? ›The average ACT score of Harvard-accepted students is 33. Although Harvard claims there is no minimum ACT score, if you apply with a 29 or lower, you'll have difficulty getting in. So, to get into Harvard, it is important to note the different Harvard University requirements for test scores.
Is 22 a low ACT score? ›Is 22 a good ACT score? A 22 ACT score is above the national average score of 21, making you eligible to apply as a good candidate to many colleges.
How hard is it to get a 27 on the ACT? ›With a score of 27, you are in the 87th percentile of all test takers. More likely than not, with a score of 27, you'll often be in or near the commonly accepted range at selective colleges. The exception may be the Ivy League where the score required may be higher than 30 on average.
Is it easy to get a 27 on the ACT? ›Considering those things, it's easy to say that a 27 ACT score is good. Looking at this from another angle, earning a score of 27 lands you in the 85th percentile, meaning that you've scored higher than 85% of all test takers. Give yourself a round of applause!
Is a 27 on the ACT hard to get? ›Getting a 27+ on the ACT is doable, but if you do really badly in one section, that section could pull your entire score to 26 or lower. Don't let this happen! With study and hard work, you can be strong enough on the exam to get a 27—even if your scores in a section or two are a little below that 27 target.
What percent is a 27 on the ACT? ›
With a 27 ACT score, you can get into very good schools. It equals 85%, which is quite higher than the average score, so, if you have got a 27 ACT, good job! But, different colleges have different preferences. Some colleges might want 27 ACT, and some might ask for more or less.
What ACT score gets you a full ride? ›You will need to have at least a 3.75 GPA and SAT scores of 1270 or above or ACT scores of 27 or above.
Is the ACT or SAT harder? ›The SAT and ACT generally cover the same topics. Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Neither the SAT or ACT is harder than the other.
What is the lowest ACT score colleges will accept? ›In general, many US colleges and universities accept applicants with 16 or 17 ACT scores. In fact, an ACT score of 16 or lower is accepted by 33 schools.
Is 37 a good ACT score? ›In general, a good ACT score is any score in or above the 75th percentile — at least a 24. Students should aim to hit or exceed the middle 50% of ACT scores at their chosen colleges.
Is 26 a low ACT score? ›Is 26 ACT Score Good? With a score of 26, you are in the 83th to 85th percentile of all test takers. More likely than not, with a score of 26, you'll often be in or near the commonly accepted range at selective colleges. The exception may be the most selective colleges and the Ivy League.
How do you go from 27 to 30 on the ACT? ›To get a 30, you must score highly on all four sections of the exam (excluding Writing). Specifically, you'll need to get at least a 30 on two sections and a composite score of 29.5 (which rounds to 30) or higher. This means you can only miss a handful of questions on each section.
Can you get a scholarship with a 27 ACT? ›Some scholarships don't even require one specific score, but rather one within a given range. At a minimum, an ACT score of 25 should qualify you for lower-level scholarship money. However, as the amount increases, scholarships become more competitive and the score ranges increase.
Do colleges look at Superscore or composite? ›Colleges that superscore the ACT will look at your highest individual test scores and calculate a new, composite score across all your test dates. Your ACT Superscore is the average of your highest Math, Science, Reading and English test scores.
What happens if you get a 36 on the ACT? ›A 36 ACT score is most certainly good — in fact, it's great. It's the best possible score! A 36 ACT score makes you eligible to apply as a competitive candidate at all institutions — this includes elite and selective colleges and universities, as well. On top of that, you can expect a sizable amount of merit aid.
Is 23 an average ACT score? ›
A score of 23 on the ACT is above the current national average and will make you a strong applicant at many universities, but it may fall below the average score for accepted students at more selective colleges. The higher your ACT score, the more options are open to you.
Is 20 the average ACT score? ›A 20 ACT score puts you at the 49th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 49% of all test takers — which is certainly something to be proud of! To increase your competitiveness during the college application process, though, you'll want to meet or exceed the national average, which is closer to a score of 21.