How do colleges use your ACT score for admissions?

Colleges consider a range of ACT scores when making admissions decisions, giving students some flexibility. Commonly, students with scores in the range of 20-23 are still considered competitive at many mid-tier colleges. For more selective schools, a score in the 24-28 range will increase your chances of admission.

How do colleges use the ACT scores?

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.

Do ACT scores get automatically sent to colleges?

While we still automatically send your scores from the ACT test to the places you requested when you registered (including both your high school and college score recipients), something may have changed since then.

Should I put my ACT score on my college application?

Advice From a College Access Professional

When advising students I recommend sending in test scores if your scores are at or above the 75th percentile for the college. If your scores are somewhere between the 50th and 75th percentile, you probably should submit the scores.

How important is the ACT test in college admissions?

Even if a school is test optional, having a strong test score will boost your application and help you stand out from the crowd. If you decide not to take the ACT, it can limit the colleges you're able to apply to and cause you to lose out on a chance to make your application even more impressive.

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Do colleges prefer SAT or ACT?

This is a common misconception. Colleges don't have a preference between the SAT or ACT so it's important to know how to choose the test that's right for you. Both tests are widely accepted across U.S. colleges—including those that are test optional.

Do colleges look at ACT scores?

College admission tests like the SAT and ACT are standardized tests typically taken in your junior or senior year. Colleges use scores from these tests to help them make admission decisions.

Does ACT affect college acceptance?

Admissions decisions: Results from the ACT, high school grades, academic preparation, out-of-class accomplishments, and future plans—these and other kinds of information help admissions officials identify applicants who can benefit most from their programs.

How much do ACT scores matter to colleges?

Getting a high ACT score can increase your chances of getting into selective colleges. 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.

How quickly does ACT send scores to colleges?

Colleges typically receive ACT scores 2-8 weeks after your test date. Don't be worried if you don't receive your scores within the normal timeframe. It can take up to eight weeks for ACT scores to be released (though this is uncommon).

What happens when you send an ACT score to a college?

Send scores with your best section results to colleges that superscore the ACT. These schools will make a new composite score for you using your best English, Math, Reading, and Science scores from any ACTs you took.

What are three ways colleges use your ACT score?

Do colleges use your highest ACT score?

Did you take the ACT more than once? 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 are the four ways in which colleges use ACT scores?

What's the lowest ACT score to get into college?

What is the lowest ACT score a college 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. On the other hand, an ACT score of 17 or lower is accepted by 58 schools.

Is a 1200 ACT score good?

For example, a score in the 75th percentile (approximately a 1200 on the SAT or a 24 on the ACT) would likely be strongly considered at most competitive colleges, while applicants scoring in the 90th percentile or higher (a 1350 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT) would likely be well received even at highly competitive ...

Do any colleges not accept ACT?

Yes, there are many colleges in the US that don't require ACT or SAT scores. Some of them include New York University, University of Southern California, and many more. These are known as test-optional universities.

Can you submit both SAT and ACT scores to colleges?

Most colleges require either the SAT or ACT and express no preference for either test. That said, significant percentages of students at selective colleges are submitting scores from both tests when they apply.

Is the ACT harder than the SAT?

The SAT is not harder than the ACT. Both tests vary slightly in terms of subjects covered and structure. These variations can affect each test-taker differently, making one exam more challenging than the other. Taking full-length practice tests of each type can help you determine which may be best suited for you.

Why take ACT instead of SAT?

Both tests evaluate your skills in reading, writing, and math. However, the ACT goes a step further by offering an optional essay component that can highlight your writing skills to provide a more well-rounded assessment of your academic abilities.

Does your ACT score really matter?

One big piece of this process continues to be the standardized SAT and ACT exams. Of all the factors impacting a school's acceptance, we believe these test scores make up approximately 30% of the overall decision. However, they are extremely important for being awarded scholarship money.

Should I send my ACT scores to colleges as a junior?

Colleges keep scores sent to them before applications are submitted and match them with the application once they receive it. Most students take SAT/ACT tests in their junior year and send the free score reports to colleges. Sophomore scores should be ok too - but I would advise to check directly with the college.

How do I send my ACT scores to a college for free?

College Board and ACT automatically submit your four free score reports to colleges shortly after your scores are made available to you. This means that after you take your test, you'll get your scores. Then, soon after you receive your scores, the four schools you specified will have them too.

Do ACT scores predict college success?

The study determined that both a student's ACT score and their high school GPA (HSGPA) effectively predicted long-term success during college. Overall, they found that ACT scores were a more accurate predictor, and that ACT benchmarks also provided compelling evidence.