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

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.

Is it good to send ACT scores to colleges?

You should send an individual or ACT superscore to colleges well before any application deadline. This strategy ensures college admissions counselors receive a complete application portfolio as soon as possible.

Do colleges take ACT seriously?

Some schools, including certain highly selective schools like Yale and Stanford, require you to send all your ACT scores. This means that you cannot use Score Choice, and you must send them the scores of every ACT you took, even if there was a particular test date when you didn't score as well as you usually do.

How do I know if a college received my ACT scores?

If your college has given you a personal online account, you may be able to sign in to that site and see whether your scores have arrived. Otherwise, you can contact your college's admission office and ask.

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.

Sending ACT Scores

Do colleges look more at ACT or SAT?

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.

What is an acceptable ACT score for college?

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.

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.

Does your ACT score matter in college?

Unless you are applying for admission to a community college, a flexible or test-optional school, an art school, or a trade or technical school, SAT and ACT scores probably will affect your chances of being admitted to college.

Do colleges automatically get ACT scores?

Colleges get your ACT scores when they are sent an ACT Score Report. ACT Score Reports are sent directly from ACT at your request.

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.

Why do colleges look at ACT?

Colleges use the ACT in two ways: (1) to get a broad idea of your academic abilities, and (2) as a way to compare you to the other students in their applicant pool. Don't forget: The ACT is a standardized test.

Why do I have to pay to send my ACT scores to colleges?

While you can get a fee waiver for the test itself, there is no way to send score reports for free beyond the four you get with registration. Since ACT, Inc. treats each test date as a separate report, it can cost a lot of money to send all of your test scores to multiple colleges.

Should you send ACT scores as a junior?

Current juniors should expect to send ACT or SAT scores to colleges during their senior year. This is the year to keep working on good grades, challenging classes, meaningful involvement, and standardized testing. If you take care of the SAT / ACT this year, you can focus on your applications and essays next summer.

Will not submitting ACT scores hurt?

If you do submit scores, they'll be reviewed, but if you don't, you won't be penalized and other components of your application will simply be weighted more to take the place of the test scores.

What do colleges look for in ACT scores?

However, most colleges have a minimum requirement of 18 or 20 on the ACT. While this is the baseline, it's worth noting that colleges consider a range of factors beyond just test scores, such as GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

Do colleges look at your highest ACT score?

Colleges that superscore the ACT will look at your highest individual test scores and calculate a new, composite score across all your test dates.

Do colleges look at grades or ACT?

Although college admissions officers often say that they give much more weight to a student's GPA, even they will admit that your ACT score is of considerable importance. Here's what they won't tell you: your ACT is often more important than your high school grades!

What is the lowest score colleges will accept on ACT?

Colleges generally consider a minimum ACT score of 12 for admission. Scores below this threshold may pose challenges in the admission process, impacting your chances of acceptance.

What is the lowest ACT score?

The absolute minimum ACT score you can get is a 1, although this is very unlikely to happen. You might be more worried about getting a score high enough to get into college.

Has anyone gotten a 1 on the ACT?

1 ACT Score Standings

Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 1895661 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 0 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1507 schools with this score.

Do all colleges accept ACT scores?

Most colleges are test-optional or test-blind now, but not these top schools. Oct. 9, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. While the need for submitting SAT/ACT scores has lessened, there are still some universities that require the test scores on applications.

Does Harvard prefer SAT or ACT?

Harvard has no preference between the SAT and ACT, so choose the test that's a better fit for you, thoroughly prepare for it, and plan to take it multiple times. The range of SAT scores and ACT composite scores for students admitted to Harvard varies.

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.

What does sending ACT scores do?

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.