Why are ACT scores so low?

“So the tests have gotten easier, and the scores continue to go down.” According to her and others like Vera Murphy Trayner, the owner of Veritas College Counseling, one of the big factors leading to the lower scores is COVID 19.

Why is the ACT average so low?

ACT college admissions test scores fall to 30-year low among U.S. students Scores have fallen for six consecutive years, and the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The average scores in reading, science and math showed test-takers weren't ready for college.

Do colleges accept low ACT scores?

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 14 a bad ACT score?

Each section has a test score range of 1-36: Below Average Score Range: 1-16. Average Score Range: 17-24. Above Average Score Range: 25-36.

Is 19 a good ACT score?

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. That said, a 20 won't cut it at many competitive colleges.

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Is 13 a bad ACT score?

Scores below a 15 on the ACT are considered low at just about any four-year college. You can overcome low scores with a great GPA or an outstanding college application. But even if you're accepted, the school may ask you to take some remedial courses before enrolling.

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 ...

Is 27 a good ACT score for a junior?

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.

How rare is a 29 ACT score?

29 ACT Score Standings

Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 134036 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 1364 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 143 schools with this score.

Is a 27 bad on the ACT?

Is 27 ACT Score Good? 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.

Do colleges look more at GPA or ACT?

Although the ACT is given a lot of weight, the GPA is still a huge component of your application. It is the only piece of numerical data that can reveal hard work, self-discipline, and consistency. Together with your transcript, your GPA can show improvement over time and intellectual growth.

What if my ACT score is low but my GPA is high?

While your GPA and transcript are very important, your low ACT score may make an admissions officer question if your grades were “inflated” (which some teachers do) or ask if you took easy classes. They may think that your low ACT score is a better signifier of how prepared you are for higher education.

What is the lowest recorded 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.

Why is the ACT flawed?

ACT has performed few studies of score differences in its test, making it difficult to pinpoint the sources of the score gaps. Here are a few likely candidates: Biased format: Research shows that a fast-paced, multiple-choice format favors males over females. Guessing, a risk males are more likely to take, is rewarded.

What ACT score is top 1%?

On the ACT, 34 and up is the 99th percentile.

So if you score 34 or higher, you're in the top 1% of test takers!

Is ACT losing money?

The revenues generated by ACT Inc. from educational assessment and work-force development — a category that includes the ACT exam — declined by nearly $100 million during just the fiscal year that ended on August 31, 2020.

Should I retake my ACT if I got a 29?

There's no pressing need to retake the ACT with a score of 29, unless your ideal school would like to see a higher score.

Can I get a full ride with a 29 ACT score?

Your score should be above 30 ACT score. Actually, some may provide scholarships at 25 ACT score and above but to get the good amount of scholarships your score should be 30 above. To get a full ride from your fees your score should be in the range of 32–36.

Can you get into Harvard with a 29 ACT?

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.

Can I get into Harvard with a 27 ACT?

There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.

Is 15 a good ACT score for a sophomore?

Again, research has found that the average ACT score for sophomores is 18 points. Anything above that would be considered great for a 10th grader. In percentile terms, if you are able to score a 24, then you'd already rank higher than over 75 percent of other sophomore scores.

Is 37 a good ACT score?

So, to recap, compared to all test-takers:

ACT score of 24+ = top 25% ACT score of 29+ = top 10% ACT of 31+ = top 5% ACT score of 35+ = top 1% of test-takers.

Is 15 a passing ACT score?

In addition, almost all colleges listed for which ACT data is available (around 1,337 at the time of publication) have student bodies where 75% or more of the entering class scored 15 or above on the ACT. Basically, if you're looking to submit your ACT scores to colleges, 15 is a good baseline to start from.