Why is the ACT so hard for me?

1 Strict Time Constraints. The structure of the ACT makes it difficult for some test-takers. Consider the English section. You'll get just 45 minutes to answer 75 questions, meaning you'll need to answer a question every 36 seconds to complete the section in time.

How hard is it to get a 1 on the ACT?

The average ACT score is 20.

To give you an idea of how rare a score of 1 actually is, a composite score ranging anywhere from 1 to 10 would put you in the 1st percentile—meaning 99% of test takers scored higher than 101.

Is getting a 34 on the ACT hard?

A 34 ACT score puts you at the 99% percentile, meaning that you scored higher than 99% of all test takers! That's impressive!

Why am I getting worse at the ACT?

The less you study for your retake, the more susceptible you'll be to bad luck, struggling with timing, or having a hard time with test questions. It may be you studied a bunch before you took the ACT for the first time, but underestimated the time you would need to spend for the retake, so your score decreased.

Why do I score so low on the ACT?

Did You Practice? If you never practiced for the ACT, that is probably the issue. The ACT is a very fast test. You need to know the ACT test format before taking the ACT so that the format will not slow you down.

ACT Tips & Tricks that ACTUALLY work (minimal studying) in 2024

Is a 14 ACT score bad?

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 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 a 21 ACT score bad?

Is a 21 ACT Score (50th Percentile) Good? A 21 ACT score is a little bit better than the average score of 20.8. Because of this, a 21 is a commonly accepted score at many schools, but it may not make you competitive at selective schools.

Is getting a 15 on the ACT good?

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.

Does GPA or ACT matter more?

According to a 2020 study, high school GPA is a better predictor of college graduation than ACT scores. This study confirms that the ACT score only makes a difference depending on the high school that students attend.

Will a 36 ACT get you into Harvard?

Average ACT: 34

The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36. In other words, a 34 places you below average, while a 36 will move you up to above average. 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 17 a good ACT score?

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 27 a good ACT score?

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 27 a good ACT score for a freshman?

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.

Has anyone ever got a 0 on the ACT?

The average composite ACT score ranges on a scale of 1-36. So lowest possible score you can score is 1.

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 a 30 bad on the ACT?

What percentile is a 30 ACT score? A 30 ACT score puts you at the 93rd percentile, meaning you scored higher than 93% of all test takers!

Is a 31 ACT score bad?

Looking at this from another angle, a score of 31 on the ACT puts you at the 95th percentile — that means you scored higher than 95% of all test takers. Additionally, a 31 is within the range of scores that elite and extremely selective colleges accept on average. Congratulations!

Is a 13 on ACT bad?

13 ACT Score Standings

Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 1780773 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 2 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1505 schools with this score.

Is 18 on ACT bad?

Earning an 18 on the ACT puts you at the 38th percentile, meaning that you scored higher than 38% of all test takers.

What is a failing ACT score?

Any composite 16 or lower is in the bottom 25%. If you score below 16 or lower on the ACT, your score is definitely in the very low range nationwide.

Can I get into Yale with a 32 ACT?

There are no score cutoffs for standardized tests, and successful candidates present a range of scores. The middle 80% of ACT and SAT scores (the 10th to the 90th percentiles) of first-year students who enrolled in fall 2020 were as follows: ACT Composite: 31-36. SAT-Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 680-790.