what score on act english can get out of a college course

by Prof. America Littel 6 min read

While most colleges don’t have a minimum required ACT score, there are official ACT benchmark scores that indicate your ability to succeed in college coursework: English: 18 Math: 22

Full Answer

What is the range of the ACT score?

The ACT contains four required sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, and scores from each of those sections are then averaged to get a total composite score for the entire exam. The range of the composite score is also 1-36.

How is the Act essay scored?

Both readers score your essay on a scale of 1–6 in four different areas (learn more about the ACT essay here). The ACT essay score will appear on your score report on a scale from 2-12.

Is there a minimum ACT score to get into college?

While most colleges don’t have a minimum required ACT score, there are official ACT benchmark scores that indicate your ability to succeed in college coursework: If your section scores are below these benchmarks, you should consider retaking the ACT. How do your standardized test scores affect your chances?

What is an ELA score on the Act?

ACT also reports an English Language Arts (ELA) score out of 36, which represents your overall performance on the English, reading, and writing tests, but this value is NOT included in your ACT Composite Score calculation. No ELA score is reported if you do not choose to take the ACT With Essay.

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What is a good score on the ACT English section?

20 - 23Good English ACT ScoresScore:Ranking:Rating:1 - 19Below AveragePoor20 - 23AverageGood24 - 28Above AverageCompetitive29 - 36HighestBest

Is a 23 in English on the ACT good?

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.

Is a 17 on English act good?

17 ACT Score Standings You can apply to 58 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1441 schools with this score.

Is a 25 on ACT English good?

Is 25 ACT Score Good? With a score of 25, you are in the 79th percentile of all test takers. More likely than not, with a score of 25, you'll often be in or near the commonly accepted range at selective colleges. The exception may be the highly selective colleges.

Is a 35 on the English section of the ACT good?

A 20+ scaled score puts you above average. A 30+ scaled score is a great, competitive score. No slacking allowed!

What is the highest English ACT score?

36The highest possible score you can earn on the ACT is 36 (on a scale of 1-36). This 36 is a composite, or average, of your four subject area scores—English, Reading, Math, and Science. Each section is also scored on a scale of 1-36.

Is a 24 on the ACT English good?

A score of 24 means you've scored better than about 74% of students. A 28 means you've scored better than 88% of students, and a 30 means you've scored better than 93% of them! Anything 34 or above is in the 99th percentile—a truly phenomenal score.

Is 19 on English ACT score good?

Is a 19 a good ACT score? A score of 19 is a little worse than average. It places you in the bottom 44th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam.

Is a 16 good for ACT English?

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. However, an ACT score this low can keep admission to thousands of US schools.

Should I retake the ACT if I got a 33?

Should I Retake the ACT with a 33 Score? With a 33 ACT score, there's no need to retake the exam. The only reason to consider retaking the ACT is to increase your competitiveness at the most elite colleges. Because competition for elite schools is fierce, every extra point both on your ACT score and GPA will help.

Is a 30 on the 2021 ACT score good?

In general, scores in the 50th percentile (19-20) are average, while scores in the 75th percentile (24-25) and 90th percentile (29) are good and excellent, respectively.

Is a 33 ACT good?

If you are wondering is 33 a good ACT score, yes, it is. With a 33 ACT score, you're now in the top 1% of the population. It puts you in the highest 98th percentile of the 2 million people who took the ACT admission exam nationwide.

What's The Lowest Act Score You Can get?

The ACT is scored from 1-36 on a composite scale. This means the minimum ACT score you could possibly receive—for example, if you showed up to the...

What’S The Lowest Act Score You Can Have and Still Get Into College?

Since it’s pretty unlikely that you would get the minimum ACT score, you might be more interested in knowing what is the lowest possible score you...

Choosing Schools to Apply to Based on Your Act Score

If you already got your ACT score, you may be wondering how to pick which schools to apply to. In general, you’ll want to apply to some safety scho...

Choosing A Goal Act Score Based on Your Dream Schools

You may already have some schools in mind before you take the ACT. In this case, you can use the middle 50% for those schools to set a target score...

Based on My Act Score, Every School I’M Interested in Is A Reach

Let’s say you get your scores back. You open your scores. You look at your list of middle 50% ranges for the schools you are interested in. Your st...

What is the average ACT score?

The average ACT score is 21. The 25th percentile score is 16, and the 75th percentile score is 24. This means that if you got 16, you'd have scored the same as or better than 25% of all test takers. Meanwhile, the 75th percentile means you scored better than 75% of test takers.

What is the minimum ACT score?

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 .5 would round up). To get a composite score of 1, ...

What percentile is a composite score of 1?

To give you an idea of how rare a score of 1 actually is, a composite score ranging anywhere from 1 to 11 would put you in the 1st percentile —meaning 99% of test takers scored higher than 101. For individual sections, 99% of test takers scored higher than 8 in English, 12 in Math, 9 in Reading, and 9 in Science.

What to do if you don't succeed in the Act?

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again ! By strategically preparing for the ACT, you actually can improve your score quite a lot. If you still have a few months left before your college application deadlines , taking the ACT again is probably your best option.

What are the numbers associated with college applications?

There are tons of numbers associated with college applications: GPA, class rank, standardized test scores, maybe some AP tests. It can be a lot to take in. If you’re taking the ACT, then you might be worried about how you’ll do on it.

Is there a hard and fast rule for ACT scores?

The truth is that it’s difficult to give a hard-and-fast rule in regard to the absolute minimum ACT score for college. Colleges and universities admit candidates along a range of test scores, though the band is narrower at more selective universities.

Is the SAT the same as the ACT?

The SAT and the ACT used to be very different—enough that students would perform dramatically differently on them. This is less true now ever since the SAT's redesign in 2016 , which made it a lot more similar to the ACT.

How do colleges use ACT scores?

Colleges use ACT test score reports in making decisions about admissions and course placement and to advise students throughout the enrollment process. Admissions Decisions.

How long does it take to get a score from the Act?

Scores are normally reported to students 2 to 8 weeks after testing.

What is the ACT college readiness benchmark?

The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the minimum ACT scores required for students to have a high probability of success in credit-bearing first-year college courses. Students who meet a benchmark on the ACT have approximately a 50% chance of earning a B or better and approximately a 75% chance ...

How often is the ACT administered?

The ACT is administered across the US multiple times annually on multiple separate dates. See the National Test Date Schedules. Scores for students who took the ACT without writing are normally reported as early as 2 weeks after the test date.

Why do colleges use the Act?

More than three thousand colleges, universities, and scholarship agencies use ACT test scores to make decisions about admission, scholarship awards, and course placement. Because these institutions, as well as the examinees, rely on the integrity of ACT test scores, ACT takes seriously the importance of reporting valid test scores.

What are the four ACT tests?

The ACT contains four multiple-choice tests—English, mathematics, reading, and science— and an optional writing test . These tests are designed to measure skills that are most important for success in postsecondary education and that are acquired in secondary education. The score range for each of the four multiple-choice tests is 1–36.

What is the ACT math test?

The ACT mathematics test assesses the skills students typically acquire in courses taken through grade 11. The material covered on the test emphasizes the major content areas that are prerequisites to successful performance in entry-level courses in college mathematics.

Step 1: Calculating Raw Score

The first step of knowing ACT English score calculator is finding the raw score. There are a total of 75 MCQs in ACT English syllabus. The raw score would be the total number of correct answers out of 75 questions. If the candidate has answered 65 questions correctly, their raw score is 65. The highest possible raw score in ACT English is 75.

Step 2: Raw to Scaled Score Conversion

ACT English score calculator converts the raw score to a scaled score following a table. This table changes for every ACT test. The ACT score calculator table changes because each test has different difficulty levels. Below is the ACT English score calculator table:

Step 3: Finding the Composite ACT Score

Candidates can calculate their ACT score by adding the individual score of the four sections. Then they have to divide it by 4. The result will be the overall composite score or the composite ACT score on a range of 1 - 36. An example is shown below:

What is a Good ACT English Score?

Most universities require candidates to obtain high ACT English scores. A candidate gets a good ACT score when their score meets the ACT cutoff of the selected university. Around 10% test-takers receive the highest ACT score range of 28 to 36. Candidates need to set their target ACT score by looking at the average ACT score of the universities.

ACT English Score to Percentile

Percentiles show candidates their performance level in comparison to the other test-takers. After knowing the ACT English score calculator method, candidates need to percentile. Below is the ACT English percentile table:

What is the composite score for the Act?

After you take the ACT, you will receive a composite score that is an integer between 1-36. Your report will also show your sub-scores for each of the five sections. English, Math, Reading, and Science are also graded on a 1-36 scale, and the Writing section (which is optional, but required by most top colleges) is graded on a 2-12 scale.

What are the ACT benchmark scores?

While most colleges don’t have a minimum required ACT score, there are official ACT benchmark scores that indicate your ability to succeed in college coursework : English: 18. Math: 22. Reading: 22. Science: 23. If your section scores are below these benchmarks, you should consider retaking the ACT.

What does a 30 score mean?

For instance, a score of 30 is generally in the 95th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 95% of test takers (percentiles may vary slightly based on how other test takers perform in a given year).

What is the ACT test?

The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. Most colleges require either ACT or SAT scores, and they allow students to pick either one. The ACT has become quite popular, with more students taking the ACT than the SAT in recent years.

What is the ELA score?

You will also receive a STEM score based on your Math and Science sub-scores and an ELA (English and Language Arts) score based on your English, Reading, and Writing scores. These are graded on the 1-36 scale.

How does the ACT differ from the SAT?

For instance, the ACT focuses more on high school course content rather than general aptitude and test-taking strategy.

Can you take the ACT test if you haven't taken it yet?

If you haven’t taken the test yet, you can take a diagnostic ACT exam to see what specific types of questions are more difficult for you. That way, you can troubleshoot not just the subject you can improve, but the specific types of questions too.

What is the average score on the ACT?

As students probably know, on the four ACT test subjects: Math, English, Reading, and Science, they will receive a scaled score between 1 to 36. The average of these four scores will then be computed to get your composite score. These figures will be shown on students result reports. Obviously, like every other test you’ve taken ...

What are the scaled scores on the ACT?

On the ACT Result Report, what students will see are scaled scores for all the ACT subjects: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Every subject area has a scaled score between 1 and 36. Scaled scores do not reflect the actual number of questions students answered correctly, which is their raw score.

Why are the ACT scores scaled?

The ACT test scores are scaled to make it possible to compare students performance with other test-takers who may have taken an easier or more difficult test.

What does a 70 score mean on the ACT?

If students composite score is 28 and they have a rank of 70 for their composite score, that means 70% of students got that composite score or below.

What does it mean when your ACT score is lower than the 25th percentile?

But if students result reports are lower than the 25th percentile average ACT result (a composite score of 16 or lower), then that means their result is poor and need to take steps to improve it, whether by taking ACT review classes or working on ACT practice tests.

How long does it take to get ACT scores?

This can be done at about 10 days after taking the ACT test (for the multiple choice test), and two weeks following that to access your result for the Writing test. Individual people check the Writing test (not machines), that’s why it takes longer to release the scores.

What are the four domains of the Act?

Two checkers will read and result each student’s ACT Writing test essay based on four domains: 1 Ideas and Analysis 2 Development and Support 3 Organization

What is the average score for the Act?

According to the ACT’s “Norm Chart” for the multiple choice sections and composite score, the mean, or average, scaled score of the ACT English section is a 20. For a good ACT score, shoot for above average: anything above 20 will put you ahead of the pack.

What is the act English section?

The ACT English section focuses on testing your skills in usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills. This is the nitty gritty part of writing. A good score in this section demonstrates you have a solid grasp on the English language and can recognize when it is used effectively. Perhaps more importantly, it proves you can recognize and fix writing ...

What degree does Elizabeth have?

Elizabeth holds a degree in Psychology from The College of William & Mary. While there, she volunteered as a tutor and discovered she loved the personal connection she formed with her students. She has now been helping students with test prep and schoolwork as a professional tutor for over six years. When not discussing grammar or reading passages, she can be found trying every drink at her local coffee shop while writing creative short stories and making plans for her next travel adventure!

How long does it take to answer the ACT English section?

It contains the most questions of any section on the test (75 of them!), but it only allows you 45 minutes to answer them.

Is grammar included in the ACT English?

Yes, grammar is not everyone’s favorite subject. However, something to remember about the ACT English section is that it’s included in the composite score. This means your score on this section is averaged with the scores you get on the Math, Science, and Reading sections to produce your single composite score, ...

What is the lowest score on the Act?

For each section of the ACT, the lowest score you can get is a 1 , and the highest score you can get is a 36. The ACT contains four required sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, and scores from each of those sections are then averaged to get a total composite score for the entire exam. The range of the composite score is also 1-36.

Why is it so hard to understand ACT scores?

Many people find it difficult to understand their ACT score because the exam doesn't use the same kinds of grades your classes do. In this guide, we've converted ACT scores into class grades to make them easier for you to understand.

Why is the ACT important?

This is one of the reasons the ACT is very useful to colleges, particularly highly selective colleges, because it distinguishes between great students and the very best. Another thing to note is that both class grades and ACT scores do a good job of resolving middle-of-the-pack students.

What is the range of the composite score?

The range of the composite score is also 1-36. However, that still doesn't tell you all the information you need to know. This is because it's quite uncommon for someone to get a perfect score of 36 or a low score of 1 on the ACT. Also, you're probably more used to letter grades, like A- or B+, because that's what you see in class.

Does a B in a class equal a 17 on the ACT?

Because the two measure very different things, getting a B- in a class does NOT automatically equal a 17 on the ACT, and vice versa. Additionally, class grades aren't as rigorous as the ACT.

Is an A+ a bad grade?

If half the class got an A or an A+, then your A- would be considered a bad grade. Conversely, if you were the only person to get an A in that class all year, that A- would be a great grade. Therefore, you shouldn't view the conversion too rigidly.

Is the Act a multiple choice exam?

The ACT is a multiple-choice exam taken in one sitting. Classes, on the other hand, require hours of learning and schoolwork over a long period of time. Additionally, you take the ACT alone, but in your classes you work with teachers and classmates every day.

What percentage of ACT scores are needed for college?

Simply go online and look for the college's middle 50% of test scores, which is a range that spans the 25th to 75th percentile ACT scores of admitted first-year students. Ideally, you'll get a score close to or higher than the 75th percentile score, but if that's too difficult, you can aim for somewhere closer to the bottom of that range.

What is a good ACT score?

In general, a good ACT score is any score above the median, or 50th percentile. The ACT Writing section is optional and uses a separate scoring scale. When preparing for the ACT, be sure to make a study plan and use official prep materials. In addition to a stellar personal statement, a high GPA, and strong letters of recommendation, ...

What is the ACT score for a selective school?

The reality is that colleges and universities maintain different score expectations. At a highly selective school, for example, an extremely strong ACT score of 33 could position you toward the lower end of applicants, reducing your chances of getting admitted.

What does it mean if your ACT score is above the median?

Again, any score above the median means you've done better than the majority of test takers. The higher your score above the 50th percentile, the stronger and more impressive your ACT Writing performance will be to colleges. The following table gives an overview of good ACT essay scores based on national percentiles:

How many times do you take the Act?

Most students take the ACT two or three times — some even more — in an effort to do better on the exam. Research shows that students tend to earn higher scores on a second attempt. ACT Inc. found that 57% of 2015 high school graduates who retook the test raised their composite ACT scores on their second attempt.

How much is the Act with writing?

Be aware that the ACT with Writing ($70) costs more than the ACT without Writing ($55). Unlike the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections, the ACT Writing section is scored on a scale of 2-12. This score does not count toward your composite score — it is reported separately.

How to prepare for the Act?

You can't expect to do well on the ACT if you don't give yourself ample time to prep for test day. Try to set aside at least a month — ideally several months — to review key exam topics, take practice tests, and figure out your biggest weaknesses.

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Is The Act Scored on A curve?

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On each section of the ACT , the number of correct answers converts to a scaled score of 1–36. ACT works hard to adjust the grading scale of each test at each administration as necessary to make all scaled scores comparable, smoothing out any differences in level of difficulty across test dates. There is no truth to any on…
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Sample Act Scoring Chart

  • This is a sample ACT raw score conversion grid from the free test ACT makes available on its website. Keep in mind, the ACT score chart for each test administration is different, so this one should be used only as an example.
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How Is The Act Writing Test Scored?

  • The writing test score is a little more complicated. If you take the ACT Plus Writing (which will ask you to write an essay), your writing will be evaluated by two readers. Both readers score your essay on a scale of 1–6 in four different areas (learn more about the ACT essay here ). The ACT essay score will appear on your score report on a scale from 2-12. ACT also reports an English L…
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