ACT Scores
Typically, your ACT scores are available two weeks after the exam date. The ACT exam comprises four sections: English, Mathematics, Reading and Natural Science. Score on each section ranges from 1 to 36. Your overall score is generated by averaging your scores on all four sections. It is possible to repeat the ACT to improve the score achieved, if you are not satisfied with your current ACT score.
ACT Score Range
Your overall ACT score ranges from 1 to 36. That’s is to say, the highest ACT score is 36 and the ACT lowest score is 1.
ACT Good Score
There is no so called “Good ACT Score”. Whether your ACT score is good depends on which colleges you are applying to. If your score is near to the average score of admitted students to your desired schools, then it is considered a good score.
Average ACT Scores for Top U.S. Colleges
| COLLEGE NAME | ACT 25TH PERCENTILE | ACT 75TH PERCENTILE |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 33 | 35 |
| Harvard University | 32 | 35 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 32 | 35 |
| Rice University | 32 | 35 |
| Columbia University | 32 | 35 |
| Yale University | 32 | 35 |
| Stanford University | 31 | 35 |
| Washington University in St. Louis | 32 | 34 |
| Northeastern University | 31 | 34 |
| Cornell University | 31 | 34 |
| Duke University | 31 | 34 |
| Brown University | 31 | 34 |
| University of California – Berkeley | 31 | 34 |
| University of Southern California | 30 | 33 |
| Boston College | 30 | 33 |
ACT Score Chart
ACT Plus Writing Score
The ACT Plus Writing test is rated between 2 and 12. However, the assessment of the essay is not included in the overall assessment of the ACT exam.
ACT Test Structure
In the basic version, the ACT takes a total of 2 hours and 55 minutes and consists solely of multiple-choice questions. The ACT examines the following four areas:
- English (English Test)
- Mathematics (Mathematics Test)
- Reading (Reading Test)
- Natural Sciences (Science Test)
Some U.S. universities require an extended version of the exam, ACT Plus Writing. Here test takers also have to write an essay.
ACT English test
The ACT English test takes 45 minutes. In addition to punctuation, grammar and sentence construction, he also checks the areas of approach (based on appropriateness with regard to the purpose and target group of the text), text organization and expression.
ACT Mathematics Test
The ACT Mathematics test lasts 60 minutes and includes questions about algebra and geometry in the context of school mathematics. It is permitted, but not mandatory, to use a calculator. However, only certain devices are permitted.
ACT Reading Test
There are 35 minutes available for the ACT Reading Test. The exam consists of four thematically differentiated parts in which the participants must answer questions about one longer or two shorter text passages. The texts come from the four disciplines of social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and literature.
ACT Science Test
The ACT Science Test also takes 35 minutes. Skills in interpretation, analysis, evaluation, problem solving and logical thinking in a scientific context are required here. The basis for the multiple-choice questions are schematic representations of data (e.g. graphics and tables), descriptions of experiments or contradicting hypotheses on a research question. The use of a pocket calculator is not permitted in this part of the examination.
ACT Plus Writing
For the additional writing test in ACT Plus Writing, an essay must be written within 30 minutes. The task describes a problem and two different perspectives on it. The examinee must present his or her own position on this subject in writing. He can either take one of the two predefined positions or develop his own.