Thursday, December 30, 2010

Average ACT Score

What is the Average ACT Score?
Since the ACT exam is such an important component of the college admissions process, a lot of students are curious about the average ACT score.


The nationwide average ACT score in 2010 is 21.  It can be broken down by category as follows:


English: 20.5
Math: 21
Reading: 21.3
Science: 20.9

Approximately 30 percent of students who take the ACT exam score between 19 and 23.
Approximately 55 percent of students who take the ACT exam score between 17 and 25.

Average ACT scores by state vary.  Below is a list of states that have the highest average ACT scores:

Delaware – 23.0
Maine – 23.2
Massachusetts – 24 
New York – 23.3
New Hampshire – 23.7
Washington – 23

What is a good ACT score? 
The minimum ACT score required for admittance differs by school.  Most schools will make their average ACT scores accessible to students via their website.  So, if you’re interested in a particular school, your first stop should be on their particular website.  If you’re having difficulty locating this information, I’d call the school’s admissions officer or talk with your school counselor.

If you score between 34 and 36, you are among the top 1% of students who take the exam.  Most Ivy League schools require ACT scores in the 90th percentile, which is generally a score of 28.  Most public universities require at least an 18.

When Should I Take the ACT?
Most high school students take the exam during the spring of their junior year.  By this time, you will have most likely completed all the necessary coursework in your classes to do well on the exam.  Also, this will give you the opportunity to re-take the exam if you didn’t get the score that you wanted the first time around. 

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