When you receive your ACT results, you want to know if you’re at a good range. On a scale of 1 to 36, you might think, is 19 a good ACT score?
In 2023, the average composite score for U.S. students who took the ACT was 19.8 out of 36. If you consider this scale, it falls close to the national average, which is often the benchmark.
Still, is it generally a good score, and can it land you a spot in your desired college? Keep reading as we delve into it!
What’s a Good ACT Score?
The ACT score range only goes from 1 to 36 and is calculated in specific ways. So, even if you try to compute it yourself, there’s no concrete way of knowing your exact score until the results come out.
Compared to other tests, a good test score is usually based on what percentile you fall under among other test-takers. If you get higher than 50% of the test-takers, you’re at a good place!
Because of this, a score between 19 and 20 usually puts you in between. Even so, you can still consider it a good outcome.
What Score Do Colleges Accept?
If you’re aiming for Ivy League or other similarly competitive colleges, you will need a higher score than this. In most cases, they usually accept test-takers who get a composite score of 32 or higher.
While some colleges accept scores within your percentile, you may not find as many options compared to if you had a higher result.
Usually, colleges go for scores that fall around the half and higher percentage mark. Still, you should account for the fact that there may be test-takers with higher scores applying at the same college as you.
What ACT Score to Aim For
It’s best to aim for a composite score of at least 24 to increase your chances of getting into more colleges. If you’re aiming for more competitive universities, you want to aim even higher.
A quick tip is to take note of the ACT score the college you’re interested in accepts and aim for that. This way, you can ensure you get a spot in the school you prefer while still keeping your doors open for other opportunities.
Tips to Boost Your ACT Score
You can boost your ACT score in different ways, including techniques that vary for each section of the test. Here are a few general tips you can consider on the testing day:
- Take educated guesses: Your score is based on the answers you get right, so you want to fill in as much as you can rather than leave them unanswered.
- Practice as often as you can: Focus on practicing test questions and understanding the answers and how to improve them before the testing day.
- Get proper rest: Enough rest and sleep is the key to better brain function and performance.
- Choose the right tools: Pick resources that work well for you and help you get a better grasp of the content, whether it’s flashcards or group studies.
In Closing: Is 19 a Good ACT Score?
Generally, a score of 19 can put you in the 50% range of students who take the ACT, based on the existing average. While it’s a good score to start with, you may want to consider aiming for higher to boost your chances of getting into more colleges and potentially the one you’re aiming for!
