Is a 24 a Good ACT Score? Understanding Your Results and College Admissions

If you've taken the ACT and received your scores, you're likely wondering how well you performed. Or, if you're planning to take the ACT, you might want to know what score to aim for. This article will discuss what constitutes a good ACT score and provide a step-by-step guide to determining a personal target score based on the colleges you're interested in.

Understanding ACT Scores

The ACT score range is from 1 to 36. The higher your score, the better you performed compared to other test-takers. Your composite score corresponds to a percentile, which compares your performance to the general population of ACT test-takers. A higher percentile means you scored higher than that percentage of students.

ACT test scores are set up to follow a normal distribution. This means that student performance tends to cluster around the middle of the scale, with most test-takers scoring somewhere near the average. The average ACT score is 19. If you score 20, you've scored higher than 50% of test-takers.

Here's a breakdown of ACT score percentiles:

16: 35th percentile (better than about a third of test-takers)
19: 50th percentile (average ACT score)
24: 78th percentile (better than about 78% of students)
28: 90th percentile (better than about 90% of students)
30: 94th percentile (better than about 94% of students)

As you can see, a few points can make a big difference around the average score. However, the percentile change decreases as you move towards the top or bottom of the scale.

Is 24 a Good ACT Score?

A score of 24 on the ACT means you've scored better than about 78% of students. Scoring a 24 on the ACT is a significant achievement. A 24 is generally considered above average and can be competitive at many colleges.

What Makes a Good ACT Score for You?

While it's helpful to know how your score compares to other test-takers, it's more important to consider what makes a good ACT score for you personally, based on the schools you are interested in.

For less selective or many public universities, at institutions where middle 50% ACT ranges sit in the low- to mid-20s, a 24 is exceptional. You'll be well above the 75th percentile of admitted students, often standing out for honors programs and special opportunities.

For selective colleges (roughly top ~50), many well-known universities and liberal arts colleges report middle 50% ranges in the high 20s to low 30s. At these schools, a 24 is usually at or above the 25th percentile. You'll be considered a strong academic applicant and competitive for admission.

For highly selective colleges (top 20 and Ivies), the most competitive institutions typically post middle 50% ACT ranges around 33-35+. A 24 is within range, but toward the lower end. It clears the academic bar, yet many admitted students will have 34-36. In these pools, other parts of your application-GPA, rigor, essays, extracurriculars, recommendations-carry heavy weight.

To determine your personal ACT goal score, follow these steps:

Research Colleges: Research the schools you're interested in and find their 25th and 75th percentile composite ACT scores for admitted students. This information can usually be found on the college's website in the admissions or requirements section.
Understand Percentiles: The 25th percentile means that 25% of admitted students scored at or below that number. The 75th percentile means that 75% of admitted students scored at or below that number. Scoring at or above the 75th percentile puts you in the top quarter of admits score-wise.
Create a Worksheet: Create a worksheet with the following columns: School Name, 25th Percentile ACT Score, 75th Percentile ACT Score. Fill in the information for all the schools you're planning to apply to.
Identify Your Target Score: Look at the 75th percentile column and find the highest score. That's your composite score goal.
Share and Display: Share your worksheet with your parents to discuss your goals. Tape it to your wall as a reminder of your target score.

Colleges Where a 24 ACT Makes You Competitive

Reach schools. Ultra-selective universities-Ivies and peers-often enroll classes with typical ACTs of 34-35. With a 24, you're in range but below many admits' scores. These schools are reaches for nearly everyone due to low admit rates and holistic review.

Match (target) schools. Many excellent universities and liberal arts colleges outside the ultra-elite tier list middle 50% ranges in the high 20s to low 30s. Here, a 24 commonly lands you near or above the 75th percentile. Think strong private universities, competitive state flagships, and top-25-50 programs. With a 24, you're a realistic, competitive candidate.

Safety schools. Where typical ranges sit in the low- to high-20s, a 24 is far above the norm. You're likely to be admitted, may qualify for honors programs, and often land in the top slice of the incoming class. Many well-regarded public universities and less selective privates fall here.

What to Do If You Don't Reach Your Goal Score

If you take the test and score lower than your goal score, don't panic. You have a few options:

Read also: Beyond College: 1420 SAT Score

Retake the Test: If you have time to prepare, retaking the test is often the best strategy. Make sure you dedicate enough time to studying to make a meaningful difference in your score.
Re-evaluate Your Goal Score: If you only missed your goal score by 1-2 points, you might not need to retake the test. Consider whether the schools you're applying to require a significantly higher score.
Adjust Your School List: If you are 3+ points short of your goal score and don't have time to retake the test, adjust your list of schools. Add some safety schools where your score is above the average.

The ACT and College Admissions

ACT scores are important for college admissions because they provide a standardized measure to compare students from different schools and backgrounds. Your scores help admissions committees determine your academic readiness for college and are often used for course placement and awarding merit scholarships.

A high ACT score can validate a strong GPA, indicating that the student excels academically in a rigorous environment. While a strong ACT score does not offset a low GPA entirely, it does suggest that the student has the academic potential even if their grades don't fully reflect it.

Colleges use ACT scores as one indicator of a student's readiness for college-level coursework and their likelihood of success in a demanding academic environment. Most competitive colleges employ a holistic review process, meaning that while ACT scores are important, they are rarely the sole factor in admissions decisions.

Scholarships and Merit Aid

A high ACT score can pay dividends in merit aid, especially at public universities and mid-tier private colleges that use test scores in awarding scholarships. Students with scores in the mid-to-high 20s often qualify for substantial merit packages tied to GPA and test thresholds.

For the most prestigious or largest scholarships (e.g., full-ride competitive scholarships), the process may be like a holistic review for admission.

Colleges and organizations may have different processes for determining scholarship eligibility based on ACT scores. In general, a higher score - often in combination with a strong GPA and/or class rank - will provide more scholarship opportunities.

Improving Your ACT Score

Effective ACT preparation goes beyond simply memorizing facts. It involves a combination of content review, strategic practice, and test-taking skills. Here are some strategies to improve your ACT score:

Start Early and Create a Personalized Study Plan: Begin by taking a full-length, official ACT practice test under timed conditions. This identifies your starting score and pinpoints your strongest and weakest areas across all sections. Based on your baseline and research into your target colleges’ average scores, set a realistic target score.
Utilize Official ACT Prep Materials.
Content Review:
- English: Review fundamental grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetoric, and organization rules.
- Math: Systematically review algebra, geometry, and trigonometry concepts. Memorize key formulas. Practice specific problem types.
- Reading: Focus on active reading techniques to identify main ideas, author’s purpose, tone, and specific details.
- Science: Understand that this section primarily tests data interpretation, graph analysis, and scientific reasoning, not advanced scientific knowledge.
Practice Time Management: The ACT is a fast-paced test. During practice, strictly adhere to time limits for each section. Learn how to pace and guess strategically. If a question is taking too long, mark it and move on. You can come back to it once you’re at the end of the section.
Analyze Mistakes Thoroughly: For every question you get wrong (or even guessed on), don’t just look at the correct answer. Meticulously review every question you got wrong, and those you guessed on or found difficult. Identify patterns, such as content gaps, careless errors, or time management issues.
Consider Tutoring.
Take Multiple Practice Tests: Aim for at least 3-5 full-length practice tests before the actual exam.
Prioritize Well-being: Get adequate sleep, eat healthily, and manage stress in the weeks leading up to the test. A clear mind performs better.

ACT vs. SAT

It can be tough to decide whether to take the ACT or SAT, but it ultimately comes down to which test is a better fit for you. Most colleges accept both the ACT and SAT equally, with no preference. While you can submit both SAT and ACT scores to colleges, it is recommended that you focus only on one test. A timed practice SAT can quickly tell you whether switching tests is worth it. Once you determine which test is better for you, you can work on achieving the strongest score possible. A 24 ACT score is commonly compared to about a 1160 to 1190 on the SAT.

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