Decoding Your ACT Score: Is 17 a Good Score?

The ACT is a crucial step in the college application process. Understanding your score and what it signifies is essential. This article provides a comprehensive guide to ACT score ranges, percentiles, and their implications for college admissions and scholarships, specifically addressing whether a score of 17 is considered good.

Understanding the ACT Score Scale

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible composite score. Your composite score is the average of your scores on the four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, rounded to the nearest whole number. ACT releases data to help interpret these scores, providing context for your performance.

For the Class of 2023, the national average ACT composite score was approximately 19.5. This means that roughly half of the test-takers scored below 20, and half scored above it. Generally, any score above this average can be considered "good," but a "strong" score depends on your target colleges.

Percentile Rankings: How Do You Compare?

Percentile rankings are a useful way to interpret your ACT score. They indicate how you performed relative to other students. For example, a composite score of 23 places you around the 72nd percentile, meaning you scored higher than about 72% of test-takers. A score of 30 is roughly in the 94th percentile. The higher your percentile, the more competitive your score is in admissions.

Is a Score of 17 Good? A Detailed Look

A score of 17 on the ACT falls into the "Below Average" range. To fully understand the implications of this score, let's examine the different score ranges and what they mean for college prospects.

Score Range 1-15: Low Scores

Overview: Students scoring in this range are in the lowest tier of ACT performance. Such scores indicate significant gaps in understanding the tested content or major difficulties with test-taking skills. These scores fall well below the national average and suggest a need for substantial improvement in core academic areas.

Student Profile: Typically, a student in this range may have had very limited preparation or struggled with most sections of the exam. They might have significant challenges with reading comprehension, mathematical concepts, or scientific reasoning. To move out of this range, a substantial amount of additional study and skill-building would be required - often starting with mastering fundamental English and math concepts and building reading comprehension strategies from the ground up.

Percentile Data: Composites below the mid-teens fall near the bottom of the distribution. For example, a composite score of 15 is roughly at the 30th percentile, meaning about 70% of test-takers did better. Extremely low scores (in the single digits) are quite rare - a composite of 10 is around the 1st percentile.

College Prospects: College admission prospects with ACTs in the low teens are challenging. In fact, scores below 15 are considered very low at virtually any four-year college. Students in this range might look to open-admission institutions or community colleges, or take advantage of test-optional policies. Even if admitted to a four-year program, such students could be required to take remedial courses to strengthen basic skills before starting college-level work.

Score Range 16-20: Below Average

Overview: Scores in the high teens (16-20) are below the national average, but they're getting closer to the middle of the pack. These scores indicate a basic understanding of some tested concepts but still suggest significant room for improvement in academic preparation and test-taking strategy.

Student Profile: A student in this range likely has a partial grasp of the tested material but also notable weaknesses in one or more subjects. Many who score around 17, 18, or 19 may have done some light preparation or relied mostly on knowledge from their high school classes. With additional focused studying - for example, targeting specific weak areas and practicing under timed conditions - a student scoring in the high teens can often boost their score into the 20s on a retake.

Percentile Data: A composite score of about 19-20 is approximately at the national median for recent test-takers. To illustrate, the data show that a 19 composite is around the 55th percentile and a 20 is around the 61st percentile.

College Prospects: A score in this range might be acceptable at less selective colleges (for example, some regional public universities or community colleges). However, it will be below the average at more selective institutions. Students in this range should research colleges' score ranges carefully. They might also consider test-optional schools if they feel their score doesn't reflect their ability, and focus on strengthening other parts of the application (GPA, essays, extracurriculars) to compensate.

Score Range 21-24: Average Scores

Overview: ACT scores of 21 to 24 fall in the average to slightly above average range nationally. These scores demonstrate a reasonable command of high school-level material and adequate test-taking skills, placing students solidly in the middle tier of performance.

Student Profile: Students scoring in the low 20s typically have a solid basic understanding of the high school curriculum and may have put in some moderate test prep. This range often includes students who perform reasonably well in their classes and have decent test-taking skills, but who might not have extensively fine-tuned their ACT strategies. With a bit more focused preparation - such as practicing pacing or shoring up a particular section (e.g. grammar rules for English or algebra for Math) - students in this band can often raise their scores further.

Read also: Beyond College: 1420 SAT Score

Percentile Data: Scoring in the 21-24 range means you've outperformed a good portion of test-takers. For context, a composite score of 22 is about the 71st percentile, and a 24 is around the 79th percentile of recent examinees. In fact, a 23 on the ACT is above the current national average and puts you in the top quarter of all test-takers.

College Prospects: A score in this range will make you a strong applicant at many universities. However, at more selective colleges (for example, top 50 universities or Ivy League schools), scores in the low 20s would fall below the typical freshman profile. That said, an applicant with a 21-24 can still gain admission to a wide range of good colleges, especially if supported by a solid GPA and other strengths. Many state universities and moderately selective private colleges report middle-50% ACT composites in the low-20s, so being in this range keeps a lot of options open for college admissions.

Score Range 25-29: Above Average

Overview: Scores in the mid-to-high 20s (25-29) are well above the national average and reflect strong academic ability. This range demonstrates solid mastery of high school curriculum and effective test-taking skills, placing students among the top performers nationwide.

Student Profile: Students in this bracket are roughly in the top 10-20% of test-takers. These test-takers have a strong grasp of most tested concepts and likely dedicated considerable effort to their ACT prep. Many students who score in the upper 20s have taken rigorous coursework (e.g. advanced math classes, AP/honors English) and honed their test-taking strategies through practice exams. Reaching this range often requires consistent study, good time management skills, and the ability to handle the more challenging questions that the ACT throws at you.

Percentile Data: In recent percentile terms, a composite score of 25 is around the 83rd percentile and a 28 is roughly the 91st percentile. This means that scoring 28-29 puts you ahead of about nine out of ten test-takers, demonstrating exceptional performance relative to your peers.

College Prospects: College-wise, a 25-29 ACT score makes you a competitive candidate at many universities. These scores typically fall within or above the middle 50% range for admission at numerous state flagship schools and moderately selective private colleges. While a high-20s score might still be a bit below the averages at the most ultra-competitive universities, it often exceeds the cutoff for merit scholarships at many colleges. In short, being in the 25-29 bracket greatly expands your college options - potentially including honors program eligibility and scholarship opportunities - compared to the national average score.

Score Range 30-36: Top Scores

Overview: Scores in the 30s represent the highest echelon of ACT achievement. A composite score between 30 and 36 demonstrates exceptional mastery of high school curriculum, superior test-taking skills, and places a student among the academic elite of college-bound seniors.

Student Profile: These students typically have excelled in rigorous high school courses and often invested significant effort in test preparation. Achieving a score in this range usually requires mastering nearly all the tested content and maintaining strong concentration and pace throughout the exam. It's not uncommon for students aiming for 30+ to spend months preparing, taking multiple practice tests, and fine-tuning their strategies for each section. The result is a performance that significantly exceeds what's expected of the average high schooler.

Percentile Data: A 30 composite score is around the 94th percentile, and a 33 is roughly the 98th percentile among recent test-takers. Near-perfect scores of 35-36 correspond to about the 99th percentile (the top 1% of students nationally). These percentiles underscore just how rare and impressive scores in this range truly are.

College Prospects: Being in the 30s has a major impact on college opportunities. Scores from about 31 and up place you among the top performers, ideal for the most selective colleges. For example, at ultra-competitive schools like Harvard and Princeton, the middle 50% ACT range for incoming students is approximately 33-35 - meaning even a 32, while excellent, is at the lower end of their typical range. Generally, any score 30 or above will make you a very strong applicant almost anywhere. Students with 30+ often stand out for admissions and scholarships, and they have the best chances at Ivy League and top-tier universities (though of course, other factors like GPA and extracurriculars matter too). In summary, a 30-36 score indicates exceptional college readiness and opens doors to the most selective schools and generous merit aid programs.

What to Do with a Score of 17

Given that a 17 falls in the "Below Average" range, here's what you should consider:

Research Colleges: Identify colleges that accept students with ACT scores in the 16-20 range. Many regional public universities and community colleges may be a good fit.
Consider Test-Optional Schools: Explore colleges with test-optional policies. If you believe your score doesn't reflect your abilities, focus on strengthening other parts of your application.
Retake the ACT: If you aim for more selective institutions or merit-based scholarships, retaking the ACT is advisable. Most colleges utilize a "superscore," considering your highest section scores from all test dates.
Strengthen Your Application: Focus on maintaining strong grades in challenging courses and actively participating in extracurricular activities. Your application essays and letters of recommendation can highlight your talents, passions, and achievements.

Improving Your ACT Score

Improving your ACT score is achievable with targeted effort. Here are actionable tips for each section:

English: Master grammar and style rules. Review common grammar topics and practice with real ACT English questions. Work on time management.
Math: Refresh your knowledge of fundamental math formulas and concepts. Focus on weak areas and practice timed problem-solving.
Reading: Practice active reading strategies to improve speed and comprehension. Skim for main ideas and key details.
Science: Focus on interpreting data and scientific reasoning rather than recalling science facts. Practice extracting information from figures and tables.

ACT Score and College Admissions: Beyond the Numbers

While your ACT score is important, it's just one piece of the college admissions puzzle. Many colleges take a holistic approach, considering your GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. A strong application in these areas can compensate for a lower test score.

Highly selective institutions like top 20 universities and the Ivy League- Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and similar schools- typically admit students with ACT scores between 32-36. Competitive public and private schools also require high scores, usually in the 28-32 range. While these universities are selective, students with strong extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations may gain admission with slightly lower scores. Schools with a more holistic approach to admissions and an academically broad applicant pool may accept scores in the 22-27 range, as well as large state universities that can support bigger undergraduate cohorts.

Setting Your Goal Score

Before setting your goal score, check the middle 50% ACT range for the schools you’re interested in. This lets you know how well you performed compared to other test-takers. For example, if your percentile rank is 75th, that means you scored higher than 75% of students, while 25% scored higher than you. Percentiles are useful because they provide context beyond just the raw numbers. A composite score of 29, for example, might seem strong on its own, but its competitiveness depends on where it falls within national percentiles.

90th percentile (around 28-29): A strong score that puts you among the top test-takers, competitive for many selective schools.

By looking at percentile rankings, you can get a better sense of how competitive your score is for the schools on your list.

The Impact of Test-Optional Policies

Increasingly, many schools are test-optional. Even at test-optional schools, your ACT score can give you an edge. If you're applying to test-optional schools and you’ve earned a score that falls within (or above) the college’s typical range, submit it.

ACT and Merit Scholarships

Your ACT score can help you qualify for college merit scholarships. Many students take the ACT more than once to improve their results. ACT’s superscoring policy allows colleges to consider your best scores across multiple test dates. Many-but not all-colleges begin offering merit aid to students with ACT scores in the mid-to-high 20s.

Understanding the Nuances of Test-Optional

To get a better understanding of test-optional policies, it's helpful to look at the percentage of enrolled students who submitted SAT or ACT scores. Data from the Common Data Set, a public document released by most colleges, provides this information. If the sum of the percentage of students submitting SAT and ACT scores is significantly above average (around 48%), tests likely matter more for admission to that institution. Conversely, if the percentage is well below average, a test score is probably not as crucial.

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