Understanding the Lowest Possible Score on the ACT
Are you scratching your head over the ACT, better known as the American College Testing exam? College admission tests can be daunting, and you might be worried about how you'll do on it. It is important to keep in mind that a "good" ACT score can vary greatly from person to person depending on their individual goals and college preferences. In this article, we'll break down the lowest possible ACT score and explain why you’re not likely to actually get it.
What is the ACT?
The ACT (formerly the American College Testing Program) assessment program measures educational development and readiness to pursue college-level coursework in English, mathematics, natural science, and social studies. The ACT includes an optional writing section where students write an essay that presents their viewpoint on an issue.
ACT Scoring Mechanism
Your ACT composite score and each test score (English, mathematics, reading, science) range from 1 (lowest score) to 36 (highest score). The composite score is the average of your four test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, meaning that the absolute minimum ACT score you could get is 1. For PreACT, your scores are between 1 (the lowest score you can receive) and 35 (the highest score you can receive). For PreACT 8/9, your scores are between 1 (the lowest score you can receive) and 30 (the highest score you can receive).
The Reality of a Score of 1
The lowest possible composite score on the ACT is a 1, though scores in this range are highly uncommon. Even if you guessed on every question, you’d get a composite score of around 11-13.
What Constitutes a "Bad" ACT Score?
Now, let's dive into what might be considered a "bad" ACT score. This really depends on your goals and the colleges you're aiming for. Generally, a score below 16 is considered on the lower end, as it puts you in the bottom 25% of test takers. As a general rule of thumb, you'll need at least an ACT score of 31 to qualify during admissions decisions at an Ivy League school. Some colleges, including Harvard and Yale, have a minimum score requirement of 32.
Read also: Understanding ACT Scores
Understanding ACT Score Distribution
Understanding the ACT score distribution can help you set realistic goals and assess your performance relative to other test takers. A good ACT score is generally defined by percentile rankings, which show how well a student did compared to their peers.
- Excellent (95th-100th percentile)
- Above average (75th-94th percentile)
- Average (38th-74th percentile)
- Below average (50th percentile)
- Poor (1st-49th percentile)
The Importance of Percentiles
Also, note the importance of understanding ACT score percentiles. Your national ranks tell you how your scores compare to those earned by recent high school graduates who took the ACT. The percentile ranks are the percentage of students who earned a score equal to or lower than your score.
What Colleges Consider
Colleges consider a range of ACT scores when making admissions decisions, giving students some flexibility. Commonly, students with scores in the range of 20-23 are still considered competitive at many mid-tier colleges. For more selective schools, a score in the 24-28 range will increase your chances of admission. However, for highly selective institutions, aiming for an ACT score above 30 can significantly enhance your application. Aiming for an overall ACT score in the 75th percentile or above (around 24 or higher) is generally considered good and boosts your chances of admission into selective colleges.
The Holistic Review Process
But before we get too entwined in score details, it's important to clarify that a single test score, even a low one, is not going to determine your college acceptance or rejection. While ACT scores do play a role in the admissions process, it's essential to remember that they are just one aspect considered by colleges. Schools make what is often referred to as a "holistic review" of your application, meaning they take into consideration your high school performance, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and essays alongside your standardized test scores. Admissions committees also look at your high school transcript, extracurricular activities, essays, and other factors to assess your overall potential as a student.
Test-Optional Policies
Also, don't forget the many colleges that currently have test-optional policies, meaning you aren't required to submit an ACT or SAT score at all. However, many colleges and universities have test-optional policies, meaning they no longer require SAT scores for admission. This shift lets you decide whether or not to submit your test scores based on whether they truly reflect your academic abilities and strengthen your application. This is a great opportunity for students who may not perform well on standardized tests but excel in other academic areas.
Read also: SAT Score Floor Explained
Understanding Your Score Report
Your ACT score report breaks down your performance, including your composite score, raw scores in each subject area (the English, reading, science, and math sections), and optional writing score. You might also see an ELA score. Each reporting category includes the total number of questions in that category, the total number of questions in that category you answered correctly, and the percentage of questions correct. This report also includes percentile ranks, showing how your scores compare to those of other test takers, and subscores that help pinpoint strengths based on correct answers and areas for improvement based on wrong answers. Score reports help students get the most from their test results. Users wishing to drill down further into what their scores mean can directly reference Reporting Category information found in their score reports.
ACT Benchmarks
The Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses. These college courses include English composition, college algebra, introductory social science courses, and biology.
The Optional Writing Section
Taking the ACT with writing will provide additional scores to you and the schools to which you have ACT report scores. Your writing score is the average of the two graders' scores rounded to the nearest whole number. The average (mean) ACT writing score is between 6 and 7 (6.3), according to the ACT organization. However, different colleges may have different standards for a good writing score.
ACT vs. SAT
When deciding between the ACT and the SAT, understanding how the scores compare can help you choose which test might play to your strengths. ACT and the College Board have completed a concordance study that is designed to examine the relationship between scores on the ACT test and the SAT. Typically, a composite ACT score correlates to an SAT score using specific concordance tables provided by the College Board and ACT. If you are particularly weak in the Science section of the ACT, then the SAT might be better for you. Instead of having a dedicated science section, it has some chart- and data-interpretation questions scattered throughout.
Retaking the ACT
If you're not satisfied with your initial scores, don't worry - you can retake the ACT up to 12 times. Retaking the ACT offers an opportunity to improve your scores, and you can also benefit from superscoring. A strategic move would be to start your ACT journey as early as the fall of your junior year. You should take the ACT only two to three times.
Read also: Understanding ACT Scoring
- Performance plateau
- Negative impression
- Limited resources
Another element when contemplating retakes is the resources they demand.
Test Preparation Strategies
That being said, if you're unsure about your score, it might be a good idea to take the test again. But this time, try using different study strategies - online resources, prep books, or even asking teachers for pointers might be helpful. You could also consider getting a tutor or enrolling in an ACT prep course if it's within your budget. Test prep might include taking multiple practice tests and honing your skills, particularly in the ACT math and ACT reading sections.
- Practice tests
- Tutoring
- Study plan
ACT offers a free official ACT practice test. Each subject can be taken individually with an overall score and links to free resources provided.
Setting ACT Goals
Based on the highest 75th percentile score from your list of colleges, set a personal score goal. Setting ACT goals requires a strategic approach, and sharing your targets with parents or guardians can provide valuable motivation and accountability. Plan for two or three test attempts to reach your best score.
Special Testing Accommodations
If you have a medical condition, learning disability, or psychiatric disorder, you might qualify for special testing accommodations for the ACT.
The Impact of ACT Scores on College Applications
ACT scores can have a big impact on your college application and eligibility for financial aid. For instance, the middle 50% range is a helpful benchmark provided by many colleges that shows the range of scores for admitted students.
What to Do if All Your Schools Are Reaches
If your ACT score is too low for all the colleges on your list, look at some less selective colleges. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! By strategically preparing for the ACT, you actually can improve your score quite a lot. Some schools will accept AP scores or IB scores in lieu of more traditional SAT or ACT exam scores.
Community College as an Option
If your score is low enough that you're really worried about getting accepted to any college, you might consider starting out at a nearby community college. You can start taking classes at a community college and then transfer to a four-year university upon completion of your associate degree, usually after about two years.
Choosing Schools to Apply To
If you've already taken the ACT and have your score, you might be wondering how to pick which schools to apply to. Schools usually provide information about the GPA and class ranks of their admitted students, so you’ll want to consider those factors as well. You might already have some schools in mind before taking the ACT. In this case, you can use the middle 50% for those schools to set an ACT target score. An ideal goal score would be the highest 75th percentile mark of the middle 50% among the schools you are interested in.
Advice and Anecdotes
But even if you don't have the best ACT or SAT score, don't feel like you shouldn't apply. Now, this does not mean that you shouldn't apply if your dream school’s middle 50% is 28-32 and you got a 26. No doubt you also have unique strengths and talents you should emphasize in your applications!
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