The ACT Writing Test is scored on a scale of 2 (lowest score) to 12 (highest score). The average ACT Writing score is between a 6 and 7.
Because of the different trends for Analysis scores on the SAT essay, an Analysis score of a 6 or above puts you well above average; a score of 3-5 is solidly middle of the pack; and a score of 2 is low. When colleges look at your SAT scores, however, they usually won't look at your essay scores all by themselves.
Yes, a score of 30 is excellent. It places you in the top 93rd percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a significantly above above average job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.
The writing test is an essay, and does not have a multiple-choice element. Although students taking the ACT Plus Writing will receive a Combined English/Writing score, taking the Writing Test does not affect your English Test score or your Composite score.
Roughly 300 colleges require or recommend that applicants take the ACT with Writing. In general, more selective schools expect you to submit a Writing score, while less selective ones don't. Other schools don't require the ACT with Writing but do recommend it.
In Common App, you report the Combined English/Writing score, not the essay score. In any case, the general consensus on college-advice websites is that colleges mostly care about the composite score, and your composite of 33 is pretty good.
The first
colleges in each section are those that
require the
Writing ACT; these are then followed by
schools that recommend it.
CALIFORNIA
- Scripps College.
- Soka University of America.
- UC Berkeley.
- UC Davis.
- UC Irvine.
- UC Los Angeles.
- UC Merced.
- UC Riverside.
The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 with a 36 being the highest score. A score of 22 places you in the 63rd percentile, meaning that it's a higher score than the majority of test takers receive. At this level, scores begin to become competitive for admission to mildly selective institutions.
Is a 35 a good ACT score? Absolutely. You're amongst the truly elite and should qualify to get into any top tier school with a score of 35. It places you in the top 99th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam.
Is a 32 a good ACT score? Yes, with a score of 32 you're amongst the best of the best. It places you in the top 97th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam.
Is a 26 a good ACT score? Yes, a score of 26 is very competitive. It places you in the top 82nd percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. If a 26 isn't strong enough to get into your dream school, consider taking a test prep course to see if you can raise your score.
What is a Perfect Score on the ACT? The ACT is scored on a scale from 1-36, so the highest score you can get on the ACT is 36. It's important to realize that this score is actually the average of your four section scores, so let's step back for a minute and review just how the ACT is scored.
Is a 34 a good ACT score? Yes, a score of 34 is awesome. It places you in the top 99th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done an almost perfect job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.
The writing test is an optional 40-minute essay task that students can elect to take at the end of the multiple choice test. ACT, Inc. Nonetheless, the SAT's essay was required and the ACT's was optional.
The average ACT score composite at UCLA is a 31. The 25th percentile ACT score is 27, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 34. In other words, a 27 places you below average, while a 34 will move you up to above average.
For most high school students, your ACT Essay score matters a little bit, but least of all compared to the other sections of the ACT. Treat ACT Essay seriously, and prepare for it wisely. However - remember that many colleges just require that you take the ACT Essay - just not that you get a high score.
You can apply to 0 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.
An average score on the current ACT Writing Exam is a a 6.5. For highly selective colleges, you'll want a score of 8 or higher. Scores of 10, 11, and 12 truly stand out and highlight strong writing skills.
Yale does not require that applicants submit an ACT Essay along with the rest of the exam. Since the essay is an optional component of the test, students considering Yale should take note of this policy.
A Good ACT Writing Score Can Boost Your Chances of Admission—Slightly. Even if a school doesn't require the test, a high score on the ACT Writing may give your application a slight boost, since it serves as an indication of strong writing and analysis abilities.
For most students, scoring above average, 21 or higher, is a good score. For those applying to elite colleges, scores in the 94th percentile (30+) or even the 98th percentile (33+) are good scores.
Is a 14 a good ACT score? A score of 14 is definitely low. It places you in the bottom 13th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a very poor job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.
Considering the US national average GPA is a 3.0, a 1.0 is far below average. Generally, a 1.0 is considered a dismal GPA. Raising a 1.0 GPA to an acceptable number is extremely difficult, but possible with diligence and determination.
Is a 17 a good ACT score? A score of 17 is pretty low. It places you in the bottom 31st percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. The score indicates you've done a well below average job answering the questions on the English, Math, Reading and Science sections of the test.
The ACT Score Range. The ACT is scored out of a total of 36 points — this is known as the composite, or total, score. The lowest possible composite score is 1.
In terms of benchmarks for ACT score percentiles, a score of 16 places you at the 27th percentile, meaning you've scored better than about a quarter of test-takers. We've already noted that a 20.8 is an average ACT score, at the 50th percentile. A score of 24 means you've scored better than about 74% of students.
Is a 19 a good ACT score? A score of 19 is a little worse than average. It places you in the bottom 44th percentile nationally out of the 2 million test takers of the ACT entrance exam. If a 19 isn't strong enough to get into your dream school, consider taking a test prep course to see if you can raise your score.
We've already noted that a 20.8 is an average ACT score, at the 50th percentile. A score of 24 means you've scored better than about 74% of students. A 28 means you've scored better than 88% of students, and a 30 means you've scored better than 93% of them!
Once you're out of the top 15, a “bad” ACT score for a school is anything below their middle 50% ACT range. We say “bad” not because the score is necessarily bad on a national scale, but because it could lower your chances of admission at certain schools.
