Admissions offices use ACT scores to assess student performance and readiness for a college curriculum. The ACT is scored on a scale from 0 to 36, and schools typically accept students whose scores fall within a targeted range. Nationally, median scores do fluctuate from year to year; however, distributional data from 2007, 2008 and 2009 test results indicated that the 50th percentile for both section and composite performance fell around a 20.
Colleges and scholarship agencies suggest that students take the exam during the spring of their junior year of high school. This gives schools ample time to receive applicant scores and begin a dialogue with those they are interested in. Students who score below their target score may choose to retake the exam in the fall of their senior year, which still allows sufficient turnaround time to meet admissions and scholarship deadlines. Upon testing, students select the schools to which they would like to have score reports sent. Following the exam, students may request additional score reports from the testing service online or via phone or mail. These reports should be available no more than eight weeks after the test is administered.
Colleges and universities use ACT score information as only one of many applicant assessment tools. Along with course rigor, demonstrated academic performance and community involvement, ACT scores help admissions offices determine how successful each applicant will be in managing a college curriculum and achieving academic success within the school’s environment. However, it is critical to note that each university has its own formulas for weighting the importance of standardized test scores. For example, some schools will not accept students whose scores fall below a determined cutoff threshold, while others may be willing to consider applicants with lower scores because of demonstration of positive academic performance, such as high school GPA. In fact, some schools do not even require standardized test scores for in-state applicants. For students who are focused on attending a specific school, it is well worth taking the time to contact the admissions office to determine the magnitude of ACT scores as a determinant of acceptance.