Summary: ACT percentiles show what percentage of recent test takers scored at or below a given score. Based on ACT’s official 2026-27 national ranks, the average Composite is 19.1, a 24 is at the 80th percentile, a 28 is at the 91st percentile, and a 30 is at the 94th percentile. This guide includes the full score-to-percentile table for every section.
Key Takeaways
- The average ACT Composite score is 19.1.
- A Composite of 24 or higher puts a student in the top 20 percent of test takers.
- A Composite of 28 or higher puts a student in roughly the top 10 percent.
- On the enhanced ACT, the Composite is the average of English, Math, and Reading. Science is optional.
- A “good” score depends on the colleges a student is applying to.
What Is a Good ACT Score?
A good ACT score is one that meets or exceeds the typical scores of admitted students at the colleges on your child’s list. As a national benchmark, a Composite score of 24 is at the 80th percentile, a 28 is at the 91st percentile, and a 31 or higher is at the 96th percentile or above. The national average Composite is 19.1.
What Do ACT Percentiles Mean?
An ACT percentile, which ACT calls a national rank, shows the percentage of recent test takers who earned the same score or lower. For example, a Composite score of 23 has a national rank of 77, meaning the student scored as high as or higher than 77 percent of recent high school graduates who took the ACT.
The 2026-27 ranks are based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2024 to 2026 and are used for tests taken from September 2026 through August 2027.
ACT Score Percentiles Table (2026-27)
Find the score in the first column and read across to see the national rank for each section and the Composite. Scores below 10 are at or below the 11th percentile in every section.
| Score | English | Math | Reading | Science | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 35 | 99 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 34 | 97 | 99 | 97 | 99 | 99 |
| 33 | 96 | 98 | 95 | 98 | 98 |
| 32 | 95 | 97 | 93 | 97 | 97 |
| 31 | 94 | 96 | 91 | 96 | 96 |
| 30 | 93 | 95 | 89 | 95 | 94 |
| 29 | 92 | 94 | 87 | 93 | 93 |
| 28 | 90 | 93 | 85 | 92 | 91 |
| 27 | 88 | 91 | 83 | 91 | 89 |
| 26 | 87 | 88 | 81 | 89 | 86 |
| 25 | 84 | 84 | 78 | 86 | 83 |
| 24 | 81 | 81 | 75 | 82 | 80 |
| 23 | 77 | 77 | 71 | 77 | 77 |
| 22 | 74 | 74 | 66 | 70 | 72 |
| 21 | 70 | 71 | 61 | 65 | 68 |
| 20 | 64 | 68 | 56 | 60 | 63 |
| 19 | 58 | 64 | 51 | 54 | 58 |
| 18 | 54 | 60 | 47 | 48 | 52 |
| 17 | 50 | 53 | 42 | 41 | 47 |
| 16 | 46 | 45 | 37 | 34 | 41 |
| 15 | 41 | 33 | 33 | 27 | 34 |
| 14 | 34 | 21 | 28 | 19 | 28 |
| 13 | 28 | 11 | 22 | 14 | 20 |
| 12 | 23 | 6 | 16 | 10 | 13 |
| 11 | 18 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| 10 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Average | 18.4 | 19.0 | 20.0 | 19.5 | 19.1 |
Source: ACT, Inc., ACT Score National Ranks 2026-2027.
ACT Score Ranges and What They Mean
| Composite Score | National Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 33 to 36 | 98th to 100th | Top 2 percent; competitive at the most selective colleges |
| 28 to 32 | 91st to 97th | Top 10 percent; strong for selective colleges and many merit scholarships |
| 24 to 27 | 80th to 89th | Well above average; competitive at many four-year colleges |
| 19 to 23 | 58th to 77th | Around or above the national average |
| 18 and below | 52nd and below | At or below the national midpoint; a signal to focus preparation on weaker sections |
How Is the ACT Composite Score Calculated?
On the enhanced ACT, each section is scored from 1 to 36. The Composite is the average of the English, Math, and Reading scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, a student who scores 26 in English, 24 in Math, and 27 in Reading has an average of 25.67, which rounds to a Composite of 26.
Science is now an optional add-on. Students who take it receive a Science score and a STEM score, which combines Math and Science, but Science does not count toward the Composite. Students who take the optional Writing test receive a separate Writing score from 2 to 12 and an English Language Arts score.
How to Use ACT Percentiles When Choosing Colleges
Colleges publish the middle 50 percent ACT range of their admitted students, meaning the 25th and 75th percentile scores. A student whose score falls inside that range is a competitive applicant. A score near the top of the range or above it strengthens the application, while a score below the range makes the school more of a reach.
Families can use the table above to see where a score stands nationally, then compare it to each college’s range to build a balanced list of reach, match, and likely schools.
How to Raise an ACT Score
- Start with a diagnostic: A full practice test shows which section has the most room to improve.
- Learn the English rules: ACT English tests a predictable set of grammar and punctuation rules. Our ACT English guide lists them with examples.
- Close math gaps: Most ACT math comes from Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2.
- Practice under time: Pacing is one of the biggest factors in ACT scores, so timed section practice matters.
- Plan a retake: Many students improve on a second attempt. See our ACT registration guide for dates and fees, and our college preparation timeline for when to test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good ACT score?
A Composite score of 24 places a student at about the 80th percentile, and a 28 is at about the 91st percentile, based on ACT’s 2026-27 national ranks. The national average Composite is 19.1. A good score for a specific student is one that falls within or above the middle 50 percent range of the colleges on their list.
What is the average ACT score?
The average ACT Composite score is 19.1, based on high school graduates from 2024 to 2026 who took the ACT. The section averages are 18.4 in English, 19.0 in Math, 20.0 in Reading, and 19.5 in Science.
What percentile is a 30 on the ACT?
A Composite score of 30 is at the 94th percentile, which means the student scored as high as or higher than 94 percent of recent high school graduates who took the ACT.
How is the ACT Composite score calculated?
On the enhanced ACT, the Composite is the average of the English, Math, and Reading scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science is optional and reported separately, and students who take it also receive a STEM score based on Math and Science.
What ACT score do I need for a selective college?
Highly selective colleges often admit students whose scores are in the 90th percentile or higher, which is a Composite of about 28 and above. Each college publishes the middle 50 percent score range of its admitted students, which is the best guide for a specific school.
How many times can my child take the ACT?
Students can take the ACT up to 12 times, but most take it two or three times. Many colleges superscore, which means they combine a student’s best section scores from different test dates.
How can my child raise their ACT score?
Start with a full practice test to find the weakest section, then focus preparation there. In English, learning the most tested grammar rules often raises scores quickly. In Math, reviewing Algebra 2 and geometry gaps matters most. Timed practice in every section builds pacing, which is one of the biggest factors in ACT performance.
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