
Starting from September 2025, ACT Exam's Composite Score was made based on three subjects only, i.e. English, Mathematics and Reading. Science subject has been made a student choice (optional). Scores from previous ACT test will remain unchanged and will not be recalculated.
Administered by ACT Inc., the ACT exam result is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 and declared 2-8 weeks after taking the test. The ACT test report often contains section-wise and one complete composite scores.
The ACT Scores can only be accessed by logging into your "My ACT" account and the test takers must note that any information on ACT results and scores will not be provided through any other mode of communication, such as by phone, email, chat, or fax.
The ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36, with 1 being the lowest and 36 being a perfect score. No university or college demands a perfect ACT composite score of 36, thus, students should aim for a score of 30+ and score slightly above the minimum ACT score requirements. Hence, its good to aim for the perfect ACT score but not aimlessly targetting for 36 will be a more sensible approach.
The ACT exam scores are released within 2 days to 8 weeks after the test date. Test takers can access their ACT test results on their MyACT portal.
If you have scored a perfect ACT score then you need not give the ACT retest. Also, there is a possibility that you might score less on your second attempt. Also the ACT retest is for those who are dissatisfied with their exam scores and do not qualify for the minimum score band also. Thus, once an applicant has a perfect score on ACT as per his or her and university's requirements there is absolutely no need for them to retake the exam.
- ACT Exam Scoring Pattern 2025
- Processing Times for Different Tasks on the ACT Test
- ACT Score Reporting Dates 2025
- How to Check ACT 2025 Results?
- How ACT 2025 is scored?
- ACT Results 2025
- ACT Result and Scores 2025 FAQs
ACT Exam Scoring Pattern 2025
Each section of ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 points. Composite score is average of all four tests. Students taking optional writing test will receive a writing score for that section ranging from 1 to 36. Writing score does not affect composite score.
- ACT Scores are released two weeks after the test date.
- ACT Scores can be accessed through students' "My ACT" accounts.
- Writing test score is released separately and does not affect composite score of the candidate.
- ACT score ranges from 1 to 36.
Here are average ACT scores by sections:
ACT Test Sections |
ACT Section-wise Average Scores |
---|---|
English |
20.3 |
Math |
20.9 |
Reading |
21.3 |
Science |
20.8 |
Composite ACT Score |
21.0 |
Also Read: Merit Scholarships for SAT and ACT Scores
Commonly asked questions
There is no specific answer to this, usually, tier 1 universities prefer candidates with ACT composite scores of 30 or more. Since a lot of universities have become test-optional the may not require applicants to submit an ACT score at all. But there are applicants who would still submit an ACT score to prove their academic knowledge and analytical side too. Thus, there is no answer to the question as to what is a good ACT composite score, it all ultimately depends upon how th student wants to portray it.
You don't need to do anything to calculate or check your ACT exam superscore. ACT provides you the superscore of your ACT exam automatically if you have taken the exam more than once after September 2016.
Yes, the ACT superscoring is now available. The ACT superscores will automatically be calculated for the students who have taken the ACT test more than once since September 2016 until now.
You can also combine your ACT scores from different test dates. For example, you can combine your writing scores from one test date and multiple choice test reports from another test date.
Processing Times for Different Tasks on the ACT Test
The time it takes to access different sections of the ACT exam varies.
- Multiple-choice Questions: The scores for the multiple-choice questions are processed and hence, posted online within 2 business days of taking the ACT exam. However, this period may even stretch to up to 8 weeks.
- Writing Section: The writing section's scores are released after the scores of multiple choice questions are released. Generally, the ACT's writing section scores are released 2-3 weeks after the writing sections result release date.
- Special Testing Scores: These scores are generally released 2-10 weeks after the test date.
Commonly asked questions
The average math score for the ACT is 20.7, so anything higher than this is above average. However, at times above average may not be enough to get into a good college. Anything above 30 or more is a good math score.
A good ACT score varies as per your goals and the colleges ytou choose. The good ACT score is thus "relative" that depends on your specific college goals. The key is to score at or above the average ACT score for the colleges you're applying to, which gives you a strong chance of acceptance. Subsequently, may universities accept ACT scores in the mid 20s while some accept above scores 30.
Your ACT exam scores begin to get reported within two business days of you taking the test. Even though ACT is committed to providing the test scores as quickly as possible, some infrequencies may cause the result to get ready in as long as 8 weeks.
ACT Score Reporting Dates 2025
ACT has not given any specific date when your scores are to be reported. ACT Score is delivered after a certain period of time after the test date and is processed regularly during business hours. Let us check out the ACT score reporting dates of all the previous ACT tests in 2025-26 in the table below:
ACT Score Reporting Dates 2025-26 | |
---|---|
ACT International Test Dates 2025 | Estimated Earliest Possible Date for ACT MCQ Scores Announcement Online |
05-06 Sep 2025 | 09 Sep 2025 |
17-18 Oct 2025 | 21 Oct 2025 |
12-13 Dec 2025 | 16 Dec 2025 |
06-07 Feb 2026 | 10 Feb 2026 |
10-11 April 2026 | 14 Apr 2026 |
12-13 June 2026 | 16 June 2026 |
10-11 July 2026 | 14 July 2026 |
There may be a case when ACT results may be delayed and dates might vary; thus, applicants must keep a check on the official website for result announcements and plan accordingly to send across their scores to universities as well.
The score reporting dates of ACT tests in 2025 will be released soon.
Commonly asked questions
ACT is committed to providing you exam scores as early as possible and your responses in the exam start getting examined within two business days after your test. However, this whole process of score reporting may eve stretch to up to 8 weeks.
As per the older patterns, here are the tentative ACT exam score reporting dates for the upcoming testing windows:
Tentative Score Reporting Dates of the Upcoming ACT Exams in 2025 | |
---|---|
ACT Exam Dates 2025 | ACT Score Reporting Timeframe |
13-14 June 2025 | 23 June 2025 - 08 Aug 2025 |
11-12 July, 2025 | 21 July 2025 - 06 Sep 2025 |
05-06 Sep 2025 | 15 Sep 2025 - 01 Nov 2025 |
17-18 Oct 2025 | 27 Oct 2025 - 12 Dec 2025 |
12-13 Dec 2025 | 22 Dec 2025 - 07 Feb 2025 |
Yes, a 27 on the ACT is considered a very good score, placing you above the national average. It's highly competitive for admission to the top universities in USA.
No, a 17.5 score on the ACT exam is considered a below-average score. Getting a 17.5 score on the ACT exam may also limit your chnaces of getting admitted to a university in the USA.
How to Check ACT 2025 Results?
Once the scores are released, students can access them using their MyACT accounts. Scores are added every week, so students should keep on checking the scores till the time they see their final scores.
- Usually, multiple-choice scores are available two business days after testing for those who have taken the test using computer-based testing. Also, students who have taken the test through paper-and-pencil get their scores two to ten weeks after the test date.
- Writing test scores are available about two to three weeks after the multiple-choice scores.
- Results for special testing are usually accessible within two to ten weeks from the date of the test.
Note: Your overall scores will not be officially reported until your writing scores have been added if you have completed the writing test. Checking your scores online will not accelerate reporting process.
ACT Score Validity: ACT total scores are valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested.
Commonly asked questions
ACT score reports are sent to various recipients like the college or university the applicant is applying to. There are different types of ACT score reports and each of them are delivered in a different time frame, the table below gives details of the types of ACT score reports and the time frame in which they are delivered:
Types of ACT score report | Where it's delivered? | When it's delivered? | What it reports? |
---|---|---|---|
Student report | Applicant's online ACT web account | 2–8 weeks after the test date | ACT scores, college and career planning information |
High school report | Applicant's high school via online reporting | ||
College report | Each valid college code applicant listed and paid for when they registered or tested (up to six) | Varies based on college and when ordered | Everything on the Student and High School Report, plus the grades reported in up to 30 high school courses; it may also include performance prediction. |
The ACT score report includes your section scores, composite score, and reporting category scores. There are different types of ACT score reports and each of them are delivered in a certain time frame and each of them record a certain set of things. The students have to be clear as to what type of ACT score report they are wanting to receive or want their recipients to receive on their behalf. The score reports of ACT includes ACT scores, college plus career planning, performance prediction, etc.
A good ACT score depends on the college/university that you're applying to. However, an ACT score between 28-36 is generally considered good and is accepted by most of the top-tier institutions.
How ACT 2025 is scored?
ACT scoring for writing tests and multiple choice tests is different. For multiple-choice tests, a raw score of 1 is awarded for one correct answer and no marks for wrong answer.
- For a test of 40 questions, a maximum of 40 can be scored and for 60 questions test, a maximum raw score of 60 can be scored.
- Then from each of tests, these raw scores are converted to a scale of 1
- 36. - This is done to invalidate effects of difficulty level variability across different test dates as it is not feasible to set question papers of exact same difficulty level.
- Composite score is average score of converted scaled scores of four tests which are rounded off to nearest whole number.
- If in case there is a difference of more than one point between two examiners in awarded score then a third examiner evaluates test.
- Final score for writing test is derived by adding marks of both evaluators.
- Students' English Writing and Reading scores are again converted on a scale to formulate English Language Arts (ELA) score.
- ELA will not be generated for ACT without writing aspirants.
- ACT writing test is scored on a scale of 2 – 12. Test is evaluated by two examiners on a scale of 1 – 6 on four parameters namely ideas and analysis, development and support, organization and language use, and conventions.
Note: writing test score does not affect students’ composite scores.
Commonly asked questions
The lowest possible ACT composite score is 1. Note that each section (English, Math, and Reading) is also scored on a scale of 1 to 36.
The ACT exam scores range from 1 to 36. Each section of the ACT exam is also scored on a scale of 1 to 36 and the composite score of teh ACT exam also ranges from 1 to 36.
A score of 26 on the ACT test places you in roughly the 83rd percentile. This means you scored higher than 83% of all the ACT test-takers. It's considered a strong score, competitive for many colleges and universities.
ACT Results 2025
ACT test results are typically released within two to eight weeks of the test administration and ACT score reports can be viewed online. If you took the ACT with writing, your writing scores will be posted online as soon as they are ready, which is normally two weeks after your general scores are out. Once the ACT results are out, the scores have to be reported to the respective universities. There are 4 ACT score reports which are automatically sent to the universities chosen by the applicant during ACT registration for free. For each additional ACT scorecard, applicants will have to pay an additional fee.
ACT results can be shared based on the ACT super score also, in case the universities accept them. Super scores of ACT mean the best scores for each section will be considered and compiled and then sent by ACT to the respective universities. Thus, it is absolutely up to the applicant how they wish to share their ACT scorecards with the universities, either self-report the scores or ACT sending them officially to the universities. The option may be limited for a couple of universities so applicants must check before proceeding for sending their ACT result cards.
Commonly asked questions
The ACT score report includes your section scores, composite score, and reporting category scores. There are different types of ACT score reports and each of them are delivered in a certain time frame and each of them record a certain set of things. The students have to be clear as to what type of ACT score report they are wanting to receive or want their recipients to receive on their behalf. The score reports of ACT includes ACT scores, college plus career planning, performance prediction, etc.
An ACT score of 26 is roughly equivalent to an SAT score between 1230 and 1250. This places both scores well above the national average.
While an ACT score of 30 is excellent, Harvard University's admitted student average is typically much higher, often in the 33-35 range. A 30 might not be competitive enough on its own for Harvard, but strong academics and extracurriculars could help.
ACT Result and Scores 2025 FAQs
Check out the commonly asked questions about ACT test results below.
Commonly asked questions
For the 2025 college application cycle, a good ACT score generally falls around 24 or higher, with scores in the 28-32 range considered excellent for highly competitive institutions.
Yes, if the applicant feels that they have been marked incorrectly on a correctly answered question on the ACT exam, they can raise a request for score verification. For this they will have to fill up a pdf form and attach a cheque for ACT Customer Support. Once the form is submitted, the applicant's responses will be checked as per the correct score key and match the answers, in case of essay also, they would be evaluated by independent plus qualified readers to check if assessment was done correctly. In case the scores increase or even if they decrease the applicant would get a new score from ACT in both cases.
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