Is 25 a Good ACT Score?

A 25 on the ACT places you well above both the median and the average. In fact, it places you above the 75th percentile, meaning fewer than a quarter of all test takers score a 25 or higher on the ACT. But whether it’s considered a “good score” depends on a few factors: most importantly, the types of colleges you’re hoping to attend.

Many colleges consider an ACT score of 25 to be a good or even a very good score. But there are also many schools out there for which a score of 25 is well below their midrange (the 25th through the 75th percentile of all admitted students).

Harvard’s most recent midrange, for instance, was a 33 to a 35. That means only a quarter of its most recent incoming class scored less than a 33, at least among those who submitted scores (Harvard was test optional last year). Probably none scored a 25. Three-quarters of students who submitted scores in Stanford’s most recent incoming class scored a 34 or higher on the ACT. If you’re gunning for these schools, a 25 won’t make you a competitive or even a realistic applicant.

That said, in addition to the thousands of colleges and universities that would happily accept you with a 25 ACT score, many colleges are test optional or even test blind, meaning they don’t look at SAT or ACT scores even if you submit them. At these schools, your score is irrelevant.

How Is My ACT Score Calculated?

The ACT consists of four mandatory sections: English, math, reading, and science. There is also an optional writing section. Each of the four mandatory sections has a score range of 1 to 36 based on the number of questions you get correct and how that number compares to all the other test takers for that session. In other words, it’s a curved test. Your composite score is the average of your section scores. So, if you get a 24 in English, a 26 in math, a 28 and reading, and a 30 in science, your ACT score would be a 27.

The writing test is scored from 2-12, with 12 being the highest possible score. It’s a separate score that does not factor into your composite.

What Is the Average ACT Score?

The average ACT score is a 21.6. This is almost a point and a half higher than in the year 2000, when the average score was a 20.2. Most standardized test experts credit the explosion of the test prep industry — now worth several billion dollars — with the uptick in scores. However, they’re quick to note that higher ACT scores don’t necessarily indicate that students are getting smarter or better prepared for college. Many on the high end of the score range are simply learning how to “game” the test.

The median ACT score is 21. This is the point at which half of all test takers score higher and half score lower. The fact that the average is a bit higher than the median indicates that the distribution of scores is skewed toward the high end — more evidence of the effects of test prep.

What Percentage of Students Get Better Than a 25 on the ACT?

Test score distributions are bell-curve shaped.

Only 22 percent of students get a better than a 25 on the ACT. Depending on what circles you run in and what forums you participate in online, you might get the feeling that every kid in America except you made a 30 or higher on the ACT, leaving you to believe that a 25 is a subpar score. But in reality, a 25 puts you well into the top quartile of all ACT takers.

Only 7 percent of all test takers make a 30 or above. These just happen to be the students who dominate most conversations about college admissions.

What SAT Score Is Equivalent to a 25 on the ACT?

ACT-to-SAT conversions, and vice versa, are not exact, because the tests are too different. For one thing, the SAT has only two sections, math and evidence based reading and writing (EBRW). It doesn’t separate English and reading like the ACT does, and it doesn’t have a science section.

So, the only way to draw rough equivalence is to look at the bell curve for each test. We’ve already established that an ACT score of 25 puts you at the 78th percentile. The score that occupies the same spot on the SAT bell curve is somewhere between a 1,200 and a 1,250.

Should I Take the ACT Again if I Got a 25?

If you don’t get the ACT score you were hoping for, you can retake the test as many times as you want. But there are several factors to consider when deciding whether or not to retake the ACT. One is how your scores compare to the midranges for the colleges you want to attend. If you’re above the 50th percentile — and especially if you’re above the 75th percentile — your time might be better spent elsewhere.

But if you’re below the median score for one or more schools you’d like to apply to, it can’t hurt to take the ACT again.

What Is the Difference Between an ACT Score and Superscore?

When you take the ACT, you receive a single score that reflects your performance on the test as a whole. Each time you take the test, you get one composite score that represents the average of your section scores on that test alone.

Your superscore, on the other hand, is created by taking your highest subscores from different tests and averaging them. This number reflects your best performance on the ACT across two or more tests.

For instance, if you took the test twice, and the first time you made a 25 on two sections and a 31 on two sections, your composite score for that test would be a 28.

If you took the test a second time and made a 31 on the two sections you previously made a 25 on, and a 25 on the two sections you previously made a 31 on, your composite score for your second attempt would also be a 28.

But your superscore for the two tests would be a 31, since it would comprise the two 31s from your first attempt and the two 31s from your second attempt.

Do Colleges Accept ACT Superscores?

Some colleges accept ACT superscores, but others do not. The number of colleges that do accept them grows every year. It’s beneficial for a college to accept superscores because it makes their test score midranges higher, which makes the school appear more selective and prestigious. It also gives them a boost in the U.S. News rankings, which are calculated partly based on incoming student test score performance.

That said, it’s important to research each college’s policy on accepting superscores before submitting your application. If you’re unsure about whether or not your chosen college accepts superscores, contact the admissions office for clarification.

What Colleges Can I Get Into With a 25 ACT?

While Harvard and Princeton won’t beat down your door when they hear about your 25, your score ranks at or above the 50th percentile for thousands of colleges and universities, including many that rank in the top 100 in U.S. News. These colleges make good safety schools for Ivy applicants who might not have Ivy-level ACT or SAT scores.

National universities ranked in the top 100 that have ACT medians at or below 25 include these schools:

University of Iowa
Binghamton University—SUNY
Howard University
University of California, Riverside
University of California, Merced
University of Oregon

Liberal arts colleges in the top 100 with ACT medians at or below 25 include the following:

Berea College
Spelman College (women only)
Wabash College (men only)
Principia College
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Hampden-Sydney College (men only)
Hanover College
Ohio Wesleyan University

What Are My Options if I’m Unhappy With My ACT Score?

If you’re unhappy with your ACT score, there are a few things you can do. One option is to retake the test. Another is to enroll in an ACT prep course. A third option is to take and submit the SAT instead. Or, you could apply to test-optional colleges and universities.

Retake the Test

Sometimes all it takes is a little familiarity with the test itself to boost your score by several points. If you were nervous the first time taking the ACT, or you got thrown off by the format of the test, consider your first attempt a dress rehearsal and take it a second time for real.

Enroll in an ACT Prep Course

If you feel your less-than-ideal performance was more than just a case of nerves or test anxiety, consider enrolling in a prep course before attempting the ACT again. Sure, some of these courses cost crazy amounts of money, but others don’t. Pro-tip: Look for a course with a score increase guarantee. Most of the reputable courses have one.

Take the SAT

You always hear about students who crush both the ACT and the SAT. But there are just as many who tear it up on one and struggle on the other. Maybe the ACT is your “struggle” test and the SAT is more your gig. You’ll never know until you give it a shot.

Apply to Test-Optional Colleges

If standardized tests just aren’t your thing, and you feel they don’t adequately represent your academic capabilities and readiness for college, focus on applying to test-optional schools. The list of these colleges and universities is long and growing.

A 25 on the ACT is a good score. That’s not just a feel-good platitude. It’s backed by data. But we understand that even a good score might not be good enough for you and your goals. If that’s the case, you have a plethora of options to either boost your score or accomplish those goals without the ACT.

Is 25 a Good ACT Score?

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