Enter the number of questions you got right in each section to instantly calculate your ACT composite score, percentile, and see which colleges you can reach.
This table shows how many questions you need to get correct to hit each scaled score (1–36). Values are approximate — conversion tables vary slightly per test date.
| Scaled Score | Raw (Correct) |
|---|---|
| 36 | 75 |
| 35 | 73–74 |
| 34 | 71–72 |
| 33 | 69–70 |
| 32 | 67–68 |
| 31 | 65–66 |
| 30 | 63–64 |
| 28–29 | 59–62 |
| 26–27 | 53–58 |
| 24–25 | 47–52 |
| 20–23 | 35–46 |
| 18–19 | 29–34 |
| Scaled Score | Raw (Correct) |
|---|---|
| 36 | 59–60 |
| 35 | 57–58 |
| 34 | 55–56 |
| 33 | 53–54 |
| 32 | 51–52 |
| 31 | 49–50 |
| 30 | 47–48 |
| 28–29 | 43–46 |
| 26–27 | 39–42 |
| 24–25 | 35–38 |
| 20–23 | 26–34 |
| 18–19 | 21–25 |
Official ACT percentile data for the 2025–26 testing year. Your percentile shows how you compare to all test-takers.
| Composite Score | Percentile Rank | What It Means | College Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–36 | 99th+ | Top 1% of all test-takers | Ivy League / MIT / Stanford |
| 34 | 99th | Highly competitive for elite admissions | Top 10 universities |
| 33 | 98th | Very strong — opens most doors | Top 20 universities |
| 32 | 97th | Above average for top 30 schools | Top 30 + merit aid |
| 30–31 | 93rd–95th | Excellent for state flagships | Top 50, UC schools |
| 28–29 | 88th–91st | Merit scholarships possible | Many competitive schools |
| 25–27 | 75th–85th | Above average, broad acceptance range | Regional universities |
| 20–24 | 45th–70th | Average range — solid at many schools | Less selective schools |
| Below 20 | Below 45th | Consider retaking with more prep | Open admissions schools |
25th–75th percentile ACT ranges for admitted students. Aim at or above the 75th percentile score to be most competitive.
| College | Location | Tier | ACT Range | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIT | Cambridge, MA | Elite | 34–36 | 4% |
| Harvard | Cambridge, MA | Elite | 34–36 | 4% |
| Stanford | Stanford, CA | Elite | 34–36 | 4% |
| Yale | New Haven, CT | Elite | 34–36 | 5% |
| Princeton | Princeton, NJ | Elite | 34–36 | 5% |
| Columbia | New York, NY | Elite | 34–36 | 4% |
| UPenn | Philadelphia, PA | Ivy+ | 33–35 | 6% |
| Cornell | Ithaca, NY | Ivy+ | 33–35 | 8% |
| Duke | Durham, NC | Top 15 | 33–35 | 7% |
| Northwestern | Evanston, IL | Top 15 | 33–35 | 7% |
| Georgetown | Washington, DC | Top 25 | 31–34 | 14% |
| UCLA | Los Angeles, CA | Top 25 | 29–34 | 9% |
| UC Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | Top 25 | 29–34 | 11% |
| UMich Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor, MI | Top 30 | 32–35 | 18% |
| NYU | New York, NY | Top 30 | 30–34 | 13% |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | Top 50 | 30–33 | 19% |
| Purdue | West Lafayette, IN | Top 60 | 26–32 | 44% |
| Study Hours | Average Gain | Best Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10 hrs | +1 to +2 pts | Learn format, take one timed practice test |
| 10–40 hrs | +2 to +4 pts | Targeted section review + error analysis |
| 40–80 hrs | +4 to +6 pts | All 5 official tests + content mastery |
| 80–150 hrs | +6 to +8 pts | Full curriculum + tutoring weak spots |
| 150+ hrs | +8 pts possible | Intensive — best ROI if starting below 25 |
| Feature | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Score Scale | 1–36 composite | 400–1600 |
| Sections | English, Math, Reading, Science | Math + Reading & Writing |
| Total Questions | 215 scored questions | 98 scored questions |
| Duration | 2 hrs 55 min | 2 hrs 14 min (digital) |
| Science Section | Yes (data interpretation) | No dedicated section |
| Format | Paper or online (non-adaptive) | Digital (adaptive) |
| Average Score | ~19 | ~1010 |
Use our SAT Score Calculator → to compare your projected scores on both exams.
Enter your raw section answers above for an instant composite score, percentile, and college match.
Scoring data sourced from ACT official score reports and 2025–26 percentile tables
