There is no definitive answer to whether or not a 25 is a good ACT score. The truth is, a “good” ACT score depends on what your personal goals and target college(s) are.
Scoring a 25 on the ACT is good for some schools, but may need improving to be considered competitive at other schools. There are also test-blind schools in which your ACT score will make no difference at all.
That’s why no one can decidedly say that a 25 is a good ACT score or not. There are variables to consider before a “good” score can be distinguished from a one that needs improved.
To determine how competitive a score of 25 on the ACT is, you’ll need to determine your target score. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to find your target ACT score and I’ll explain how to below, so read on!
How the ACT is scored
First, let’s recap how the ACT is scored…
The highest score you can receive on the ACT is 36. This is also the most important number on your ACT score report, and the one colleges will be most concerned with.
The score for ACT runs on a scale of 1-36 as a composite score from each of its four sections.
Each section also receives a score of 1-36.
To calculate the composite score, add each section’s score and divide by four. This will give you your “grade” out of a potential 36 points.
Now, let’s talk about how we can use that information to determine what your target score should be.
This is how you can decide if you are happy with an ACT score of 25 or want to prep more and test again to increase it.
How to calculate your target ACT score
Here’s a good rule of thumb:
The more competitive the college, the more competitive your ACT score needs to be.
While there are a few exceptions to this rule (such as colleges in the UC system), it’s an effective way to determine what your target ACT score should be.
When you set your target score, look at your target colleges’ middle 50% or average scores.
If your target school’s average ACT score was 33-35, you don’t need to get a 36 to get into the school. Ideally, you would just need to be in their average score range.
I scored a 25 on the ACT. Should I retake the test?
That depends. With the national average around 21, a score of 25 is a pretty good score. This means that you are in the 79th percentile of all test-takers and near the commonly accepted range of most colleges.
If you are aiming to get into a more selective university (particularly in the Ivy League), then retaking the test is an option you should consider.
However, remember that the ACT is not the only component for admission into a college; make sure you have other documents (transcripts, recommendations, extracurriculars, etc.) to make your application competitive.
What is a good ACT score?
A “good” ACT score meets or exceeds the average accepted ACT score of the school you are applying to. Even though your 25 ACT score may not be competitive at schools like Harvard or Stanford, that doesn’t make your score bad.
Most upper-tiered schools look for an average of between 27-33.
Although some schools, like the schools in the UC system, have removed the ACT and SAT requirements, these scores are still an accurate target for similarly competitive schools, and Ivy League schools want scores even higher.
You can research your target schools to find the scores they want or if they are optional.
Powerful Prep has already done this research for all eight of the Ivy League schools as well as MIT and UC.
You can find this data at the following links:
What if my score is too low?
If you have taken an early ACT date and scored a 25 which you are not satisfied with, retake the test.
Be careful to review the ACT website to ensure that any test date you take will still count towards your college applications – this depends on the deadline of the university, and also if the school has a document deadline.
To increase your chances of improving your 25 ACT score, you can request a copy of the test that you took, with the answers marked as correct or incorrect.
Analyzing where you went wrong may help you increase your scores.
This will help you develop a more focused study plan, with more time for strengthening your weak areas.
And don’t forget that, when trying to determine if 25 is a good ACT score for your goals, test scores are only one part of the package schools look at.
Focusing on strengthening other components like a high GPA and an excellent admissions essay may increase your chances and sway the admissions directors.
How does a 25 ACT score compare on a national level?
In 2020/ 2021, over 1.3 million students took the ACT.
Out of all those 1.3 million tests:
- The national average ACT score was about 21
- The average English section score on the ACT was 20.1
- Math was 20.4
- Reading was 21.2
- and Science was 20.6
Average scores for each ACT section
What colleges can I get into with an ACT score of 25?
Here are some popular colleges that you can get into with this score:
- Arizona State University
- Penn State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Alabama
- San Diego State University
- Auburn University
- Texas State University
- Purdue University
- University of Kentucky
- Howard University
And so many others!
Should I submit my score to “X” school?
Let’s start by saying that 25 can certainly be considered a good ACT score.
But for some students, it might be worth it to prep a bit more and retake the test. (Don’t worry, we’ll share some ACT test prep tips below!)
According to College Navigator,earning a score of 26 on the ACT puts you within the 50th percentile or higher for hundreds of 4-year public and private universities.
Submitting scores that prove you did better than the majority of accepted and enrolled applicants from the previous admissions cycle is a surefire way to increase your chances of acceptance.
A 26 on the ACT puts you at or above the 50th percentile in the following colleges:
- Arkansas State University
- High Point University
- Augusta University
- Central Michigan University
- and Florida International University
Now…
With an ACT Composite score of 30, you would be at or above the 50th percentile for:
- Bentley University
- Muhlenberg College
- Gonzaga University
- Clemson University
- and Drexel University
As you may have guessed, a higher ACT score is needed for many selective schools if you want the same advantage of boosting your chances of acceptance.
For Tulane University, Boston University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame, a score of 33-34 would help tremendously.
There’s no exact method of determining whether a school is Reach, Target, or Safety based on ACT Composite score alone, but following the advice above can help you determine whether you’re increasing or decreasing your chances of acceptance at institutions that are test-required or test-optional.
Can I get scholarships with a 25 ACT score?
Of course! However, even better questions would be, which scholarships can I get?
Some scholarships want specific scores to qualify, while others are based on criteria like GPA. A minimum ACT score of 25 should qualify you for lower-level scholarship money.
Most colleges and universities also have their own scholarships and grants to give to students with qualifying scores, as well as field-specific and general scholarships that you could earn with or without an ACT score.
It just takes a little research.
How important is the ACT in college admissions?
Short answer, your ACT scores heavily impact your college admissions. That’s why it’s so important to determine if your 25 ACT score is at a good level to meet your college admission goals.
Despite a recent trend toward test-optional or test-blind admissions, ACT scores and SAT scores remain among the most considered factors in college admissions decisions.
Even when schools have been test-optional, about 80% of students have sent their scores with their admissions documents.
That’s precisely why it’s a valid concern to consider how valuable your ACT score is in college admissions.
As an applicant, it is a personal choice to determine if a 25 ACT score accurately represent you as a student and your abilities.
The ACT is not the only factor in selecting an applicant for admission. Still, it is something admissions directors look at, especially if they receive thousands of applications each year.
How to prep for the ACT to get a score that hits your target
There are several ways to prepare for the test. Here are a few tips that should help make test day a little less stressful.
First, it’s always best to take the test early. When you take the ACT early, you have time to retake the test if your scores are not high enough.
Read our article, When Do You Take The ACT: The Ideal Test-Prep Schedule, to determine when the optimal time for you to take the ACT test is.
Improving your score is a process and should be treated as one that you’ll need to make progress towards over the duration of at least 6-12 weeks, and many times more if you’re hitting a plateau.
Like any long exam, the ACT is not something you can prepare for overnight. Cramming is not a possibility, and if you decide to do this, you’ll be potentially wasting three hours of your time and earning undesirable results.
Timed Practice Test
An important way to begin is to take a timed practice test. Then, you can grade and score your test to determine what your score is and where you need to improve.
Your mistakes you made on your ACT practice test are the guiding star of your test prep.
Did you find the reading comprehension portion to be very challenging?
Maybe you need a refresher for the science section, or you’ll need to learn completely new material.
Whichever it is, your final score and your experience on your first practice exam can be valuable information in putting together a study plan.
For studying, you’ll need to find out what works for you. However, there are three primary ways students usually study…
Three ways to study for the ACT:
- Hire a Private Tutor
- Take an Advanced Self Directed ACT Course
- Study by Yourself
Hire a Private ACT Tutor
Hiring a private ACT tutor gives you a personalized advantage to your test prep.
Ideally, a private ACT tutor will help you overcome your mistakes that keep you from making a perfect score.
Unfortunately, due to the training and experience it takes to become an effective private ACT tutor (as there are a lot of bad ones out there) private ACT tutoring isn’t affordable for most families.
If you’re able to hire a private tutor, follow the steps below to pick the right kind:
- Make sure your Private ACT tutor has great reviews on google or Yelp
- Find out if they have a history of point gains
- Make sure the ACT prep sessions are one on one and not a ACT Prep class
- Ensure that your ACT tutor has years of experience, and that they’re not just starting
However, hiring a private tutor isn’t the only way to increase your ACT score.
Take an ACT Course
During the pandemic, the ed tech industry exploded with new resources for students, even in ACT Prep.
For example, Achievable.me, an ed tech start-up that recently released their ACT Course, uses machine learning and memory science to help students pass their standardized tests. Their new ACT course features this same technology.
Another benefit of using advanced ACT courses like Achievable is their math practice questions.
Math remains one of the most challenging sections on the ACT, primarily because of the limit of math practice questions in ACT Prep manuals.
Achievable’s ACT Math section can create an infinite amount of math practice questions. This ensures that students have enough practice to master their content come test day.
Study by Yourself
This is tricky, but preparing for the ACT by yourself is possible so long as you’re disciplined.
Usually, studying 30-90 minutes daily is most productive and efficient, but each person is different. Keep track of your progress in a journal and modify your study schedule throughout the week.
Make sure to take a new practice test every 1-2 weeks, this can be very important for staying motivated and sticking to goals.
Once you see a consistent score increase over several practice tests, you’ll be ready for the real exam.
The trick here is to make sure you’re using reliable content to prepare for the ACT. Check our resource pages for the best books you can purchase to prepare for the ACT.
Determining if a 25 is a good ACT score depends on…
To recap, determining if a 25 is a “good score” depends on your target school’s data. Make sure to review the schools averages from the previous year.
Then formulate a study plan that you can commit to, and do your best to earn a higher score in each section.
If you are feeling stuck, schedule a free, 20-minute consultation with us to discuss ways in which you can improve your ACT score.
