ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
The benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first-year college courses. These college courses include English composition, college algebra, introductory social science courses, and biology. Based on a nationally representative sample of 98 institutions and more than 90,000 students, the Benchmarks are median course placement values for these institutions and as such represent a typical set of expectations. The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are:
| College Course | ACT Subject-Area Test | EXPLORE Benchmark Grade 8 | EXPLORE Benchmark Grade 9 | PLAN Benchmark | ACT Benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Composition | English | 13 | 14 | 15 | 18 |
| College Algebra | Mathematics | 17 | 18 | 19 | 22 |
| Social Sciences | Reading | 15 | 16 | 17 | 21 |
| Biology | Science | 20 | 20 | 21 | 24 |
Learn more about ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks (PDF; 3 pages, 282KB)