ACT College Readiness Benchmarks

Setting the Bar for Success

The Benchmarks

The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the ACT scores that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher and about a 75-80% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing courses. Using data collected from hundreds of colleges across the United States, Benchmarks have been established for the ACT section test scores, ACT STEM score, and the ACT ELA score.

 

The ACT Benchmarks
ACT Score  College Courses ACT College Readiness Benchmark
English English Composition I 18
Mathematics College Algebra 22
Reading American History, Other History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics 22
Science Biology 23
STEM Calculus, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering 26
ELA English Composition I, American History, Other History, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics 20

 

The PreACT 8/9, PreACT, and PreACT Secure Readiness Benchmarks are linked to the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. Students scoring at or above the Readiness Benchmark in grades 8-10 are on target to meet the corresponding ACT College Readiness Benchmark in grade 11 or 12. PreACT 8/9 Readiness Benchmarks have been established for grades 8 and 9. PreACT and PreACT Secure Readiness Benchmarks have been established for grades 9, 10, and fall of grade 11.

 

PreACT Readiness Benchmarks and ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
Test Score Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 ACT 
Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall Spring Fall
English 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18
Mathematics 16 17 17 18 19 19 20 22
Reading 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22
Science 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23
STEM 19 20 21 22 23 23 24 26
ELA*               20

 

 

*ACT ELA scores are only reported for students who take the writing test. Because PreACT 8/9, PreACT, and PreACT Secure do not include a writing test, ELA scores are not reported and an ELA Benchmark has not been established for PreACT 8/9, PreACT, or PreACT Secure.