PreACT Scores
PreACT® assessments (PreACT® 8/9, PreACT®, and PreACT® Secure™) play a crucial role in preparing students in grades 8-10 for success after graduation by giving them college and career readiness insights much earlier during their time in high school. Students who take PreACT assessments get valuable early experience with the format of the ACT® test, reducing test day anxiety, as well as a better understanding of their skills, interests, plans, and goals — with plenty of time for adjustment before graduating.
When students fully understand their PreACT scores, they can make better-informed choices about classes and college planning.
What is a Good PreACT Score?
A good PreACT assessment score is one that meets or exceeds the PreACT College Readiness Benchmarks for each student’s grade level and subject area. The benchmarks indicate whether a student is on track for future academic success and pinpoint which students who could benefit from more academic support before graduation.
Educators can use score information to help students set academic goals, determine if interventions are needed, and guide academic planning.
Here are some national norms for students who took PreACT in the 2025-26 school year:
- Students in grade 9 achieved a mean Composite score of 16.4 in the fall and 17.0 in the spring.
- Students in grade 10 achieved a mean Composite score of 17.3 in the fall and 18.0 in the spring.
- Students in grade 11 achieved a mean Composite score of 18.6 in the fall.
Here are some national norms for students who took PreACT 8/9 in the 2025-26 school year:
- Students in grade 8 achieved a mean Composite score of 15.9 in the fall and 16.6 in the spring.
- Students in grade 9 achieved a mean Composite score of 16.5 in the fall and 16.9 in the spring.
Keeping these averages in mind helps educators benchmark student or class performance against larger national trends. Use average scores to start data-informed discussions with your team, identify strengths and gaps, and frame conversations about instructional improvement.
Students can compare their PreACT scores to others by viewing the percentile ranks of students’ scores (US Rank) on their score report, which lists how their scores compare to the scores of other PreACT-tested students in the United States. Percentile ranks are the percentage of students who earned a score equal to or lower than a student’s score.
When Are PreACT Scores Released?
PreACT and PreACT 8/9 — Online score results typically release within 10 business days from the receipt of test materials. ACT also delivers two paper copies per student to schools, with receipt of paper scores varying due to mailing time.
PreACT Secure and PreACT 9 Secure — Online score results are released after reaching the number of submissions necessary for equating, with approximately 10 business days for scoring.
Educators can review scores and prepare discussions before distributing scores to students and families. Learn more about using PreACT results.
How Can You Check PreACT Scores?
Schools receive students’ PreACT and PreACT 8/9 scores online, along with two paper reports. PreACT Secure and PreACT 9 Secure reports are delivered online.
Educators can review these results with students to interpret their strengths and improvement areas and use the data to inform instructional plans and guidance conversations.
How Closely Do PreACT Scores Translate into ACT Scores?
PreACT, PreACT 8/9, PreACT 9 Secure, and PreACT Secure scores serve as a valuable early predictor for ACT test scores. These assessments are aligned in structure, content, and reporting with the ACT, providing students with a simulated testing experience that mirrors the ACT design.
Each PreACT score report includes a predicted ACT composite score based on each student’s PreACT performance, giving students and educators a clear sense of how current achievement levels may translate into future ACT Results. (PreACT Sample Report example.)
While PreACT scores are aligned to the same 1-36 scale as the ACT, each specific assessment has its own maximum score range to reflect its grade level and difficulty:
- PreACT and PreACT Secure: 1–35
- PreACT 9 Secure: 1–32
- PreACT 8/9: 1–30
Because the scoring structure mirrors that of the ACT, educators and students can confidently use PreACT results to:
- Anticipate future ACT performance and identify readiness gaps early.
- Inform targeted interventions that help students improve before they take the ACT.
- Identify students prepared for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, using PreACT and ACT results to guide students toward classes where they are most likely to succeed.
Together, the PreACT and ACT assessments provide a comprehensive system that helps schools monitor progress, plan instruction, and support students on the path to college and career readiness.