Calculating Your ACT Score Target - Find Out What’s Right for You

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia

Guide explaining how to research and set a personalized ACT score target based on the schools a student plans to apply to. It emphasizes using data from each school’s reported 25th and 75th percentile ACT scores, summing section results, and filling an ACT Score Target Worksheet that totals English, Math, Reading, and Science. The worksheet recommends using the average 75th percentile composite score, then provides practical next steps for studying and sharing the target.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Setting a Score Target

Using the ACT Score Target Worksheet

Completing the Composite Score

Next Steps: Study and Share

PrepScholar Calculating Your ACT Score Target Find out what’s right for you By the PrepScholar Team [www. .com](www. .com) Setting a Score Target By now, you already know that your ACT score is vital for getting into college. This leads most people to this important question: how high does your ACT score need to be? Having a concrete target ACT score is really important. It gives us a goal to aim for and helps us track our progress during our study time. Your score target needs to be different from everyone else’s, because you have different goals from them. You need your own score target to aim for, based on data. In this guide, we’ll teach you how to research what your score target needs to be. Instructions Your ACT score target really depends on what schools you want to apply to. We’ve created a worksheet to guide you through the process. I highly recommend you print out the next page before going further. ACT Score Target Worksheet | School Name | 25th
Percentile (of 36) | 75th
Percentile (of 36) | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Average | | | My ACT Score Target Composite Score: (we recommend you use the average 75th percentile score calculated above) English: Math: Reading: Science: ________ Got it printed out? We’ll be filling out each line of this worksheet. First, fill in the schools you want to get into on the left. For each school, we’re going to find out what ACT scores their students got. Google this phrase: “[name of school] average ACT.” For example, I’ll search for U of Alabama: Most schools will have an [about.com](about.com) link, as shown here. Some schools will list scores on their own websites, which you can use to double check your numbers. The [about.com](about.com) page lists the 25th/75th percentile scores for U Alabama. This basically covers the middle 50% of all students admitted to U Alabama. Sum up the scores across all 3 sections and enter them in the worksheet. For this example, the 25th percentile is 22, and the 75th percentile is 30. Do this for each of the schools. Then, calculate your score target based on the instructions. 4 Here’s an example of a sheet I filled out: Once you’re done with this, I recommend you do two things: • Share it with your parents. This will get everyone on the same page. Plus, they’ll be impressed that you’re taking the initiative to set your own goals. • Tape it to your wall. I want you to think about your score target every time you study. This is your goal, and you’re going to meet it. Don’t get stressed out by your score target. You can reach it. Every single student I’ve worked with has met his or her score target if he or she put in serious effort to study. 5 get AND NOW WHAT? Through this guide, you’ve learned how to find your own ACT score target. This is your personal target – not your friends’, not your teammates’. So block out what everyone else is doing and focus on your own prep. You might now be wondering how to best study for the ACT. If so, check out our free Ebook on that topic! We survey the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of test prep including self-study, classroom, and tutoring. Click here to our Ebook Comparing Test Prep Methods! or call us at 1(866) 811-5546, where one of our Academic Advisers will walk you through the best options for you and your family. We’d love to hear from you. Finally, if you found this guide helpful, please share it with any other people who might benefit. -The PrepScholar Team

FAQs

What determines a student’s ACT score target?

The ACT score target depends on the specific schools the student wants to apply to. Different schools require different score ranges, so the target should be based on data.

How do you calculate the numbers for the ACT Score Target Worksheet?

For each school, find its average ACT information and locate the 25th and 75th percentile scores (covering the middle 50%). Sum the scores across the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections for each percentile and enter them on the worksheet.

Which target score does the guide recommend using?

The guide recommends using the average 75th percentile composite score calculated on the worksheet. It also suggests thinking about this target every time the student studies.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Ophelia