How many can you get wrong to get a 36 on the ACT?
Asked by: Cecelia Mueller | Last update: October 7, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (19 votes)
You can see that to get a 36 in English, Reading, Math or Science, you typically need to get 0 wrong. Occasionally, a test will allow 1 or 2 mistakes, but that is a rarity, so you should plan for 0 wrong to get a 36 in any of the sections.
How many questions can I get wrong on the ACT to get a 36?
On the English and Math, test-takers can often get two (and sometimes three) questions wrong and still receive a perfect score on those individual sections. That means that a person can still get a 36 composite score, even if they get a total of 5-7 questions wrong spread across the entire exam.
How hard is it to get a 36 on the ACT?
To really press how well a 36 is, it puts you at a 100 percentile — meaning that you scored higher or as high as all test takers. Only 0.19% of test takers earn a 36, which is around 3,700 students in the most recent years.
Is 36 a good score on the ACT?
Each section has a test score range of 1-36: Below Average Score Range: 1-16. Average Score Range: 17-24. Above Average Score Range: 25-36.
Is a 15 ACT score bad?
Below Average ACT Scores
Scores below a 15 on the ACT are considered low at just about any four-year college.
How to Get a Perfect Score on the ACT® Test: 10 WAYS to get a 36! Tips, Tricks & Strategies!
Will a 36 ACT get me into Harvard?
To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT or a 36 ACT. You should also have a 4.2 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.
Does 35 vs 36 on ACT matter?
The difference between a 35 and a 36 is not significant in the eyes of college admissions officers.
What percent of kids get a 36 on ACT?
Unsurprisingly, a full 36 is the rarest score of all—just 0.22% of all test takers earned a perfect ACT score.
Is a 1600 SAT or 36 ACT better?
A 1600 SAT score is equivalent to earning a 36 on the ACT. While the tests are entirely comparable — there are differences in time management and content, among other things — but this is a score equivalent.
What is an average ACT score?
The national average ACT composite score was 19.4. 51% of test takers met the English benchmark of 18, 29% met the math benchmark of 22, 40% met the reading benchmark of 22, and 30% met the science benchmark of 23.
How many questions can you miss to get a 35 on the ACT?
Since the scoring varies so much between test dates for each section, to be safe, you should aim to get at most 1 wrong in any section to get a 35. While you may, in fact, end up being able to get more wrong, you cannot be sure have harsh or easy your test grading will be and should plan for harsher grading.
Is ACT easier than SAT?
The SAT and ACT generally cover the same topics. Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Neither the SAT nor the ACT is harder than the other.
Can you do well on the ACT without studying?
Students may choose not to prepare due to the mindset that these exams are just like any other standardized test. Very rarely, a student earns a good score on the SAT/ACT without preparation. However, it is an unlikely reality for the vast majority of high school students.
Can you miss a question and get a 36 on ACT?
Use your practice test's ACT scoring chart to see how your raw scores translate into scale scores. You can miss 1-3 questions on each ACT section and still earn a 36 composite score.
Can you get a 36 on the ACT without writing?
Without Writing? Taking the ACT with writing won't affect your Composite score, but it does add an English Language Arts (ELA) score to your report. Opting out means you'll miss out on this additional score.
Is a 36 superscore ACT good?
36 ACT Score Standings
Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 19148 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 1510 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 0 schools with this score.
What's the hardest college to get into?
The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.
What is the lowest ACT score Harvard will accept?
ACT Requirements for Harvard
ACT scores range from 33 to 35, with 35 representing the 75th percentile. Even though Harvard probably states that there is no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 33 or lower, you will likely struggle to get in unless you have other extremely strong application materials.
What is a good ACT score in 2024?
To maximise your chances of getting into a top college, aim for scores at or above the 75th percentile, which often corresponds to a score of around 24-30.
What ACT score is 90%?
The 90th percentile of the ACT score range is 28, which matches an SAT score range of 1300-1320. ACT scores of 30 and above and SAT scores of 1360 and up represent the top 5% of all test-takers. SAT concordances with ACT scores of 34, 35, and 36 are 1490-1520, 1530-1560, and 1570-1600 respectively.
Has anyone gotten a 1 on the ACT?
The absolute minimum ACT score you can get is a 1, although this is very unlikely to happen. You might be more worried about getting a score high enough to get into college.
Is 8 a bad ACT writing score?
At the least, shoot for an 8+ overall score for a “good” ACT Writing score. A score of 10+ is an ideal score for applications to selective schools.