What happens if you retake the ACT and get a lower score?
Asked by: Ernestine Hyatt | Last update: January 24, 2026Score: 5/5 (9 votes)
If you do worse, you can simply submit the higher score from a previous test. Some colleges (e.g., The Ivy League) require you to submit all of your ACT scores to assess your academic growth. In this case, too many retakes may impact you negatively, especially if your scores don't improve.
Do colleges care if you retake the ACT?
Retaking an exam will certainly not hinder your college chances. With adequate preparation, your score will typically increase — and that will make you even more competitive in the admissions process. And with superscoring, colleges probably won't even consider your lower scores.
What happens if you get a low score on the ACT?
It falls between 1 and 36. Nationwide, the average hovers around 20. More selective schools tend to want higher ACT scores- around 25 or more. Applicants with ACT scores below a college's standards risk denial or placement on waitlists.
Is a 14 a bad ACT score?
Scores below a 15 on the ACT are considered low at just about any four-year college. You can overcome low scores with a great GPA or an outstanding college application. But even if you're accepted, the school may ask you to take some remedial courses before enrolling.
Does retaking the ACT improve your score?
Retaking the ACT gives you another opportunity to improve your score and strengthen your college or scholarship applications. For more information on preparing for the ACT test, download this FREE ebook: Before, During, and After: Three Stages of Taking a College Entrance Exam.
What happens if I retake the SAT and get a lower score?
Is 34 ACT good enough for Harvard?
Average ACT: 35
The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36. Even though Harvard likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 34 or below, you'll have a very hard time getting in, unless you have something else very impressive in your application.
Why did my ACT score go down?
Why do scores drop? Very often a lower score is not the result of a major issue, but a combination of smaller factors. For starters, every ACT exam is different. The overall subject matter, layout, and style will remain consistent, but the specific questions and passages will change from test to test.
Is a 15 on the ACT OK?
A 15 on the ACT is indeed a concern when it comes to college applications, as it falls in the 28th percentile nationally. This means that 72% of test takers scored higher than you.
Is a 17 bad on the ACT?
Below Average Score Range: 1-16. Average Score Range: 17-24. Above Average Score Range: 25-36.
Is a 16 ACT score ok?
A 16 ACT score is considered to be in the lower percentile range for most colleges and universities. To give you a perspective, an ACT score of 16 puts you at the 28th percentile nationally, meaning that you've scored higher than 28% of all ACT takers.
Is 10 a bad ACT score?
Generally, a score of 8 or higher is above average (90th percentile), and a score of 10 or higher is excellent (99th percentile).
Is a 1200 ACT score good?
For example, a score in the 75th percentile (approximately a 1200 on the SAT or a 24 on the ACT) would likely be strongly considered at most competitive colleges, while applicants scoring in the 90th percentile or higher (a 1350 on the SAT or a 29 on the ACT) would likely be well received even at highly competitive ...
Is it easy to get a 20 on the ACT?
A 20 ACT score puts you at the 49th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 49% of all test takers — which is certainly something to be proud of! To increase your competitiveness during the college application process, though, you'll want to meet or exceed the national average, which is closer to a score of 21.
How do ACT retakes work?
During your section retake, the portion you're sitting for will look the same as it does on the full test. It will contain identical content, as well as the same format. As of now, the retesting option is offered on national ACT exam dates, seven times a year—online only.
Can you still go to college with a bad ACT score?
In fact, being in the lower end of score ranges can lower your chance of admission by half of the usual admission rate. For example, if the normal admission rate is 10% and you're at the 25th percentile for that college, it can lower your chance of admission to 5% or lower.
Does taking the ACT multiple times look bad?
And since most colleges superscore the ACT — aggregating the best individual section scores to form a single composite score — it can behoove applicants to take the test multiple times since doing so can boost their composites.
Will colleges accept a 17 ACT score?
A 17 ACT score is considered to be below average, as the national average score is around 20-21. However, this doesn't mean that your college options are completely limited. There are still colleges that may admit students with lower ACT scores, but these tend to be less selective schools.
Is 32 a good ACT score?
A 32 ACT, as stated previously, is a great score and will likely come with a significant amount of merit aid at most institutions, so focusing on your final year of high school and perfecting your college applications is a great next step.
Is a 27 on the ACT good?
A 27 ACT score puts you a good deal about the national average (20.8) and makes you eligible for acceptance at a vast majority of schools. It also makes you competitive at some selective institutions, as well as eligible for merit aid! Considering those things, it's easy to say that a 27 ACT score is good.
What is the lowest ACT score?
The minimum score on the ACT is 1 and maximum score is 36.
Is the ACT or SAT harder?
15. Level of Difficulty: Is the ACT Test Harder Than the SAT Test? In general, the tests are too similar to determine whether one test is harder than the other.
What is a failing ACT score?
Median ACT Scores
Unless you are aiming for non-competitive colleges (acceptance rate of 90-100%) or semi-competitive colleges (acceptance rate of 70-90%), a score below a 19 is a bad score for you.
What if I do worse on my second ACT?
If you do worse, you can simply submit the higher score from a previous test. Some colleges (e.g., The Ivy League) require you to submit all of your ACT scores to assess your academic growth. In this case, too many retakes may impact you negatively, especially if your scores don't improve.
Do ACT scores matter anymore?
In today's test-optional world, it's easy to assume that SAT and ACT scores don't matter anymore. However, the data paints a different picture. Submitting strong test scores can still provide a meaningful advantage, whether it's for admissions, merit scholarships, or future academic success.