What score would you get if you guessed on the ACT?
Asked by: Mathias Braun II | Last update: September 21, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (33 votes)
For the ACT, you will not receive a score of zero if you guess incorrectly due to no penalties for wrong answers, instead, only correct answers contribute to your final score.
Does the ACT penalize you for guessing?
First things first: There is no guessing penalty, so you've got nothing to lose by guessing.
Should I guess B or C on the ACT?
In Summary To sum it all up: definitely guess on questions you don't have time for on the SAT and ACT, ``C'' is as good of an answer choice as any, but not the best, and pick a letter that you like and stick with it! That's it! For more ACT and SAT test prep advice, check out the rest of our blog!
Is C usually the correct answer?
I'm sure you've heard this at some point “if you don't know the answer, always guess C. because it's the most common correct option”. That's just a myth, and generally there are no most common answers on multiple choice tests.
Is 15 a passing ACT score?
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.
How To Guess on the ACT
Is a 17 on the ACT bad?
An average score, ranging from 17-24, suggests that you are performing at an expected level. This is a solid range to be in, showcasing your competency in the subject matter. However, if you have dreams of attending highly competitive schools, aiming for a score above this range would be beneficial.
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 ...
What's the best letter to guess on ACT?
In fact, E/K has met or exceeded the expected average 82% of the time, making it the most consistent answer choice. The only negative is that, compared to A/F, it has a much lower probability of scoring 40% or more correct.
Is C the most probable answer?
So, ultimately, guessing C (or any letter!) will give you the correct answer only a statistical 25% of the time (20% on the math section). Which means it's NOT true that choosing C will give you a better rate of success than choosing any other letter for your blind guessing.
Is it better to guess on ACT or leave blank?
There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT. Never, ever, ever, leave any answers blank. You have a 25% chance of getting the question right if you guess. So at the very least, always guess!
Does a bad ACT score matter?
For reference, the national average ACT score in 2024 was 19.9, meaning a score between 18 and 20 could make you college-ready. However, competitive colleges often expect higher scores. The score ranges for students admitted to mid-tier and top-tier schools are typically well above that average.
Does the SAT punish for wrong answers?
You're correct! There is no penalty for wrong answers on the SAT.
Do colleges look at GPA or ACT?
While GPA is gaining more importance in college admissions decisions, as some schools deemphasize test scores, that doesn't mean you should neglect standardized testing. While the SAT and ACT aren't the best indicator of your success in college, they generally remain an important part of the admission process.
What is the rarest ACT score?
Unsurprisingly, a full 36 is the rarest score of all—just 0.22% of all test takers earned a perfect ACT score. Roughly three times more students earned the next-highest score of 35; however, this is still a very rare score that just 0.62% of test takers earned.
Do you have to get every question right to get a 36 on the ACT?
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.
Are ACT scores ever wrong?
Each year, hundreds of students who took the ACT request score verification, and some errors are found and corrected. ACT, Inc. does make mistakes, but it is important to know that these mistakes are very uncommon. The vast majority of students who take the ACT have their exam graded and reported properly.
Which is stronger likely or probable?
'Likely' is not as strong a prediction as 'probable. ' We can think of 'probable' as 'very likely. ' If something is 'likely' then it has around a 50% (and up) chance of happening or being true. Therefore, if something is probable then it is likely but if something is likely it doesn't mean it's probable.
What letter is best to guess on a test?
Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.
Is it better to leave a question blank on the SAT?
The current version of the SAT does not have a guessing penalty, meaning you won't lose points for guessing incorrectly. Because of this, it is in your best interest to answer every question, even if you're unsure of the correct answer.
Should I guess ABC or D?
The best strategy, and the one that will maximize your overall point gain, is to pick your favorite letter and fill it in for every blind guess. Whether that letter is A, B, C, or D doesn't matter—just be sure to stick with it every single time.
What is the 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.
Which subject is the easiest on the ACT?
In general, many students find that the English and Math sections of the ACT are often the easiest to improve on in a short amount of time.
Did Will Smith get a 1600 on the SAT?
Will Smith SAT score was a perfect 1600. A rare score few people have earned. Despite this incredible score, Will chose not to attend college, did not even enroll, and decided to pursue his career in music.
Is 16 a bad ACT score?
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. However, keep in mind that colleges look at more than just test scores when considering applications.
Is 990 a good SAT score?
A 990 SAT score may be competitive for some colleges, but it may not be a strong score for more selective schools. It's important to consider the median SAT scores of the colleges you're interested in applying to.