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Every score from 15 to 19 at a glance
| ACT | National rank | Share at exactly this score | SAT (range) | English correct | Math correct | Reading correct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 34th | 6% | 850 (830 to 870) | 18/40 | 10/41 | 11/27 |
| 16 | 41st | 7% | 890 (880 to 910) | 20/40 | 13/41 | 12/27 |
| 17 | 47th | 6% | 930 (920 to 950) | 21/40 | 15/41 | 13/27 |
| 18 | 52nd | 5% | 970 (960 to 980) | 22/40 | 18/41 | 14/27 |
| 19 | 58th | 6% | 1010 (990 to 1020) | 23/40 | 19/41 | skips (15/27 = 20) |
Ranks from ACT national ranks (tests from September 2026 through August 2027). Raw scores from ACT's official practice test key; "skips" means no raw score converts to exactly that score. SAT figures from the 2018 concordance.
This SAT figure comes from the ACT/SAT concordance tables that ACT and the College Board released in 2018. ACT says the tables aren't updated every year, and they were published before the Enhanced ACT changed how the Composite is calculated. Use it as a close guide, not an exact match.
Score by score
Is a 15 a good ACT score?
A 15 is at the 34th national rank. About 6% of test-takers land on exactly a 15, and about 66% score higher. On the SAT it lines up with 850 (range 830 to 870). It falls inside the middle 50% at 1 of the 61 colleges in our table, including Southeast Missouri State University. One more point, to 16, moves you 7 percentile points to the 41st rank.
Is a 16 a good ACT score?
About 41% of recent test-takers scored 16 or lower, which puts a 16 at the 41st national rank. Roughly 7% land on exactly this score. The SAT equivalent is 890, and any SAT total from 880 to 910 converts back to a 16. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 1 have a middle 50% range that includes 16, Southeast Missouri State University among them. Getting to 17 would lift you 6 percentile points, to the 47th rank.
Is a 17 a good ACT score?
A 17 puts you at the 47th national rank, with about 53% of test-takers scoring higher and about 6% landing right on 17. That's about 930 on the SAT (range 920 to 950). In our table of 61 colleges, a 17 sits inside the middle 50% at 2, such as Wichita State University and Southeast Missouri State University. A 18 is worth 5 percentile points more: it sits at the 52nd rank.
Is a 18 a good ACT score?
A 18 is at the 52nd national rank. About 5% of test-takers land on exactly a 18, and about 48% score higher. On the SAT it lines up with 970 (range 960 to 980). It falls inside the middle 50% at 4 of the 61 colleges in our table, including Wichita State University and Arkansas State University. One more point, to 19, moves you 6 percentile points to the 58th rank.
Is a 19 a good ACT score?
About 58% of recent test-takers scored 19 or lower, which puts a 19 at the 58th national rank. Roughly 6% land on exactly this score. The SAT equivalent is 1010, and any SAT total from 990 to 1020 converts back to a 19. On the official practice test, Reading skips 19: the next reachable score is 20 in Reading. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 8 have a middle 50% range that includes 19, Missouri State University-Springfield among them. Getting to 20 would lift you 5 percentile points, to the 63rd rank.
Want to check a practice test? Score it from your raw answers for section scores and a Composite, then combine your best sections across tests.
Colleges where 15 to 19 is in range
These 8 colleges in our table have a middle 50% ACT range that overlaps 15 to 19. The last column shows which scores on this page fall inside that range. Ranges describe enrolled first-year students who submitted ACT scores, from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (latest College Scorecard data, retrieved September 26, 2026).
| College | Middle 50% ACT | Scores here inside the range |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri State University-Springfield | 19 to 26 | 19 to 19 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 19 to 25 | 19 to 19 |
| South Dakota State University | 19 to 25 | 19 to 19 |
| University of Central Arkansas | 19 to 25 | 19 to 19 |
| Wichita State University | 17 to 25 | 17 to 19 |
| Arkansas State University | 18 to 24 | 18 to 19 |
| University of Memphis | 18 to 24 | 18 to 19 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | 15 to 20 | 15 to 19 |
At test-optional colleges fewer students submit scores, so published ranges can run higher than the whole class. Admission depends on much more than one score.
What one more point is worth
One Composite point takes three more section points in total, since the Composite is the average of English, Math and Reading rounded half up. ACT reports that students who first score between 13 and 29 raise their Composite by about one point on average when they retest (ACT). If you are thinking about a tutor to get there, estimate what the extra points could cost.
| Move | National rank | Rank gain | SAT equivalent gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 to 16 | 34th to 41st | +7 | +40 |
| 16 to 17 | 41st to 47th | +6 | +40 |
| 17 to 18 | 47th to 52nd | +5 | +40 |
| 18 to 19 | 52nd to 58th | +6 | +40 |
| 19 to 20 | 58th to 63rd | +5 | +30 |
What a score in the 15 to 19 range means
Scores from 15 to 19 sit around or below the national average of 19.4. Many colleges admit students in this range, especially open-admission and regional schools, but some programs set minimums. The most useful next step is to look up the published ACT ranges for your specific colleges and see where your score falls.
If a retake is on the table, ACT's average one-point retest gain for first scores from 13 to 29 applies at this level.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 15 a good ACT score?
A 15 is at the 34th national rank and lines up with 850 on the SAT. It's inside the middle 50% at 1 of the 61 colleges in our table. Whether it's good for you depends on the colleges on your list.
Is a 16 a good ACT score?
It's at the 41st national rank and about 890 on the SAT. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 1 have 16 inside their middle 50%, so compare it with the colleges you're applying to.
Is a 17 a good ACT score?
Nationally a 17 ranks 47th, and it converts to about 930 on the SAT. It falls in the middle 50% at 2 of our 61 colleges. The colleges on your list decide whether it's good for you.
Is a 18 a good ACT score?
A 18 is at the 52nd national rank and lines up with 970 on the SAT. It's inside the middle 50% at 4 of the 61 colleges in our table. Whether it's good for you depends on the colleges on your list.
Is a 19 a good ACT score?
It's at the 58th national rank and about 1010 on the SAT. Of the 61 colleges in our table, 8 have 19 inside their middle 50%, so compare it with the colleges you're applying to.
What percentile is a 15 to 19 on the ACT?
From the 34th rank at 15 to the 58th at 19, in ACT's current national ranks table.
Sources and how this page is built
How this page is built
Research current as of:
Cedrick Reese built this 15 to 19 page for TutoringForAct.com from the 15 to 19 rows of ACT's national ranks table, the matching rows of the 2018 ACT/SAT concordance, and the raw-score conversions in ACT's official practice-test key (where Reading skip some scores in this range, the page shows the next reachable score instead of rounding). College ranges come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, pulled for 61 colleges; colleges with no published range, or where under 10% of students submitted the ACT, are left out. The page is regenerated whenever ACT publishes new national ranks or the Scorecard releases new admissions data.
Sources
- ACT Test Score Percentiles and National Ranks (ACT)
- ACT/SAT Concordance (ACT)
- ACT National Online Practice Test Scoring Key (ACT)
- Understanding Your ACT Scores (ACT)
- Average ACT Test Scores by State (ACT)
- Can You Retake the ACT? (ACT)
- Common Data Set Initiative
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education)
See national ranks for every score, or convert any score to the SAT.
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