How to Get a 36 on the Human activity: Advice From Perfect Scorers

Less than 0.v% of test-takers earn a perfect ACT score each year. Nosotros compiled the best Human action advice from students who scored a perfect 36.

portrait of Danika Miller

by Danika Miller

Published on February 2, 2022 · Updated on February 3, 2022

With communication from Grant Footstep and Alex Nelson

Ready to first your journey?

How to Get a 36 on the ACT: Advice From Perfect Scorers

  • Less than vi,000 students scored a perfect 36 on the ACT in 2020.
  • Many students at Ivy League and tiptop colleges earn a 33 or higher on the Deed.
  • Be sure to employ official Human action prep materials and simulate testing conditions when practicing.
  • Students should also perform an in-depth review of missed questions and mutual mistakes.

The ACT is a popular college entrance examination and assessment of college readiness. Students can have the test up to 12 times to achieve the highest score possible.

Then what is a perfect Act score? The perfect composite score is 36. This score is an average of your 4 department scores for English language, Math, Reading, and Science.

While you don't demand a perfect score to get into top colleges, earning a full 36 Deed score tin can help you exist a competitive applicant. Scoring 36 is uncommon and volition accept a lot of grooming. Nosotros interviewed two students who achieved a perfect ACT score and compiled their advice for acing the test.

How Many People Get a 36 on the Deed?

Getting a perfect ACT score is a pretty rare feat. The number of students in 2020 who scored a total 36 was 5,579 out of over one.6 meg — or about 0.33% of test-takers.

Average ACT Scores Nationwide
ACT Score Percentile Number of Test-Takers (Out of 1,670,497) Per centum
36 100 5,579 0.33%
35 99 16,061 0.96%
34 99 20,900 1.25%
33 97 24,657 1.48%
32 96 28,240 1.69%
31 94 32,128 1.92%
thirty 92 37,405 2.24%
29 90 39,982 2.39%

Don't be discouraged by the rarity of a perfect score. Even if you don't earn a 36, coming close is still an fantabulous consequence. Scoring in the 90th percentile can aid you earn admission to top universities and unlock scholarship opportunities.

The middle 50% of students enrolled in prestigious universities similar Cornell, Brown, Princeton, Stanford, and NYU all scored betwixt 31 and 36.

The "middle l%" is a term that means half the admitted students scored in that range (25% of students scored below that range and 25% scored higher up). So if the middle 50% at Brownish is 33-35, and so 75% of students scored a 33 or higher on the Human activity.

Here's a brief overview of eye 50% Human activity scores for some of the most selective schools in the U.S. All scores are for the grade of 2025 except where noted.

ACT Heart fifty% Test Scores for Peak Schools, Class of 2025
School Middle l% ACT Scores
Brown Academy 33-35
Columbia University 34-35
Cornell University 33-35
Duke University* 34-35
Johns Hopkins Academy 34-35
New York University** 31-35
Northwestern Academy* 33-35
Princeton University 32-35
Stanford University 32-35
University of Pennsylvania 35-36
* Class of 2024.
** Graduating grade non specified.

How Is a Perfect Human activity Score Calculated?

The Deed consists of 215 questions across four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Y'all have two hours and 55 minutes to consummate the test.

Each section is given a raw score, which then is converted into a scaled score on a calibration of one-36. Finally, your four scaled scores are averaged together to create your ACT composite score.

What does this mean exactly? Ultimately, a perfect Act score doesn't equate to a perfect exam. You tin likely miss a couple of questions and still get a perfect 36.

The exact conversion between raw and scaled score volition depend on your examination date and the other students who took information technology on that date — so the exact number of questions you can miss will vary.

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score: 5 Essential Tips

We spoke with two perfect ACT scorers to learn more about the test-taking strategies that helped them ace the test. Hither are their top five.

ane. Change Your Mindset

Effort not to approach the Human activity feeling worried nearly how your performance will bear upon your chances of getting into higher. And don't consider it a measure of your intelligence, either.

"I like to tell students that it's more like a game — the test makers use certain tricks, and if yous learn how to identify and overcome those tricks you tin can get as many points as possible in the allotted fourth dimension," said Grant Pace, a tutor with Ivy Tutors Network and perfect Human action scorer.

The ACT essentially measures how well you can accept the Human action. If you approach the test with this mindset, it tin can take off some of the pressure and change the manner you prepare.

2. Take Practice Tests and Use Official Study Materials

Using official ACT prep materials and do tests is key to performing well.

"For any student trying to get a perfect score, exposure to examination material is a huge factor," said Pace. "The divergence betwixt a 35 and a 36 tin can come downward to i question, so it's important to expose yourself to as many questions as possible and learn from whatsoever mistakes made so you don't repeat them."

3. Mimic Actual Testing Weather condition

The time allotment for the ACT can feel pretty intense. For instance, on the ACT English department, you only go almost 36 seconds per question. Practicing the examination timed will help y'all feel comfortable with the time pressure level on test twenty-four hours.

"Have a practice test under testing conditions and then go through the questions you missed," brash Pace. "From at that place, assess what questions you retrieve you could quickly learn how to do correctly and which ones yous can't — knowing which questions to skip and guess on can salvage time to study and answer more than manageable questions."

4. Analyze the Questions You Miss

Perfect ACT scorers have their studying to the next level by really analyzing the questions they miss on do tests. Reviewing your mistakes carefully will assist y'all proceed to improve.

"For every question you got wrong, write a paragraph detailing what you lot got wrong, how to bear witness the correct answer, and a tip for next time," said Alex Nelson, a mentor with Ivy Scholars and perfect Deed and SAT scorer.

Nelson calls these "mistake journals" and encourages students to employ them to notice trends and improvements. This can help you focus your report time on weaker subject affair.

5. Skip the Last-Minute Prep

Cramming the night earlier and morning of your ACT isn't a stiff strategy. Many hold that retaining information final infinitesimal is unlikely and it's improve not to fire out then close to the exam.

"What I always tell my students is truly final-infinitesimal, day-before training isn't able to assist all that much," said Nelson. "Once y'all reach a week before the test, information technology's too late to cram your head with new equations and vocab words; instead, focus on material yous understand simply may have made careless errors on previously."

Last-minute prep should involve energizing yourself for a long examination day. Get a good nighttime'due south balance, stay hydrated, and take a filling breakfast.

With Advice From:

Grant Pace is a tutor at Ivy Tutors Network in New York Urban center. His success in AP courses and on standardized tests — including a perfect 36 on the ACT and a 2300 on the Saturday — earned him honors at the White House in 2016 as 1 of the Department of Teaching'due south 161 Presidential Scholars. Information technology likewise led him to be a sought-after tutor while still in loftier schoolhouse. Now graduating from Columbia University, Grant has been accepted to Harvard Law Schoolhouse and will begin his studies in two years. In that location, he plans to focus on environmental law, a continuation of his major in environmental scientific discipline at Columbia.

Alex Nelson has served equally a full-time mentor and tutor for 12 years. Afterward scoring a perfect 1600 on the Sat in high school, he joined The Princeton Review where he worked as a college admissions mentor and tutor for the SAT, ACT, ISEE, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT. Over nine years, he became their highest-level "Premiere" tutor and teacher trainer for all of Houston. Alex joined Ivy Scholars in 2018. He specializes in improving organization and study habits and is a principal at helping high-scoring students raise their SAT and ACT scores to the meridian 1%.

Feature Paradigm: Ridofranz / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Our peak six Act tips and tricks to assist y'all ace the examination include using quality materials, taking timed practice tests, and guessing strategically. The ACT can make or suspension your college application. Learn what a good Act score is for y'all based on the schools you're applying to. Are you prepared to ace the ACT college entrance test? Learn what to expect and how to prep so yous can tackle the exam with confidence.

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