I have an okay GPA a 4.89 out of a 5. But my Act score is 22. Does that mean that my school is over grading me. I was told by someone that that’s the case and that I will not be college ready because of that. Everything I take is College Prep courses. I’m going into my senior year so it’s time I start applying for colleges.
Have you any history of test scores other than this one ACT? No ACT plan, explore, no PSAT? No AP scores? What is your unweighted GPA?
Average ACT at my kids’ school is about 21. How is that at your school?
Some people just don’t do well on standardized tests. You might be one of them. That said, have you prepared for the test (gone through a review book, taken a review course etc.)? If you can’t improve your ACT with practice and study then you may want to consider some test optional colleges. https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
No, I’ve never taken any other test. And I’m not sure about my unweighted my school only goes by weighted. I’m not sure what the average act is either I’m from a really small private school(Only 22 students with only 5 of us in high school.) my teachers told me that a 22 was an okay score and the best act score we’ve had in a couple of years.
I’m in college prep classes.
Oh sorry, I was replying to another comment.
Did you take an ACT prep class? Try the ACT or look at test optional colleges.
My daughter did much better on the SAT, and my son on the ACT. Can you take both to compare how you do then focus on the test you felt most comfortable with?
An ACT is in the 62nd percentile, which means that 62% of students who took the test scored the same or higher. But this definitely doesn’t mean that you won’t get into a wonderful school. What are you planning to major in? Many liberal arts colleges are now test-optional, so a solid GPA and great recommendations will go a long way. Schools definitely look at the rigor of the classes you took, so honors and AP classes will help as well. Finally, show interest in schools by visiting and signing up for interviews.
Where did previous graduates of your school end up going to college? Admissions officers from those institutions are familiar with your high school program so those schools may be great options for you. Best of luck!
There does seem to be a discrepancy between your grades and your ACT test score. One would expect a student with those kind of grades to have an ACT in the upper twenties to 30s. It could be that since you attend such a small school you may be a top student but not as prepared as other HS students in general. It could also be that you have never been prepared for this type of test. The ACT covers a lot of material and a challenge for some is to finish each section. Will you have another opportunity to take the test again? If so you may consider doing some preparation for it and taking a practice test to see if you can get through it. The more you can improve your score the greater your selection of colleges will be.
You certainly can be accepted to universities with your grades and test scores (the average ACT is a 20) but they will not be selective ones. It will hinder your opportunities for merit scholarships. I know a number of universities in my state (Ohio) that have high admission rates and that your scores would be very competitive at. They are good four year institutions. What state are you from?
Look at where your high school peers go, do they normally go to community college? A private school where a 22 ACT is the higher side has to be some kind of very specific private school.
You should study and retake the ACT again this fall. Sometimes it is just lack of practice and unfamilarity with the test which causes poor scores
@jmek15 Hi! I saw you said ‘An ACT is in the 62nd percentile, which means that 62% of students who took the test scored the same or higher’. I think you meant to say 62% of the students who took the test score(d) the same or lower 
(Scoring in the 90th percentile, for example, means 90% score the same or lower: you’re in the top 10%)
Absolutely. I was about to make the sane comment.
@Sybylla, OP said there are 5 kids in his entire high school. This is definitely not a traditional private school.
What classes are you taking?
Can you take an ACT prep class and take the diagnostic test on Khan Academy?
What state do you live in?
If 22 is one of the school’s best scores and onky 5 students ate of high school age, it’s not a very good private school - any specific reason you’re in it, or would your parents agree to enroll you in a local public school? Or homeschooling?
How many kids are graduating this year from your high school? I mean…if you only have five in the entire high school…
Practice and retesting make sense, but switching to homeschooling in your senior year solely due to a less than stellar ACT score does not.
I’m a homeschooling parent. It takes most families a year or more to settle in and find their groove.
How strong are your extracurriculars? Where are you interested in attending?
Also, you have so many options for taking a University education.
Since you are a senior, you may be able to dual enroll in a state college this year.
Doing so for a course or two may boost your confidence, and demonstrate your ability to handle college level work. That said “college level” varies immensely. Most people with the ability to post here, from a 12 year-old exploring prep schools to a tired old parent, could enroll in a college course now and be successful.
You’re probably going to get better advice if you’re willing to share colleges you plan to apply to.
Some students have high grades because they do all of their homework, and the teachers make homework count a lot toward the final grade. A test is more revealing about someone’s mastery of the material. But even tests can be skewed to be easy or difficult, and to cover the most basic material or more challenging topics. A standardized test does reveal better your preparation for college compared to students nationally rather than how you compare at your school, and is specifically the reason universities use the tests – because they can’t really know what a 4.0 student really knows from high school to high school without such testing.
It is very possible that you have not been well-grounded in the types of things covered on the ACT or accustomed to the types of questions on it. I recommend taking some sort of ACT prep course or tutoring, or otherwise preparing for the test in an intensive and focused way. It will require learning what you missed and why, and how to better manage the time limit if not finishing sections was an issue.
@MYOS1634 It is a private Christian school and this is my last year I’ve been there since Kindergarten I don’t want to leave my school.