Is 27 a Good ACT Score?
A 27 ACT composite is at the 89th percentile of ACT takers and matches a 1280 SAT (1260 to 1290): a good score in the top quarter of ACT takers, one point below the top 10 percent at 28.
- ACT takers
- 89th
- percentile, 89 in 100 at or below
- Against the 19.2 average
- +7.8
- national average, class of 2026
- SAT match
- 1280
- 1260 to 1290 on the concordance
- Section points to 28
- +3
- sections must add up to 83
What a 27 ACT score means
A 27 is in the top quarter of ACT takers, which starts at 23, and 7.8 points over the 19.2 national average. 11 in 100 test takers score higher.
On the enhanced ACT the composite is the average of English, Math and Reading, rounded with halves up, so a 27 needs section scores that add up to at least 80 and at most 82. One point down, a 26 is at the 86th percentile; one point up, a 28 is at the 91st.
How 27 compares with other ACT scores
ACT reports one national rank per composite: the share of recent graduates who tested and scored at or below it. ACT's national average composite was 19.2 for the class of 2026; a 27 is 7.8 points above it.
| Composite | What it marks | Percentile | SAT match | Points from 27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Middle ACT taker | 52% | 970 | -9 |
| 23 | Top quarter of ACT takers starts | 77% | 1140 | -4 |
| 27 (you) | Your score | 89% | 1280 | |
| 28 | Top 10 percent of ACT takers starts | 91% | 1310 | +1 |
| 33 | Top 2 percent of ACT takers | 98% | 1460 | +6 |
| 36 | Perfect composite | 100% | 1590 | +9 |
Ranks: ACT, National Ranks for ACT test scores (Composite), checked Oct 17, 2026. SAT match: ACT and College Board, 2018 ACT/SAT Concordance Tables.
On the SAT, a 27 matches 1260 to 1290, with 1280 as the single value ACT prints beside it. See the 27 row on the ACT to SAT conversion chart or see whether 1280 is a good SAT score.
What it takes to go from 27 to 28
To move from 27 to 28, your three section scores must add up to 83 instead of 80: 3 section points in any section. On ACT's National Online Practice Test 2, a 27 on all three sections takes 33 English, 31 Math and 21 Reading answers, 85 of 108; 28 on all three takes 89, about 4 more.
| Section | For 27 | For 28 | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 33 of 40 | 34 of 40 | +1 |
| Math | 31 of 41 | 33 of 41 | +2 |
| Reading | 21 of 27 | 22 of 27 | +1 |
Table: ACT, National Online Practice Test 2 Scoring Key, 2026, checked Oct 17, 2026. Every test form has its own table, so your count on test day can differ by a question or two.
The ACT score calculator shows how far your own sections sit from the next composite; ACT superscores across test dates, and many colleges use the superscore.
Is 27 enough for your colleges?
That depends on the college, so we list no admission ranges. Section C9 of each college's Common Data Set gives the 25th and 75th percentile ACT composites of its enrolled first-year students: at or above the 75th, a 27 is a strength; under the 25th it trails most students, and at a test optional college you can leave it off. Some merit scholarships publish ACT minimums on the college's own aid page, and National Merit uses the PSAT/NMSQT, not the ACT (see what a good PSAT score is).
Where the 27 numbers come from
Ranks: ACT, National Ranks for ACT test scores (Composite), checked Oct 17, 2026. National average: ACT, Graduating Class 2026 national profile, checked Oct 23, 2026. SAT match: ACT and College Board, 2018 ACT/SAT Concordance Tables. Right answer counts: ACT, National Online Practice Test 2 Scoring Key, 2026, checked Oct 17, 2026.
The guide to a good ACT score reads the same files. Official scores come only from ACT.
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Is 27 a good ACT score?
A 27 ACT composite is at the 89th percentile of ACT takers and matches a 1280 SAT (1260 to 1290): a good score in the top quarter of ACT takers, one point below the top 10 percent at 28. Whether it is good for you depends on the colleges on your list.
What percentile is a 27 on the ACT?
The 89th percentile on ACT's national ranks for 2024 to 2026 graduates: 89 in 100 test takers scored 27 or lower. A 26 is the 86th. A 28 is the 91st.
27 ACT to SAT: what does it equal?
1260 to 1290, with 1280 as the single value, on the official 2018 ACT and College Board concordance. It says the two scores carry the same weight; it does not predict an SAT score.
How do I raise a 27 to a 28?
Add 3 section points across English, Math and Reading, so they total 83. On ACT's Practice Test 2 that is about 4 more right answers (89 of 108 instead of 85). Work on your weakest section first.
Is a 27 ACT good enough for college?
It is at the 89th percentile of ACT takers, 7.8 points over the 19.2 average. Compare it with the 25th and 75th percentile ACT composites in section C9 of each college's Common Data Set.
Should I retake the ACT with a 27?
Only if 27 sits under the middle (50th percentile) ACT composite in section C9 of the Common Data Set at colleges you want, or under a merit scholarship line you can see on their aid pages. From 27, a 28 is about 4 more right answers on ACT's Practice Test 2; many colleges superscore the ACT, so a second date aimed at your weakest section is the cheapest gain.
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