Is 35 a Good ACT Score?
A 35 ACT composite is at the 99th percentile of ACT takers and matches a 1540 SAT (1530 to 1560): an excellent score that only about 1 in 100 ACT takers beat.
- ACT takers
- 99th
- percentile, 99 in 100 at or below
- Against the 19.2 average
- +15.8
- national average, class of 2026
- SAT match
- 1540
- 1530 to 1560 on the concordance
- Section points to 36
- +3
- sections must add up to 107
What a 35 ACT score means
A 35 is at the 99th percentile of ACT takers, 15.8 points over the 19.2 average and 1 point from a perfect 36.
On the enhanced ACT the composite is the average of English, Math and Reading, rounded with halves up, so a 35 needs section scores that add up to at least 104 and at most 106. One point down, a 34 is at the 99th percentile; one point up, a 36 is at the 100th.
How 35 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 35 is 15.8 points above it.
| Composite | What it marks | Percentile | SAT match | Points from 35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Middle ACT taker | 52% | 970 | -17 |
| 23 | Top quarter of ACT takers starts | 77% | 1140 | -12 |
| 28 | Top 10 percent of ACT takers starts | 91% | 1310 | -7 |
| 33 | Top 2 percent of ACT takers | 98% | 1460 | -2 |
| 35 (you) | Your score | 99% | 1540 | |
| 36 | Perfect composite | 100% | 1590 | +1 |
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 35 matches 1530 to 1560, with 1540 as the single value ACT prints beside it. See the 35 row on the ACT to SAT conversion chart or see whether 1540 is a good SAT score.
What it takes to go from 35 to 36
To move from 35 to 36, your three section scores must add up to 107 instead of 104: 3 section points in any section. On ACT's National Online Practice Test 2, a 35 on all three sections takes 38 English, 39 Math and 26 Reading answers, 103 of 108; 36 on all three takes 107, about 4 more.
| Section | For 35 | For 36 | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 38 of 40 | 40 of 40 | +2 |
| Math | 39 of 41 | 40 of 41 | +1 |
| Reading | 26 of 27 | 27 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 35 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 35 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 35 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.
From CurveFox
Taking the SAT too?Turn your practice test results into an estimated score out of 1600.SAT score calculatorQuestions and answers
Is 35 a good ACT score?
A 35 ACT composite is at the 99th percentile of ACT takers and matches a 1540 SAT (1530 to 1560): an excellent score that only about 1 in 100 ACT takers beat. Whether it is good for you depends on the colleges on your list.
What percentile is a 35 on the ACT?
The 99th percentile on ACT's national ranks for 2024 to 2026 graduates: 99 in 100 test takers scored 35 or lower. A 34 is the 99th. A 36 is the 100th.
35 ACT to SAT: what does it equal?
1530 to 1560, with 1540 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 35 to a 36?
Add 3 section points across English, Math and Reading, so they total 107. On ACT's Practice Test 2 that is about 4 more right answers (107 of 108 instead of 103). Work on your weakest section first.
Is a 35 a good composite score on the ACT?
It is at the 99th percentile of ACT takers, 15.8 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 35?
Only if 35 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 35, a 36 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.
From CurveFox
Test score calculators
All calculatorsCurveFox is an independent study tool. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the College Board, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation or ACT Education Corp. AP®, Advanced Placement®, SAT® and College Board® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this site. PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which are not affiliated with, and do not endorse, this site. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp., which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this site. Our score estimates use publicly available information and are not official scores. Official scores come only from the College Board or ACT.