ACT Prep: How High Does My ACT Score Need to Be?

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  How Colleges Use ACT Results

  Colleges use ACT results in a variety of ways:

  • Admissions decisions
    ACT test results, high school grades, academic preparation, out-of-class accomplishments, and future plans—these and other kinds of information help admissions officials identify applicants who can benefit most from their programs.
  • Course placement
    Colleges usually try to take into account individual strengths and weaknesses as they place students in first-year courses. For example, a college may offer three sections of a subject—developmental, regular, and advanced. A student's ACT test results, academic background, and high school grades might be used to determine which section would be most appropriate.
  • Academic advising
    College academic advisors may consider ACT results, high school academic program, high school grades, planned extracurricular activities, areas in which there is a need for assistance, and part-time employment plans to tailor an appropriate program of study to a student.
  • Scholarships and loans
    Some scholarship and loan agencies may use ACT test results with other information such as high school grades to identify qualified candidates. However, the agencies may not look at academic potential alone. The ACT score report provides information about a student's educational needs, extracurricular achievements, and educational plans. This information, along with high school grades and test scores, helps the agencies evaluate applications for scholarships, loans, and other financial assistance.

  ACT & LSU

  LSU is now "Test Optional". This means that an ACT or SAT score is not needed to be considered for general admission. LSU’s admissions average weighted GPA is 3.73, and the average test score is 26 (ACT) or 1230 (SAT).

  For more information on LSU being "Test Optional" click here.

  Honors College

  • 30 composite
  • 30 English
  • completed writing section

  Some scholarships may also require an ACT score for consideration.

  For information on scholarships with ACT requirements, click here.

  ACT & SU

  General Admission Requirement:

  • 19 in Math
  • 18 in English
  • 23 composite for home schooled students

  Honors College Requirement:

  Scholarship requirements vary based on GPA. To find out more about Honors College admissions and scholarship, click here.

  University Scholar Requirement: