A 14 on the ACT is below average. It places you at the 27th percentile nationally, meaning roughly 73% of test-takers scored higher. While it’s not the score most students hope for, it’s a starting point, and understanding what it means can help you figure out your next steps.
What the 27th Percentile Means
The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with the national average composite hovering around 19 to 20 in recent years. A 14 falls well below that midpoint. The 27th percentile ranking means that out of every 100 students who took the test, you scored higher than about 27 of them.
For context, a score of 20 puts you near the 50th percentile, and a 24 lands around the 74th percentile. The gap between 14 and the national average is significant but not insurmountable with focused preparation.
How a 14 Compares to College Readiness Benchmarks
ACT sets college readiness benchmarks for each subject area. These are the scores that give a student roughly a 50% chance of earning a B or higher in a corresponding first-year college course. The benchmarks are 18 for English, 22 for math, 22 for reading, and 23 for science.
A composite of 14 falls below all four of those benchmarks. That doesn’t mean college is out of reach, but it does suggest you’d likely benefit from developmental coursework or additional preparation before jumping into credit-bearing college classes in those subjects. Many community colleges and open-admission universities offer exactly that kind of support.
College Admissions With a 14
Most four-year universities with competitive or moderately selective admissions expect ACT scores well above 14. However, several types of institutions remain realistic options. Community colleges generally have open admissions policies and don’t require a minimum ACT score. Many open-admission four-year universities accept students regardless of test scores, though they may place you in remedial courses based on your results.
The test-optional movement has also changed the landscape. Hundreds of colleges no longer require ACT or SAT scores for admission. If your GPA, extracurriculars, and essays are stronger than your test score suggests, you can often apply without submitting a 14. In most cases, submitting a score that falls below a school’s typical range won’t help your application, so leaving it off is the better strategy at test-optional schools.
Improving Your Score
If you’re planning to retake the ACT, know that the average score increase on a retake is only about 1 point. That’s the average across all students, though. Students who scored lower on their first attempt and then do targeted preparation tend to see larger gains than students who were already scoring high.
A jump from 14 to 18 or 20 is realistic with consistent, structured study over several weeks or months. Here’s what tends to work:
- Diagnose weak areas first. Look at your section scores, not just the composite. If your English score is much lower than your reading score (or vice versa), that tells you where to focus.
- Use official practice tests. ACT publishes free practice materials that mirror the real exam. Timed practice builds familiarity with the format and pacing.
- Focus on English and reading for the fastest gains. ACT’s own research shows the average retake gain is highest in English (about 1.7 points) compared to math (about 0.9 points). Grammar rules and reading comprehension strategies can be learned relatively quickly.
- Consider a prep course or tutor. If self-study isn’t producing results, structured programs can provide accountability and targeted instruction. Free options like Khan Academy (for SAT, which shares overlapping skills) and low-cost ACT prep books are available if budget is a concern.
There’s no limit on how many times you can take the ACT, and ACT’s superscore policy lets many colleges consider your best section scores across multiple test dates. Retaking the test two or three times, with real preparation between sittings, gives you the best chance of meaningful improvement.
What to Do Right Now
If you’re early in high school (freshman or sophomore year), a 14 is simply a baseline. You have time to study, retake the test, and build academic skills that will raise your score naturally as your coursework advances. Don’t treat it as a final verdict.
If you’re a junior or senior and applying to colleges soon, focus on the factors you can still control. A strong GPA, a compelling personal essay, and meaningful extracurricular involvement carry real weight, especially at test-optional schools. Apply to schools where your overall profile fits, and skip submitting the ACT score unless a school requires it. Community colleges are also a smart path: start there, build a strong college GPA, and transfer to a four-year institution where your college transcript matters far more than a high school test score.