Is a 33 ACT Score Considered Good?

A 33 ACT score is considered excellent, placing you in the 98th percentile of all test-takers. This means you performed better than 98% of students who took the ACT, making it a highly competitive score that will strengthen your college applications at most institutions, including many prestigious universities.

For context, the national average ACT score typically hovers around 21, so a 33 puts you well above the mean. This score makes you a competitive applicant at most selective colleges and universities, including many Ivy League institutions where the middle 50% of admitted students often score between 32 and 35.

While top institutions like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard may have slightly higher average ACT scores among admitted students, a 33 still keeps you within their competitive range when combined with other strong application components. Many highly selective schools practice holistic admissions, meaning they consider your entire application package rather than just test scores.

Retaking the ACT with a 33 is generally unnecessary unless you're specifically targeting schools where your score falls below the middle 50% range of admitted students. Your time might be better spent strengthening other aspects of your application, such as maintaining strong grades, developing your extracurricular activities, or crafting compelling essays.

This score will also position you well for merit-based scholarships at many universities, as most scholarship programs consider scores above 30 to be highly competitive. Rather than focusing on improving your already strong ACT score, consider directing your energy toward other elements of your college applications that could help distinguish you from other candidates.