That’s right! The 2014 class of high school students earned a composite score of 20.7 on the American College Testing (ACT) exam. The standardized test uses a scale of 1 to 36 to determine a student’s college readiness.

Founded in 1959, the three-and-a-half hour exam tests students’ knowledge of math, science, English and reading comprehension. Universities and colleges use ACT scores to determine college applicants’ likelihood of successfully completing their degree programs.

Students with ACT scores ranging between 30 and 36 receive preference at competitive academic institutions. Roughly 75 percent of students at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago attained at least a 34 on their exam. Most students at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign scored at least a 31.

More than 180 Illinois teens earned a perfect score of 36. High ACT scores also attract scholarships, grants and acceptance into honor colleges. Academic-based scholarships can include “full-ride” scholarships or funding that covers most academic expenses, such as tuition and books.

Some of the brightest students in our country are here in Illinois. Congratulations to the high school class of 2014!

Learn more:
Why ACT scores matter
How Illinois students’ scores compare
More about the ACT’s history