NEW: RI Students Place #7 Nationally for ACT Scores

Rhode Island students ranked an impressive #7 nationwide for scores on the ACT college entrance exam. On a scoring scale of 1 to 36, the nation’s 2011 graduating seniors averaged a score of 21.1 and the 12% of Rhode Island’s graduating seniors who took the ACT, averaged a score of 23.0.  

The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, Mathematics, Reading, Science. The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test. ACT results are now accepted by all 4-year colleges and universities in the nation.

Rhode Island: more and better

In the past five years, Rhode Island is seeing more and better ACT scores. Part of this is because the ACT has added more test dates and locations. In 2007, 1,102 Rhode Island students tested, 1,251 in 2008, 1,309 in 2009, 1,405 in 2010, and 1,487 in 2011. In 2007, Rhode Island students tested an average composite score of 21.8, 21.9 in 2008, 22.8 in 2009, 22.8 in 2010, and 23.0 in 2011.  

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“The ACT is becoming more popular on the East Coast and students who have not tried the ACT, should try it. A lot of Rhode Island students tend to gravitate toward the SAT,” said Cristiana Quinn, GoLocalProv College Admissions Expert. “The ACT is based more on your course work in school, as opposed to the SAT, which is based more on aptitude.”  

Massachusetts students ranked #1 in the nation; 22% of graduating seniors took the test, averaging 24.2. Connecticut ranked #2 in the nation, with 26% of graduating seniors taking the test and averaging 23.9. Following was New Hampshire at #3, New York at #4, Maine at #5, and New Jersey at #6. See the complete list of Average ACT Scores by State Graduating Class 2011.