Short answer: the PreACT is ACT's early practice test for 8th, 9th and 10th graders. You take it at school, and it gives you a predicted ACT score range plus a first look at ACT-style questions. It uses the same 1 to 36 scale as the ACT, but the top PreACT score is 35.
What is the PreACT exam?
ACT makes the PreACT for students in grades 8 to 10. Schools give it, either online or on paper. Your report shows how you are doing against the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks and predicts your future ACT scores. On the PreACT 8/9 and PreACT, you also fill out a Student Profile and Interest Inventory, and the report suggests careers based on your answers.
The four PreACT tests
| Test | Top score | When schools can give it |
|---|---|---|
| PreACT 8/9 | 30 | Any time from early September to late May |
| PreACT | 35 | Any time from early September to late May |
| PreACT 9 Secure | 32 | A fall window (September-October) or a spring window (March-April) |
| PreACT Secure | 35 | A fall window (September-October) or a spring window (March-April) |
All four give a STEM score and predicted ACT score ranges. Schools and states can use the two Secure versions for course placement or accountability.
What does your PreACT score mean?
Read your PreACT score as a forecast, not a final result. A predicted ACT range tells you where you might land if you keep working at your current pace. Use the subject scores to find your weakest area early, while you still have one or two years before the ACT. ACT's own research found that students who took the PreACT averaged about one Composite point higher on the ACT than students who did not. That is a comparison of two groups. It does not promise the same gain for you.
To see what counts as a strong ACT result later on, read What Is a Good ACT Score? and How Is the ACT Scored?
How to prepare for the PreACT
See which question types are costing you points
Start with a free mock, free drills, or preview sample questions before using all 47 question banks.
- Ask your counselor which PreACT version your school gives and when.
- Try a few free ACT sample questions so the format feels familiar.
- Do not cram. The PreACT is a check-in, and your report matters most for what you do next.
Got your PreACT report?
Turn your weakest subject into a practice plan with a free test.
Related ACT guides
- ACT Exam Strategy: Resource Hub
- How to Study for the ACT: Free Week-by-Week Plan
- PSAT 8/9 Guide, if your school gives the College Board test instead
Sources
- ACT, PreACT Assessments for Grades 8-10 (accessed October 31, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PreACT?
The PreACT is a test from ACT for students in grades 8 to 10. Schools give it online or on paper. It gives you an early experience with ACT test items, a predicted ACT score range and a STEM score. It also helps students, parents and teachers see how ready you are for college-level work.
What is a good PreACT score?
A good PreACT score depends on your grade and the version you took. The PreACT uses the ACT's 1 to 36 scale with a top score of 35, and the PreACT 8/9 tops out at 30. Look at your predicted ACT range and compare it with the ACT scores at colleges you like, then work on your lowest subject.
Who takes the PreACT and when?
Eighth, ninth and tenth graders take the PreACT at school. Your school picks the date. Schools can give the PreACT 8/9 and PreACT any time from early September to late May. The Secure versions run in a four-week fall window in September and October or a six-week spring window in March and April.
Does the PreACT predict your ACT score?
Yes. Each PreACT version reports predicted score ranges for ACT subject scores and the Composite. Treat the range as a forecast based on your current skills, not a promise. ACT research found that students who took the PreACT averaged about one Composite point higher on the ACT, but that compares groups, not one student.
How do I sign up for the PreACT?
The PreACT is given through schools. ACT offers it to schools, districts and states, and the school chooses the test date and format. Ask your school counselor whether your school offers it, which version it uses and when the test date is. If your school offers the PSAT 8/9 instead, ask about that test.