Results from the ACT reveal a decline in preparedness for college-level coursework. The average composite score was 19.8 out of 36.

This year was the first time since 1991 that the average score was below 20, and it was the lowest average in more than 30 years. The report also shows 42% of ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2022 met none of the ACT’s subject benchmarks, which are indicators of how well students are expected to perform in college courses.

The scores offer a lens into systemic inequities in education, in place well before the pandemic shuttered schools and colleges waived testing requirements.

ACT results from the graduating class of 2022 are available on the website of the nonprofit organization that administers the tests. It includes average scores for each state, along with the percentage of students in each state who took the ACT.

Here’s how students planning on taking college tests can get help:

Here you can find live online classes, tutoring, and test guides.

From free practice tests to a checklist of what to bring on test day, College Board provides everything you need to prepare here.

Check your local library for prep courses and tutoring.

High school students can also ask for help from their teachers, who may provide feedback on draft essays or recommend practice math problems. They can also get help finding personalized study materials.

Form a study group with classmates to prepare for college admissions exams.

Ask friends, siblings and classmates who have taken the test about their experience and insight.