Understanding the ACT Raw Score: A Comprehensive Guide

The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. Understanding how the ACT is scored is crucial for effective test preparation and setting realistic goals. This article provides a detailed explanation of the ACT raw score, its conversion to scale scores, and how these scores contribute to your final composite score.

Introduction to ACT Scoring

The ACT is scored in a unique way, converting the number of questions you answer correctly into a standardized scale. This conversion ensures fairness across different test dates and test versions. Unlike some exams, the ACT does not penalize you for incorrect answers, encouraging test-takers to attempt every question. The ACT assesses students on English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

What is a Raw ACT Score?

Your ACT raw score is equivalent to the number of questions you answer correctly on each section of the test. For each of the multiple-choice sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science), your raw score is simply the total number of questions you answered correctly. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

To figure out your ACT® score, start by counting how many questions you got right in each section. This is your raw score.

Raw Score Calculation

For each of the multiple-choice sections, your raw score is simply the total number of questions you answered correctly. There is no penalty for incorrect answers.

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English: Measures your understanding of standard written English and rhetorical skills and assesses your ability to effectively convey ideas and information. You’ll read several prose passages with certain words or phrases underlined or highlighted.
Math: Measures mathematical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of concepts typically learned up to the beginning of pre-calculus. The format consists of all multiple-choice questions that range in difficulty.
Reading: Measures your reading comprehension skills, including the ability to understand main ideas, locate and interpret details, draw inferences, understand cause-effect relationships, and analyze an author’s purpose and style.
Optional science test: Measures your ability to interpret, analyze, evaluate, and reason with scientific information presented in various formats, not your recall of specific scientific facts (though basic science knowledge can sometimes be helpful). While the topics can be from biology, chemistry, Earth/space sciences, and physics, the test primarily assesses scientific reasoning skills.

Converting Raw Scores to Scale Scores

Your raw score for each test is then converted into a scale score (1-36). Then, use a conversion chart to turn that raw score into a scale score between 1 and 36.

By contrast, a scale score is the final score you get for each section, on a scale of 1-36. Specifically, it's a translation of your raw score via an equating process developed for the ACT.

The ACT score conversion table shows how your raw scores (the number of questions you answer correctly in each section) are converted into scaled scores ranging from 1 to 36.

The Equating Process

The ACT exam itself is not curved relative to test takers. However, it is curved through a process known as equating. It’s important to note that the ACT® exam itself is not curved relative to test takers. However, it is curved through a process known as equating.

Through this equating process, the ACT can account for differences and ultimately ensure that scores are consistent across test dates. As you know, equating an ACT raw score to a scale score allows for comparisons between various test versions and all test takers (regardless of what month or year you took the ACT).

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The ACT uses a distinct process called equating, so every test comes with its own specific scoring table. A harder exam may offer a slightly better scaled score for the same raw score. Easier exams will require higher raw scores for top scaled scores. This ensures score consistency over time.

Why ACT Score Charts Change

ACT uses test equating. It is a statistical method that adjusts scoring. Its purpose is to make the test fair for every test taker, regardless of when the test was taken. It represents the same level of performance.

This prevents “easy test inflation” and “hard test penalties.” This dynamic scoring system protects fairness and ensures students of different years will be judged on equal footing. This is why all ACT Score Charts you see online are sample charts, not universal ones.

Understanding Score Charts

An ACT score chart converts raw scores into scaled scores. It generally has four columns, one for each ACT Section. It also shows how many correct answers correspond to a scaled score.

A chart might show, for example, that:

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Getting 65 out of 75 in English might convert to a 34
Getting 55 out of 60 in Math might convert to a 32
Getting 38 out of 40 in Reading might convert to a 35
Getting 34 out of 40 in Science might convert to a 31

However, the exact conversion will always be slightly different with each release of the exam.

How to Find and Use Score Charts

If you've taken an official ACT practice test on paper, your score chart will come near the end of the test PDF. Don't use a chart from a different practice test. What if you took an unofficial ACT practice test, though? In this case, it's best to use the average ACT score chart given above. To do this, simply use your test's answer key to add up all the correct answers you got on each ACT section and subtract any experimental questions.

Calculating the Composite Score

After you receive your scaled section scores, the next step is calculating your final ACT score, also called the composite score. Your composite score, or overall ACT score, is the average of your scores on each test. Add up your English, Math, Reading, and Science scores and divide by 4. (Round to the nearest whole number).

Composite score calculation: Your composite score is the overall ACT score and is the average of your scaled section scores. The average is rounded to the nearest whole number: Fractions of 0.5 or higher are rounded up, and fractions less than 0.5 are rounded down.

ACT with or without Science

If you take the ACT without Science, your composite score is the average of your English, Math, and Reading scaled scores. If you choose to include the Science section, your composite score is calculated by averaging the English, Math, Reading, and Science scaled scores.

Optional Writing Test

If you take the ACT Plus Writing (which will ask you to write an essay), your writing will be evaluated by two readers. Both readers score your essay on a scale of 1-6 in four different areas (learn more about the ACT essay here ). The ACT essay score will appear on your score report on a scale from 2-12.

The ACT Writing section, your essay is scored by two graders and assessed on 4 domains. Each domain is scored on a scale of 1-6 by each grader. The scores from the two graders are then added together to get 4 separate domain scores for this section, ranging from 2 to 12.

ACT also reports an English Language Arts (ELA) score out of 36, which represents your overall performance on the English, reading, and writing tests, but this value is NOT included in your ACT Composite Score calculation.

Writing Score

Your essay score is reported from 2-12. It will not impact your composite score. Some colleges require or recommend it, but many do not.

Understanding Percentiles and National Ranks

ACT score percentiles are determined by comparing your score to the scores of a large, representative sample of students who have taken the test over a recent three-year period - what ACT calls National Ranks. If you receive a composite score of 24, for example, and it falls in the 74th percentile, it means that you scored equal to or better than 74% of the students in that group.

Importance of Percentiles

It contextualizes your performance. Your raw score (e.g., a 25) doesn’t tell you how well you did compared to others. The percentile gives that vital comparative information.
It informs your college admissions strategy. If your score is below the 25th percentile, it means a large percentage of admitted students scored higher than you.
It helps you set realistic goals.
It helps you identify strengths and weaknesses (subscores).

What is a Good ACT Score?

It’s tough to give a cold hard number and call it a “good ACT® score”. That being said, generally speaking anything in the top 30% of all students taking the test is a decent place to be. If you want to rank in the top 10% of all high school ACT® test takers, you’d need to score above a 28.

When reviewing the ACT® scores national norms data, we found that the typical ACT® score ranges between 18-20 depending on the section.

Score Ranges

21-23 (Average/Above Average): This range typically includes the national average and extends slightly above it.
31-36 (Excellent/Highly Competitive): Scores in this range place a student among the top performers nationally.

Specific Score Interpretations

Yes! Scoring a 27 on the ACT® puts you in the 86th percentile of test takers.
Scoring a 30 on your ACT® may put you within striking distance of the Ivy Leagues, but it’s tough to say if it’d be good enough for gaining an acceptance into one. For Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, you’d most likely be on the outside looking in.
YES! A 36 on the ACT® is a great score and the equivalent of a perfect score.

The Importance of ACT Scores

With college admissions becoming increasingly competitive and many schools reinstating standardized testing requirements, achieving a good ACT score is critical.

Why ACT Scores Matter

For starters, they provide a standardized measure to compare students from different schools and backgrounds.
Your scores also help admissions committees determine your academic readiness for college and are often used for course placement and awarding merit scholarships.
For you, ACT scores can be used as a personal benchmark to assess your academic strengths and weaknesses.
Colleges use ACT scores as one indicator of a student’s readiness for college-level coursework and their likelihood of success in a demanding academic environment.
Additionally, a high ACT score can validate a strong GPA, indicating that the student excels academically in a rigorous environment. And while a strong ACT score does not offset a low GPA entirely, it does suggest that the student has the academic potential even if their grades don’t fully reflect it.

Holistic Review Process

Most competitive colleges employ a holistic review process. This means that while ACT scores are important, they are rarely the sole factor in admissions decisions.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Many colleges and universities use ACT scores as a primary criterion for awarding merit-based scholarships.

Course Placement

Beyond admissions, ACT scores can be used to determine appropriate course placement for admitted students.

ACT Superscoring

ACT® superscores are easy to compute. All you need to do is collect all of your past ACT® score reports. Total your highest scores, and then divide it by four.

ACT vs. SAT

It can be tough to decide whether to take the ACT or SAT, but it ultimately comes down to which test is a better fit for you. Most colleges accept both the ACT and SAT equally, with no preference. While you can submit both SAT and ACT scores to colleges, we highly recommend that you focus only on one test. Once you determine which test is better for you, you can work on achieving the strongest score possible.

Strategies for Improving Your ACT Score

Effective ACT preparation goes beyond simply memorizing facts. It involves a combination of content review, strategic practice, and test-taking skills.

Effective ACT score improvement strategies include creating a study plan, mastering time management and pacing, and addressing knowledge gaps.

Start early and create a personalized study plan.
Utilize official ACT prep materials.
English: Review fundamental grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetoric, and organization rules.
Math: Systematically review algebra, geometry, and trigonometry concepts. Memorize key formulas. Practice specific problem types.
Reading: Focus on active reading techniques to identify main ideas, author’s purpose, tone, and specific details.
Science: Understand that this section primarily tests data interpretation, graph analysis, and scientific reasoning, not advanced scientific knowledge.
Practice time management.
Analyze mistakes thoroughly.
Consider tutoring.
Take multiple practice tests.
Prioritize well-being.

Key Strategies

Analyze your mistakes thoroughly. Meticulously review every question you got wrong, and those you guessed on or found difficult. Identify patterns, such as content gaps, careless errors, or time management issues.
Take ACT practice tests to work on pacing. If a question is taking too long, mark it and move on. You can come back to it once you’re at the end of the section.
The best way to improve your score is to pay attention and excel in your regular high school courses.
Retake the test. Many students improve their scores on a second attempt, but we recommend no more than two retakes.
Opt for ACT practice questions to build a strong foundation and confidence for exam day.

ACT Test Dates and Score Release

The ACT scores are generally available within 2 to 8 weeks after the testing date. Following the ACT score release dates is a great way to track when your scores will be ready to view.

Scholarships and ACT Scores

You can submit your ACT score for merit scholarships, which are awarded based on your achievements.

Types of Scholarships

Institutional (college-specific): These scholarships are often part of a college’s recruitment strategy.
State-sponsored: Many states have programs that offer scholarships to their residents based on academic achievement, including ACT scores.
National Merit Scholarships: While primarily based on the PSAT/NMSQT, becoming a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist often requires a qualifying score on the PSAT and then a strong confirming SAT or ACT score.
Private organization scholarships: Numerous foundations, corporations, non-profits, and community organizations offer scholarships. Many of these include ACT scores as part of their eligibility criteria.

Scholarship Eligibility

Colleges and organizations may have different processes for determining scholarship eligibility based on ACT scores. In general, a higher score - often in combination with a strong GPA and/or class rank - will provide more scholarship opportunities.

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