ACT Scoring Chart: Calculate Your ACT Score

Are you feeling overwhelmed by ACT scores? Don’t panic! This guide will help you understand them. Whether you’re fresh off the test or still prepping, we’ve got you covered. We’ll start with the ACT grading scale and present a handy score chart, giving you a clear picture of your performance.

Each ACT section has its scoring system, assigning a scaled score of 1–36 based on the number of correct answers. The magic? ACT meticulously adjusts the scoring scale for each test date to ensure fair comparisons across all administrations, eliminating any potential advantage based on test difficulty.

How Do You Calculate Your ACT Score?

Here’s a breakdown of how your ACT scores were calculated to give you a clear understanding of your performance:

Counting Correct Answers

The ACT begins by tallying the number of questions you answered correctly in each test (English, mathematics, reading, and science). There’s no penalty for incorrect answers, so you were only awarded points for the questions you answered correctly.

Converting to Scale Scores

Next, the ACT converts your raw scores (the number of correct answers on each test) into “scale scores.” These scale scores ensure consistency across different ACT forms, allowing for accurate comparisons regardless of the ACT test date.

Calculating the Composite Score

On each section of the ACT, the number of correct answers is converted to a scaled composite score of 1–36.

Your composite score, which represents your overall performance on the ACT, is calculated by averaging your four test scores and rounding to the nearest whole number. Fractions less than 0.5 are rounded down, while those 0.5 or greater are rounded up.

Reporting Categories

Your scores are also reported in categories aligned with the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards, providing insights into specific skill areas. Each category indicates the total number of questions, the number you answered correctly, and your percentage of correct answers.

Points to Remember

• There’s no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so it’s always beneficial to attempt every question.
• Scale scores ensure fairness and consistency across different test forms.
• Your composite score is a comprehensive measure of your overall ACT performance.
• Reporting categories offer detailed feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement.

Get a closer look at how the ACT score reports are typically formatted with these downloadable samples: 

• Sample Student Score Report
• Sample High School Score Report

ACT Scoring Chart

Here’s a sample ACT raw score conversion grid to illustrate how raw scores translate to scaled scores. This grid is based on a free ACT practice test, but it’s important to note that the official score chart can vary slightly from test to test. Your official scores will be based on the specific conversion chart used for the test you take. Therefore, use this as a general guide, not an exact predictor of your scores on an actual ACT administration.

Scale Score	English Raw Score	Math Raw Score	Reading Raw Score	Science Raw Score
36	75	59–60	40	40
35	73–74	57–58	39	39
34	71–72	55–56	38	38
33	70	54	–	37
32	69	53	37	–
31	68	52	36	36
30	67	50–51	35	35
29	66	49	34	34
28	64–65	47–48	33	33
27	62–63	45–46	32	31–21
26	60–61	43–44	31	30
25	58–59	41–42	30	28–29
24	56–57	38-40	29	26-27
23	53–55	36–37	27–28	24–25
22	51–52	34–35	26	23
21	48–50	33	25	21–22
20	45–47	31–32	23–24	19–20
19	42–44	29–30	22	17–18
18	40–41	27–28	20–21	16
17	38–39	24–26	19	14–15
16	35–37	19–23	18	13
15	33–34	15–18	16–17	12
14	30–32	12–14	14–15	11
13	29	10–11	13	10
12	27–28	8–9	11–12	9
11	25–26	6–7	9–10	8
10	23–24	5	8	7

Read Also: What is Considered as a Good ACT Score in 2024

How Is the ACT Writing Test Scored?

Choosing to take the ACT with writing provides you and the colleges you choose to send your scores to with additional insights into your writing skills. You’ll receive five scores in total:

• A single subject-level writing score: This score ranges from 2 to 12 and is the average of four domain scores based on detailed scoring criteria.

• Four domain scores: These scores, ranging from 2 to 12, assess your writing in specific areas: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions.

Taking the writing test doesn’t affect your scores in other subject areas or your overall composite score. However, without a writing score, no English Language Arts (ELA) score will be reported on your ACT results.

Two trained readers evaluate your essay, assigning scores from 1 to 6 in each of the four writing domains. If their scores differ by more than one point, a third reader steps in to resolve the discrepancy and determine your final domain score. Utilizing resources such as Yocket for guidance and support during your preparation can enhance your writing skills and contribute to a stronger performance in this section.

From the Desk of Yocket

While the ACT exam might seem like a puzzle of numbers and charts, this guide has equipped you with the tools to crack its code and understand your performance clearly. Whether you’re still preparing for the test or eagerly awaiting your score report, remember these key takeaways:

• No penalty for guessing: Don’t be afraid to fill in the bubbles! Guessing strategically can always improve your score.
• Scale scores ensure fairness: Your scores are compared apples-to-apples, regardless of the test date’s difficulty level.
• Composite score is king: This is the ultimate measure of your overall ACT performance, calculated by averaging your individual section scores.
• Reporting categories offer guidance: Understand your strengths and weaknesses with detailed feedback on specific skill areas.

Armed with this knowledge, you can leverage your strengths and address any areas that need improvement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is my ACT composite score calculated?

Your ACT composite score is the average of your four section scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science), rounded to the nearest whole number.

Does the essay score contribute to my ACT composite score?

No, the optional essay score is reported separately and does not affect your ACT composite score.

Can I improve my composite score by taking the ACT multiple times?

Yes, most colleges accept your “ACT superscore,” which is the highest individual section score achieved across all your ACT attempts.