Published in: American College Testing

Understanding ACT Test Scores | Complete Guide

Author mathematicalspace2@gmail.com

Published on: January 25, 2025

The ACT test scores are used by colleges and universities to assess your academic readiness for college-level work. Here’s a breakdown of how the scoring works:

ACT Scoring Overview

• The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 for each of the four main sections:
  • English
  • Math
  • Reading
  • Science
• Your composite score is the average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if your section scores are 30, 28, 32, and 34, your composite score would be 31.

Section Scores Breakdown

1. English Section:
   • This section has 75 questions, and it is scored based on your performance in areas like grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.
   • The score ranges from 1 to 36.
2. Math Section:
   • This section consists of 60 questions focused on algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and other math concepts.
   • The score ranges from 1 to 36.
3. Reading Section:
   • This section includes 40 questions that test your reading comprehension and ability to analyze written passages.
   • The score ranges from 1 to 36.
4. Science Section:
   • This section includes 40 questions and evaluates your ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate scientific data and research.
   • The score ranges from 1 to 36.

Composite Score

• Your composite score is the average of your four section scores (rounded to the nearest whole number). For example:
  • If you scored 28 in English, 30 in Math, 32 in Reading, and 34 in Science:
    • Add those scores together: 28 + 30 + 32 + 34 = 124.
    • Divide by 4: 124 ÷ 4 = 31.
    • Your composite score would be 31.

Writing (Optional) Section Score

• If you take the optional Writing (Essay) section, you will receive a score between 2 and 12.
• The Writing score is separate from your composite score and doesn’t affect your overall ACT score.

Percentiles

Your score report also includes percentile ranks, which tell you how your scores compare to those of other test-takers. For example, if you are in the 90th percentile, you scored better than 90% of students who took the ACT that year.

Average ACT Scores

• The average composite score for all students who take the ACT is around 20–21 out of 36.
• High-achieving students aiming for competitive schools often target scores in the 30s, with 30–32 being considered a strong score for most schools.

ACT Score Ranges for College Admissions

• Below 20: May limit your college options, but many state universities accept students with scores in this range.
• 20-24: Considered average to above average. Many public universities will accept students in this range.
• 25-29: Strong scores for competitive colleges and universities.
• 30+: Excellent scores, often required for top-tier or highly selective schools.

Sending Scores to Colleges

• After taking the ACT, you can choose to send your scores to colleges directly from your ACT account. Some colleges may require you to submit scores from all testing dates, while others may allow you to choose which scores to send (this is called “score choice”).

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