The ACT Scoring Scale
An ACT score report includes scores for each of the four subject area tests (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science) and all associated subscores (which are calculated separately).
The first step in calculating a score for a subject area test is to determine the raw score for that test. The raw score is equal to the number of questions answered correctly on that test (there is no penalty for incorrect answers). Then, the raw score converted to a scaled score between 1 and 36 using a metric that takes into account variations in difficulty among different test administrations.
The Composite Score is the average of the four subject area test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Fractions less than one-half are rounded down; fractions one-half or more are rounded up.
Your score report will also contain a percentile ranking that shows the percentage of recent test-takers whose ACT score was at or below your own. The chart below lists the possible scaled scores and their corresponding percentile rankings:
| Percentile rankings are based on ACT-tested high school graduates | |||||
| Score | English | Math | Reading | Science | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 35 | 99 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| 34 | 96 | 99 | 96 | 98 | 99 |
| 33 | 94 | 98 | 94 | 97 | 98 |
| 32 | 93 | 97 | 91 | 96 | 96 |
| 31 | 91 | 96 | 89 | 95 | 95 |
| 30 | 90 | 95 | 87 | 94 | 93 |
| 29 | 88 | 93 | 84 | 92 | 91 |
| 28 | 86 | 91 | 82 | 90 | 88 |
| 27 | 84 | 88 | 80 | 88 | 85 |
| 26 | 82 | 83 | 77 | 85 | 82 |
| 25 | 79 | 79 | 74 | 82 | 78 |
| 24 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 77 | 74 |
| 23 | 70 | 69 | 66 | 70 | 69 |
| 22 | 65 | 65 | 61 | 64 | 63 |
| 21 | 59 | 60 | 54 | 57 | 58 |
| 20 | 54 | 57 | 49 | 50 | 52 |
| 19 | 48 | 53 | 43 | 43 | 46 |
| 18 | 44 | 47 | 38 | 37 | 40 |
| 17 | 40 | 40 | 32 | 30 | 33 |
| 16 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 24 | 27 |
| 15 | 30 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 20 |
| 14 | 23 | 10 | 18 | 13 | 14 |
| 13 | 18 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 4 |
| 11 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| 10 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Writing Test Scores
If you take the ACT Plus Writing you will also receive a writing score, which is reported on a scale of 2 to 12.
Writing Test essays are scored based on your ability to:
- stake out and argue for a position on an issue
- focus on the topic throughout the essay
- develop a position using reasonable support
- organize ideas clearly and coherently
- use language effectively and adhere to the rules of standard written English
Your essay will be scored based on the overall impression it creates. Two trained readers will score your essay on a scale of 1 to 6; the sum of these scores is your Writing subscore, which is reported on a scale of 2 to 12. If the two ratings differ by more than one point, a third reader will read your essay and resolve the discrepancy.
| Percentile rankings are based on ACT-tested high school graduates | |
| Score | Writing |
|---|---|
| 12 | 99 |
| 11 | 99 |
| 10 | 99 |
| 9 | 95 |
| 8 | 88 |
| 7 | 65 |
| 6 | 47 |
| 5 | 24 |
| 4 | 12 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 2 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 |