ACT test curve: how does it work?

Hey, can someone help me understand the ACT test curve? I've seen some different explanations and I'm a bit confused. Like, do they base it on how other students did on the test, or is it predetermined? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! I'd be happy to help you make sense of the ACT test curve. The ACT test curve is essentially a method used to equate the difficulty of different test forms when calculating your composite score. This process helps to ensure that your score accurately reflects your level of performance, regardless of the difficulty of the specific test you took.

Unlike what some may think, the ACT test curve is not based on the performance of other test-takers on the day you take the exam. Instead, it's determined in advance by the test-makers based on the difficulty of the questions in each section and how students performed on those particular questions during their pretesting process. To put it simply, the curve is designed to account for small differences in the level of difficulty between different test forms.

Here's an example: Let's say you took two different forms of the ACT English section. On the first test form, you got 68 out of 75 questions correct, while on the second test form, you got 71 out of 75 correct. If the first test form was more difficult than the second, you might get the same scaled score for both sections, even though you answered more questions correctly on the second test form. This is because the curve helps to level the playing field, ensuring that your score is consistent regardless of which test form you take.

I hope this clears things up!