How is the ACT scored - is it curved?

I've heard different things about how the ACT is scored. Some people say it's curved, but others say it's not. Can someone please clarify this for me? I want to have an idea of what to expect when I take the test.

The ACT is, to some extent, "curved," but not in the traditional sense you might be thinking of. When people say a test is curved, they typically mean that scores are adjusted based on the performance of all test-takers from that administration, with some scores being raised and others lowered to fit a predetermined distribution. That's not exactly how the ACT works, though.

Instead, the ACT uses a process called equating to ensure that scores are consistent across different test dates. Because each ACT test might have slight variations in difficulty, the purpose of equating is to ensure that your score accurately reflects your performance, regardless of the specific date you took the ACT on.

Here's a simplified explanation of how equating works: if you take a slightly more difficult exam than someone else who took the ACT on a different date, you might be allowed to get 3 math questions wrong and still get a 36 in that section whereas the person with the easier test would only be able to get 1 math question wrong to get the 36. Equating essentially levels the playing field so that scores from different test dates can be fairly compared.

To be clear, this process does not involve adjusting scores based on the performance of other students taking the test with you, nor does it significantly alter individual scores. It primarily functions to standardize ACT scores and ensure comparability across test dates. So, while the ACT does have a "curve" of sorts, it's more accurately described as an equating process rather than a traditional curve. Good luck with your test preparation!