Hi everyone, I got my ACT scores back, but I'm a little confused about how to interpret them. Could someone help explain how the scoring works and what makes a good score? Thanks so much!
Hey there! I'd be happy to help clarify ACT scoring for you. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each scored on a scale of 1-36. After you take the test, you'll receive a raw score for each section, which is converted into a scaled score out of 36. Your composite ACT score is then calculated by averaging these four section scores and rounding to the nearest whole number.
For example, if you scored 28 in English, 30 in Math, 34 in Reading, and 31 in Science, your composite score would be the average of these four scores: (28+30+34+31)/4 = 30.75, which would round up to 31.
To determine what's considered a "good" score, you'll want to compare your ACT scores to the average scores of admitted students at the colleges you're interested in. Most colleges publish their middle 50% ACT score range, meaning the scores for the 25th percentile and 75th percentile of admitted students. A good score would typically be in or above this range for your target schools.
In general, a composite score of 21 is considered the national average, while a score of 24 or higher puts you in the top 25% of test-takers. A score of 30 or higher places you in the top 10%, and a score of 33 or above puts you in the top 1-2% of test-takers. However, remember that your target score should be tailored to the specific requirements and expectations of the schools you're applying to.
Apart from the composite score, you'll also receive an ELA (English, Reading, and Writing) score and a STEM (Math and Science) score, both out of 36. These scores give additional context to your performance in language arts and science-math fields. Also, if you took the optional Writing test, you'd receive a separate writing score on a scale of 2-12.
I hope this clarifies the ACT scoring for you! Feel free to ask if you have any further questions. Good luck with your college applications!
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