Hi all, can someone explain how the ACT score is calculated? I'd like to know how my composite score will be determined and what factors will influence it.
Hello! I'd be happy to explain how the ACT score is calculated. The ACT consists of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1-36. The process for calculating your composite score is quite simple. Here's how it's done:
1. The raw score for each section is calculated by adding up the number of correct answers in that section. There's no penalty for incorrect answers, so there's no harm in guessing if you don't know the answer to a question.
2. Each raw score is then converted into a scaled score on a scale of 1-36. The scaled score is based on a statistical process known as equating, which accounts for slight variations in difficulty among different test versions. This ensures that scores from different test dates are comparable.
3. To calculate your composite score, the scaled scores for all four sections are averaged together and rounded to the nearest whole number. Essentially, you add up the scaled scores from each section and divide the total by 4. For example, if you scored 30 in English, 28 in Math, 32 in Reading, and 29 in Science, your composite score would be (30+28+32+29)/4 = 29.75, which would be rounded up to a final composite score of 30.
Keep in mind that the ACT also offers an optional Writing test, which is scored separately on a scale of 2-12. The Writing score does not affect your composite score. Some colleges may require or recommend taking the Writing test, so make sure to check the requirements for the schools you're interested in applying to.
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