Hi all! I just got my ACT results and I'm a little confused about the scoring system. Can anybody explain the ACT scale to me? Why is it out of 36 and how are scores calculated for the different sections?
The ACT score is calculated in a pretty straightforward manner. The test includes four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1-36, where 36 is the highest score you can get.
Your raw score in each section is determined by the number of questions you answered correctly. For instance, if you answer 60 out of 75 English questions correctly, your raw English score is 60.
The raw scores are then converted to scaled scores through a process known as equating. This is done to account for slight variations in different test versions and ensure that scores are consistent across different test dates. These scaled scores are also on a 1-36 scale.
Finally, your overall ACT composite score is the average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if your scaled scores were English: 30, Math: 28, Reading: 32, and Science: 30, your composite score would be (30+28+32+30)/4 = 30. This average is why the ACT is scored out of 36.
In addition to these section and composite scores, you will also receive a writing score if you opted for the ACT with writing. This score is separate and does not affect your composite score. It is calculated on a 2-12 scale based on your performance on the optional essay section.
In short, the ACT score scale is designed to give an average representation of your performance across different subject areas, with 36 acting as the benchmark for a perfect score.
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