Looking for in-depth explanation of the ACT Reading Score Chart

Hey, kinda getting a little lost with the whole ACT scoring system. Can anyone break down the Reading ACT Score Chart for me? What's a decent score in the reading section and how does that translate on the chart?

The ACT Reading section score, like all ACT section scores, ranges from 1 to 36. This number, referred to as the scaled score, is based on your raw score, which is the number of questions you answer correctly out of the 40 in the section.

Now, let's talk about the chart itself. The chart is basically a conversion table that maps raw scores into scaled scores. For example, if you answered 30 out of 40 questions correctly, your raw score would be 30. This raw score would then be mapped to a scaled score using the ACT Reading Score Chart, which might translate to around 25-26 depending on the curve for that particular test. Remember, curves can change slightly from test to test to account for differences in difficulty.

In terms of what's considered a decent score for the ACT Reading section, it depends on what you mean by "decent." The national average for ACT Reading falls around a 20-21. If you're aiming to get into more selective colleges, however, a "good" score might mean something in the 30s.

So, while a 20-21 might be an average score nationwide, it probably won't be competitive at top-tier institutions. Every college will have different average reading ACT scores for their admitted students, so you should aim for a score that's at or above the average at your target schools. This is why it's also a good idea to research average ACT scores at the colleges you're interested in to ensure you're on track with your preparations.