Hello! I've recently started researching the ACT and I'm a bit mystified about the scoring range. What's the minimum and maximum score for the ACT? Does each section have its own range or is there a composite?
Hello! I understand that ACT scoring can seem a bit complex initially, but I'll do my best to clarify this for you.
The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the maximum possible score. This is the Composite score, which is the average of your scores on each of the four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The score range for each of these individual sections is also 1 to 36.
Your answers in each section are converted into a 'raw score' (the total number of questions you got correct), which is then converted to a 'scaled score' on the 1 to 36 scale. These scaled scores from each section are then averaged to obtain your composite score. This average is rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if the average works out to be 27.5, your composite score would be rounded up to 28. If it’s 27.25, it would be rounded down to 27.
In addition, the ACT includes a Writing section, which is optional. This Writing section is scored separately on a scale of 2-12 and does not affect the composite score.
I hope this clarifies your doubts! Knowledge about the scoring structure can help you set target scores during your prep.
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