An ACT score report includes scores for each of the four subject area tests (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science) and all associated subscores (which are calculated separately).
The first step in calculating a score for a subject area test is to determine the raw score for that test. The raw score is equal to the number of questions answered correctly on that test (there is no penalty for incorrect answers). Then, the raw score converted to a scaled score between 1 and 36 using a metric that takes into account variations in difficulty among different test administrations.
The seven subscores (Usage/Mechanics, Rhetorical Skills, etc.) are calculated in the same way, except that these scores range between 1 and 18. There is no direct arithmetic relationship between subscores and test scores (that is, a test score is not simply the sum of the subscores).
The Composite Score is the average of the four subject area test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Fractions less than one-half are rounded down; fractions one-half or more are rounded up.
Your score report will also contain a percentile ranking that shows the percentage of recent test-takers whose ACT score was at or below your own. The chart below lists the possible scaled scores and their corresponding percentile rankings:
|
Percentile rankings are based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2009 - 2011 |
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| Score | English | Math | Reading | Science | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 35 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 34 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 33 | 97 | 98 | 97 | 99 | 99 |
| 32 | 96 | 97 | 95 | 98 | 98 |
| 31 | 94 | 96 | 93 | 98 | 97 |
| 30 | 93 | 94 | 91 | 96 | 95 |
| 29 | 91 | 93 | 87 | 95 | 93 |
| 28 | 88 | 91 | 85 | 93 | 91 |
| 27 | 85 | 88 | 82 | 91 | 87 |
| 26 | 82 | 84 | 78 | 88 | 84 |
| 25 | 78 | 79 | 75 | 84 | 79 |
| 24 | 73 | 74 | 71 | 77 | 74 |
| 23 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 71 | 68 |
| 22 | 63 | 61 | 60 | 63 | 62 |
| 21 | 57 | 57 | 54 | 56 | 55 |
| 20 | 50 | 52 | 48 | 47 | 48 |
| 19 | 43 | 47 | 42 | 38 | 41 |
| 18 | 38 | 41 | 35 | 31 | 34 |
| 17 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 24 | 28 |
| 16 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 19 | 21 |
| 15 | 24 | 14 | 19 | 14 | 16 |
| 14 | 18 | 06 | 15 | 11 | 11 |
| 13 | 14 | 02 | 10 | 08 | 06 |
| 12 | 11 | 01 | 06 | 05 | 03 |
| 11 | 09 | 01 | 03 | 03 | 01 |
| 10 | 04 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 09 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 08 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 07 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 06 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 05 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 04 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 03 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 02 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
The chart below contains percentile rankings for the subscores on each of the multiple-choice tests. There is no subscore for the Science Test:
| Percentile rankings are based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2009 - 2011 | |||
| English | Mathematics | Reading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscore |
Usage/ Mechanics |
Rhetorical Skills |
Pre-Alg./ Elementary Algebra |
Algebra/ Coord. Geometry |
Plane Geometry/ Trig. |
Social Studies/ Sciences |
Arts/ Literature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| 17 | 96 | 99 | 96 | 99 | 99 | 97 | 97 |
| 16 | 92 | 98 | 91 | 98 | 98 | 94 | 91 |
| 15 | 88 | 92 | 87 | 95 | 95 | 88 | 85 |
| 14 | 83 | 86 | 81 | 92 | 90 | 82 | 77 |
| 13 | 78 | 79 | 74 | 83 | 82 | 76 | 71 |
| 12 | 71 | 71 | 66 | 74 | 73 | 69 | 65 |
| 11 | 64 | 60 | 58 | 64 | 63 | 59 | 57 |
| 10 | 56 | 49 | 48 | 51 | 52 | 50 | 47 |
| 09 | 44 | 38 | 40 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 39 |
| 08 | 35 | 27 | 32 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 31 |
| 07 | 27 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 23 |
| 06 | 19 | 12 | 09 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 16 |
| 05 | 13 | 08 | 03 | 04 | 06 | 05 | 09 |
| 04 | 07 | 04 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 02 | 04 |
| 03 | 03 | 02 | 01 | 01 | 02 | 01 | 01 |
| 02 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
| 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 | 01 |
If you take the ACT Plus Writing, you will receive two additional scores: a Writing subscore and a Combined English/Writing score. You must take both the English and Writing Tests in the same session to receive a Writing score.
The Combined English/Writing score is created by using a formula that weights a student's score on the English Test twice as heavily as his or her score on the Writing Test. The Combined English/Writing score is then reported on a scale between 1 and 36. Taking the Writing Test does not affect your scores on subject area tests or your Composite score.
Writing Test essays are scored based on your ability to:
Your essay will be scored based on the overall impression it creates. Two trained readers will score your essay on a scale of 1 to 6; the sum of these scores is your Writing subscore, which is reported on a scale of 2 to 12. If the two ratings differ by more than one point, a third reader will read your essay and resolve the discrepancy.
|
Percentile rankings are based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2009 - 2011 |
||
| Score | Combined English/Writing | Writing |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 99 | – |
| 35 | 99 | – |
| 34 | 99 | – |
| 33 | 99 | – |
| 32 | 99 | – |
| 31 | 98 | – |
| 30 | 95 | – |
| 29 | 93 | – |
| 28 | 90 | – |
| 27 | 87 | – |
| 26 | 84 | – |
| 25 | 79 | – |
| 24 | 74 | – |
| 23 | 69 | – |
| 22 | 61 | – |
| 21 | 55 | – |
| 20 | 47 | – |
| 19 | 41 | – |
| 18 | 34 | – |
| 17 | 28 | – |
| 16 | 24 | – |
| 15 | 18 | – |
| 14 | 14 | – |
| 13 | 10 | – |
| 12 | 08 | 99 |
| 11 | 05 | 99 |
| 10 | 04 | 99 |
| 9 | 02 | 94 |
| 8 | 01 | 86 |
| 7 | 01 | 51 |
| 6 | 01 | 37 |
| 5 | 01 | 11 |
| 4 | 01 | 7 |
| 3 | 01 | 2 |
| 2 | 01 | 1 |
| 1 | 01 | – |
