ACT® Score Calculator

How Is The ACT Structured?

The ACT® consists of four main sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

The English section has 75 questions to be completed in 45 minutes, testing grammar, usage, punctuation, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style.

The Mathematics section contains 60 questions to be completed in 60 minutes, covering pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry.

The Reading section includes 40 questions in 35 minutes, focusing on reading comprehension of what is directly stated or implied.

The Science section also has 40 questions in 35 minutes, testing interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.

Score Ranges and Scaling

Each section of the ACT is scored on a scale of 1-36. The composite score is calculated by taking the average of all four section scores and rounding to the nearest whole number.

The scoring process involves converting raw scores (one point per correct answer, with no penalty for wrong answers) to scaled scores using a curve that varies slightly from test to test.

What Is A Good Score?

A "good" score depends on individual goals, but statistically, a composite score of 21 represents the national average. For competitive colleges, scores of 24 and above are typically desired.

To qualify for top-50 schools (in the US), students should aim for at least a 31. While ACT score is not the sole criterion for admission, it significantly enhances a student's profile.

For admission to elite top-20 universities including the Ivy Leagues, a score of 34 or above is considered decent, but a 35+ is what most students aim to achieve. For engineering powerhouses like MIT, Stanford and Caltech, even a perfect 36 in the math and science sections is quite common.

Again, test scores aren't everything, but a high score can strengthen a student's application significantly.