The PreACT score calculator starts with one number per section: how many questions you answered correctly in English, Math, Reading, and Science. Those raw scores convert to section scale scores, and your composite is the rounded average of the four — from 1 to 35 on the PreACT (grade 10) or 1 to 30 on the PreACT 8/9 (grades 8–9). ACT does not publish official raw-to-scale tables for the PreACT, so the conversions below are estimated from the PreACT's design and published score distributions. Below the calculator you'll find how scoring works, the section structure, estimated percentiles, and what changes in Fall 2026.
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PreACT scoring has two stages, just like the ACT. First, you earn a raw score on each section — one point per correct answer, with no penalty for wrong answers. Then ACT converts each raw score to a scale score using a form-specific conversion table, a process called equating that keeps scores comparable across different test dates. Your composite is the average of the four section scale scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
| Section | Questions | Time | Scale Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 45 | 30 min | 1 - 35 (8/9: 1 - 30) |
| Math | 36 | 40 min | 1 - 35 (8/9: 1 - 30) |
| Reading | 25 | 30 min | 1 - 35 (8/9: 1 - 30) |
| Science | 30 | 30 min | 1 - 35 (8/9: 1 - 30) |
| Total | ~136 | ~130 min | Composite = rounded average |
Every PreACT score report also includes a predicted ACT score range and a US percentile, which is what makes the test genuinely useful: it tells you where you would likely land on the ACT if you tested today, and how you compare with other students nationwide. For the full walkthrough of a score report, see our PreACT scoring explained guide.
ACT does not publish official PreACT conversion tables, and each form's curve is slightly different. The table below shows the estimated raw scores you would need for common scale scores on the PreACT's 1–35 scale, built from the test's design and typical ACT-family curves. Like the real ACT, the top of the estimated curve is tight: the last few raw points each buy roughly a full scale point, while mid-range scores move more slowly.
| Scale Score | English raw (/45) | Math raw (/36) | Reading raw (/25) | Science raw (/30) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 45 | 36 | 25 | 30 |
| 30 | ~39 | ~31 | ~22 | ~26 |
| 25 | ~33 | ~26 | ~18 | ~22 |
| 20 | ~27 | ~21 | ~15 | ~18 |
| 16 | ~21 | ~17 | ~12 | ~14 |
| 10 | ~14 | ~11 | ~8 | ~9 |
Starting in Fall 2026, the PreACT aligns with the Enhanced ACT: the composite becomes the rounded average of English, Math, and Reading only, and Science becomes an optional section reported separately. Through the 2025–26 school year, the composite still averages all four sections. That's why the calculator above shows two readouts — your four-section composite under current rules, and the English/Math/Reading-only composite you would see under the new format. For most students the two land within a point of each other, but a Science score well above or below your other sections can move the four-section number.
Your percentile tells you what percentage of test-takers scored at or below your composite. The average PreACT composite is around 16, and the 90th percentile sits at about 22 on the PreACT and 23 on the PreACT 8/9. The table below is an estimate interpolated from those published reference points — your official percentile appears on your score report.
| Composite | PreACT percentile (est.) | PreACT 8/9 percentile (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 99 | 99 |
| 28 | 98 | 99 |
| 26 | 97 | 97 |
| 24 | 95 | 93 |
| 22 | 90 | 86 |
| 20 | 80 | 77 |
| 18 | 66 | 64 |
| 16 | 50 | 50 |
| 14 | 33 | 32 |
| 12 | 18 | 17 |
| 10 | 7 | 7 |
Anything above the national average of about 16 means you outscored the typical test-taker, and a composite of 22+ puts you near the top 10%. But because the PreACT is a diagnostic, the most useful reading of your score is forward-looking: your section scores show exactly where ACT points are hiding. A student with a 24 in English and a 17 in Math knows precisely where the next few composite points will come from.
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PreACT® and ACT® are registered trademarks of ACT, Inc., which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, Test Ninjas. Score conversions and percentiles on this page are unofficial estimates for planning purposes only.