Understanding your ACT score is crucial for navigating the college application process. This article breaks down how ACT scores are calculated, what constitutes a good score, and provides resources to help you interpret your results. Whether you’re preparing for the test or have already received your scores, this guide will help you understand what “A Student Compared The Average Of Her 7 Test Scores” means in the context of standardized testing and college admissions.
How the ACT is Scored
The ACT scoring process is straightforward and designed to provide a fair assessment of your knowledge and skills. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
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Raw Score Calculation: Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answered correctly on each test section (English, Math, Reading, and Science). There’s no penalty for guessing, so unanswered questions are simply marked as incorrect.
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Scaling Raw Scores: Raw scores are then converted to scaled scores, ranging from 1 to 36 for each section. This scaling ensures that scores have the same meaning across different test versions and administration dates. This process allows for a fair comparison, even if the difficulty of a particular test slightly varies.
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Composite Score Calculation: Your composite score, the most commonly referenced ACT score, is the average of your four scaled test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if a student compared the average of her 7 test scores and they were scaled to 25, 28, 30, and 29, her composite score would be (25+28+30+29)/4 = 28.
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Reporting Categories: Your score report will also include detailed information about your performance in specific reporting categories within each subject area. These categories align with college and career readiness standards, providing insights into your strengths and weaknesses.
Note: The ACT is undergoing changes. Starting in April 2025 for online tests and September 2025 for paper tests, the science section will be optional, and the composite score will be calculated based on English, Math, and Reading scores. Science scores will be reported separately.
What’s a Good ACT Score?
Defining a “good” ACT score depends on your individual college goals. While a higher score generally increases your chances of admission, different colleges have different average ACT score ranges for admitted students. Researching the average ACT scores of your target schools is essential.
For highly competitive universities, average ACT scores often fall in the low 30s. Less selective institutions may have average scores in the mid-20s. Aiming for a score at or above the average for your desired colleges is a good strategy.
Additionally, understanding national rank percentiles can help you contextualize your score compared to other test-takers.
ACT Score Benchmarks for College and Career Readiness
ACT benchmarks represent the score needed on each subject test for a 50% chance of earning a B or higher, or a 75% chance of earning a C or higher, in corresponding first-year college courses. These benchmarks provide a valuable reference point for assessing college readiness.
Additional ACT Scoring Information
The ACT offers a writing test, which provides a separate score. Concordance tables are also available to compare ACT and SAT scores. You can find more information about these topics and other scoring details on the ACT website.
Making Sense of Your ACT Scores
Your ACT score is just one factor in the college application process. While it’s important, colleges also consider your GPA, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. A well-rounded application can significantly strengthen your candidacy, even if your ACT score isn’t perfect. Use your score as a starting point, research your target schools, and focus on presenting a compelling overall application.
