ACT 2023 Scoring Chart: Check how to calculate your score

ACT 2023 Scoring Chart

When understanding the ACT scoring sheet, it is important to understand the difference between the ACT raw scores and ACT scale scores. To calculate the ACT scale scores, candidates will require the ACT raw scores, which, with the help of a conversion table (one similar to the table below), you can then convert into scale scores.

In all cases, you will be required to have your ACT raw scores to calculate the scale, composite or super scores, which are all different types of scores that can be used for the purpose of admission to USA universities. Here is how you can calculate the respective ACT scores for the purpose of applying to top universities in the USA.

ACT Raw Score and ACT Scale Score

As per current ACT exam policies, the ACT scale scores are scored on a range of 1-36, whereas, the ACT raw scores refer to the number of questions you were able to correctly answer in your test. (Check out the sample ACT scoring chart given on this page to get an idea of what the ACT raw scores and ACT scales score convert to).

The ACT exam structure defines that each question of each section in the test carries one mark. Moreover, ACT does not punish test-takers for guessing incorrect answers. In other words, your raw scores equate to the total number of correct answers, which will then be converted into an ACT scale score based on the official ACT scoring sheet.

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What is ACT Composite Score?

The ACT average score you received for all four exam sections on ACT is known as the composite score. Typically, the raw scores that you were able to achieve on the test are used to construct your ACT composite score. You must tally up the raw scores from each of the four ACT sections, then divide the total by four to compute the composite score. For example, if you managed to achieve ACT raw scores of  30 in Maths, 32 in English, 31 in Science, and 33 in Reading, your ACT composite score would be 31.5.

Your ACT composite score will be rounded to the nearest whole number if it is a fraction, which is in line with the most recent ACT exam guidelines. Your ACT composite score will be rounded up if the fraction is greater than ".5" or equal to ".5", and it will be rounded down otherwise. The composite score in the aforementioned case was 31.5, which would then be rounded up to 32 according to the ACT exam norms publicised recently.

What is ACT Superscore?

The ACT Superscore is computed by adding the highest possible scores achieved in each section throughout all of the applicant's ACT attempts as opposed to the composite score, which is determined by dividing the applicant's total sectional scores by four. Several universities in USA may also accept applicants for their undergraduate programmes based on their ACT Superscore. Check out the table below to better understand how ACT superscores are calculated.

From the table, we can determine that the best scores in each section were, 22 in English (Attempt 2), 23 in Maths (Attempt 3), 23 in Reading (Attempt 1) and 22 in Science (Attempt 2). Thus, the superscore will be calculated using these scores. Your ACT superscore in this case will be the average of the best scores in each section divided by the number of sections, i.e. 4. Therefore, in this case, your superscore will equate to 23.

Sample ACT Scoring Chart

Given below is a sample score chart that has been used to convert the ACT raw scores into ACT scale scores. Commonly, universities use these scaled scores to determine whether a candidate is eligible for admission to different programmes at the undergraduate level.

Note: Since the table is a sample ACT score chart, it is advised to only use this for reference purposes only. The official ACT scoring guide will be determined by the exam administrator.

ACT Score Percentile

Even before sitting for any exam, you may have well-heard the word ‘percentile’ mentioned in conversations about scores. Percentiles for the ACT scoring chart enable students to find out where they stand in comparison to other applicants.

Given that the ACT scores are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 36, receiving an ACT score of 28 or higher will give you a good chance of enrolling in some of the best universities overseas. You will be given an ACT score percentile in your ACT score report, which you can use for assessing how you performed to that of other candidates.

In addition thus, if you plan to take the ACT exam to apply for an undergraduate programme in the United States, you may turn to this page to learn how your ACT scores are computed, the way the ACT scoring chart is used, and how are they used for taking admission to various courses of study at foreign universities.