ACT Scores

How Is The ACT Score Calculated?

You will receive one subject area score (1 to 36) on each section of the test (English, Math, Reading, and Science), and a composite score, which is an average of these 4 sections. The composite score falls between 1 and 36. The national average is about 21.

You will also receive subscores in English, Math, and Reading that range between 1 and 18. These scores provide you with more detail about your test performance, but they are not actually used by colleges or universities.

If you take the Writing Test, you will receive two additional scores: a Writing Test subscore and a Combined English/ Writing score. The Combined English/Writing score consists of two-thirds of the English Test score and the one-third of the Writing Test score to form a combined score. These two scores does not affect your subject area scores or the Composite score.

How the ACT is scored?

How Would My Essay Be Graded?

Students’ essays will be scored holistically—that is, on the basis of the overall impression created by all the elements of the writing. Two trained readers will read each student’s essay, each giving it a rating from 1 (low) to 6 (high). The sum of those ratings is the Writing subscore, which can range from 2 to 12. If the readers’ ratings disagree by more than one point, a third reader will evaluate the essay and resolve the discrepancy. In addition to the subscore, students receive positive and constructive feedback on their essays in the form of reader comments.

The readers will mark your essay according to the following guidelines.

Score	Essays within this score range demonstrate
6	- effective skill in responding to the task
5	- competent skill in responding to the task
4	- adequate skill in responding to the task.
3	- some developing skill in responding to the task.
2	- inconsistent or weak skill in responding to the task.
1	- little or no skill in responding to the task.
No Score	- Blank, Off-Topic, Illegible, Not in English, or Void

How to get more points on the Essay section of the ACT using Kaplan ACT Essay strategies.

What Does The ACT Score Report Look Like?

You will receive one subject area score (1 to 36) on each section of the test (English, Math, Reading, and Science), and a composite score, which is an average of these 4 sections. The composite score falls between 1 and 36. The national average is about 21.

You will also receive subscores in English, Math, and Reading that range between 1 and 18. These scores provide you with more detail about your test performance, but they are not actually used by colleges or universities.

If you take the Writing Test, you will receive two additional scores: a Writing Test subscore and a Combined English/ Writing score. The Combined English/Writing score consists of two-thirds of the English Test score and the one-third of the Writing Test score to form a combined score. These two scores does not affect your subject area scores or the Composite score.

What Is A Good ACT Score?

A good score on the ACT is different for each student, and depends on where you want to go to college.

Here are some rough, unofficial estimates of the average ACT score at various schools. The average isn’t necessarily the score you need to get into a college (there are plenty of other factors involved for example your High School Record, interviews, activities, accomplishments, essays and recommendations). However, it’s a good estimated figure if you’re trying to decide whether your ACT score is good enough.

University	Unofficial Estimates
MIT	33
Duke	31
Boston University	28
University of Michigan	28
University of Illinois	28
Ohio State	26

The chart below shows the average test score based on graduating high school seniors in 2006.

Section	Average Score
English	20.6
Mathematics	20.8
Reading	21.4
Science	20.9
Optional Writing Test	7.7

When Will I Receive My ACT Scores?

Most scores are available online within 2 1/2 weeks after each national test date. Your scores are not reported any faster if you view them online. Score reports are usually mailed to your home within 4 to 7 weeks after each test date. If you took Writing, your score report will be mailed only after your Writing scores are available.

Will Colleges See All My ACT Scores?

For a fee, you could request ACT to send your scores to selected colleges. You can also select which scores to send to the colleges. In this way, you have the full control of your score reporting.

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