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Act® score calculator.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: February 8, 2024

Got an ACT® exam coming up and not sure how you might do? Then you’re at the right place. Here is an interactive ACT® score calculator to help you predict how your raw score would translate to your ACT® scale score so that you can answer for yourself, “Is my ACT® score good enough?”

If you’re looking for free help as you start your ACT® test prep, be sure to explore our ACT® sections for more review articles ( Math , Reading , Science )

If you’re an educator interested in boosting your students’ ACT® scores, let us know and we’ll tell you how you can start using Albert for free . 

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Looking for act® study materials, how do you calculate act® scores .

To calculate your ACT® score, you’ll need to know your respective raw score in the four sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. By knowing how many questions you got right in each section, you can then reference a conversion table to see how that raw score translates to a scale score. 

The ACT® is easy to convert since there is no penalty involved with incorrect answers. All they care about is how many questions you got correct. 

Scale scores range from 1-36, with 36 being the highest possible mark on the ACT®. To compute your overall ACT® score, you take the average of all four sections (ACT® English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science divided by four). 

What’s the difference between ACT® raw scores and ACT® scale scores?

Your ACT® raw score is equivalent to the number of questions you get correct on the test. For example, ACT® English has 75 questions — if you got a 70, it means you got 70 of the multiple choice questions correct. 

ACT® Math has 60 questions — so if you got 43 questions right, your raw score would be a 43. 

Your ACT® scale score is how your raw score translates to a section score ranging from 1-36. In the two examples above, your raw scores would translate to a 34 on ACT® English and a 27 on ACT® Math if you were to refer to the official 2020-2021 practice test’s scoring charts .

What is a good ACT® score?

It’s tough to give a cold hard number and call it a “good ACT® score”. That being said, generally speaking anything in the top 30% of all students taking the test is a decent place to be. That translates to roughly a 23 on the ACT® for your composite score.

Here’s a table of the typical percentiles for students taking the ACT®:

If you want to rank in the top 10% of all high school ACT® test takers, you’d need to score above a 28. Typically falling in the high 20s will position you competitively for state colleges like University of Texas, Austin and University of California, Irvine.

As you get into the 30s, you will enter the upper echelon of universities, with many top universities such as University of Virginia (known as a “Public Ivy”), as well as Top 25 schools like Northwestern, Georgetown, and Duke. 

Finally as you get into near perfect ACT® score territory (34-36), you’ll be highly competitive for the top schools in the nation such as Princeton, Harvard, and Yale.

Is 27 on the ACT® a good score?

Yes! Scoring a 27 on the ACT® puts you in the 86th percentile of test takers. Schools with scores averaging around a 27 include Penn State University Park, Syracuse University, and Temple University. 

Is 30 on the ACT® good enough for Ivy Leagues?

Scoring a 30 on your ACT® may put you within striking distance of the Ivy Leagues, but it’s tough to say if it’d be good enough for gaining an acceptance into one. Reason being that there are many considerations when applying to any elite university. 

That being said, based on historical trends, a 30 would put you within the historical classes at the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Brown University, Columbia University, and Cornell University. 

For Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, you’d most likely be on the outside looking in. Exceptions would be if you had a particular edge in your application that would make you a unique candidate for consideration. 

Is a 36 on the ACT® a good score?

This should be a no-brainer. YES! A 36 on the ACT® is a great score and the equivalent of a perfect score. One good thing about the ACT® is that you actually have a small margin of error at times to still get a perfect score. 

Here’s why:

• There have been times in the past where students have not gotten every question right, but the acceptable raw score range for a 36 allows for a problem to have been missed.
• If you score between a 35 and 36 and average out your total composite ACT® score, it could end up being above 0.5, meaning it’d round to a perfect score!

What is the average ACT® score?

When reviewing the ACT® scores national norms data , we found that the typical ACT® score ranges between 18-20 depending on the section. This test is typically normalized around 20. 

The average ACT® English score tended to fall between 19-20. 

The average ACT® Math score fell between 18-19.

The average ACT® Reading score was roughly 20. 

The average ACT® Science score was 20. 

Why is the ACT® exam curved?

It’s important to note that the ACT® exam itself is not curved relative to test takers. However, it is curved through a process known as equating. This is when the ACT® organization scales test scores from a range of past test dates so that they’re all comparable in the ability that is being tested.

You can read more about this process on page 6 here . This equating process is also why you’ll notice as you use our ACT® score calculator that sometimes there are variances in how you would have scored on one practice test versus another. 

As a whole, the ACT® has generally stayed consistent over time in that the number of right answers you’ve scored in a section translates into a respective scale score. 

Why should I use this ACT® score calculator?

Albert’s ACT® score calculator uses the official released practice tests curves from ACT®.org. This means our calculations are 100% accurate and up-to-date. If you are ever in doubt and would like to confirm the score calculations for yourself, please refer to the ACT®’s practice test here .

We made this calculator because we saw that everyone else was just copying and pasting the table at the back of each practice test. Interactive score calculators are an easy way to motivate yourself and identify what sections to study diligently for. Understanding exactly how many questions you need to get right in order to get into your desired ACT® score ranges is crucial, especially when talking about any ACT® score above a 30.

How do you figure out your ACT® superscore?

ACT® superscores are easy to compute. All you need to do is collect all of your past ACT® score reports. Then, look for your highest scores in each respective section. 

Total your highest scores, and then divide it by four. Round to the nearest whole number — this is your ACT® superscore.

Looking for extra ACT® practice?

Albert provides extensive ACT® practice with detailed explanations and full-length practice tests.

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ACT Score Calculator – 2024

January 5, 2024

Along with the SAT, the ACT is one of the standardized tests used in the college admission process. Even if you plan to apply to test-optional or test-blind colleges, chances are you’ll sit for at least one of the standardized entrance exams. Both the SAT and ACT are widely accepted by colleges, and it is not uncommon for college-bound high school students to take both tests (although understanding the differe n ces is helpful ). Luckily, there’s an overlap in test preparation for the ACT and SAT. As you gear up for the ACT, it is helpful to establish a target score that aligns with your college aspirations. How do you identify a target score? Can you predict your score? Below, we discuss how using our ACT Score Calculator (and ACT Superscore Calculator) can help you prepare for the test and the role of your score in your applications. We’ll cover:

What is the ACT?

How is the act structured, how long is the act, how is the act scored.

• What is an ACT Superscore?

What’s the ACT score range?

• What’s a good ACT score?

Can I predict my ACT score?

How do i improve upon my predicted act score, act® english section score:, act® math section score:, act® reading section score:, act® science section score:, total act® score:.

On the hunt for expert ACT prep? For years, we have been referring our clients to a select group of providers. Click below to learn more. 

Best ACT Tutors

The ACT (which stands for “American College Testing” or “American College Test”) has been around since 1959 when it was introduced as a competitor to ye olde SAT . As a college entrance exam, the ACT has evolved since then but is still paired with , and often compared to, the SAT. The ACT is administered by a nonprofit of the same name, whereas the SAT is administered by the College Board, which also offers Advanced Placement exams .

The ACT is offered 7 times a year , and college-bound students typically sit for it at some point during their junior year. There are variations to the test for each date, but the scaled scoring system (see below) evens out any differences in level of difficulty across test dates.

The goal is to be academically prepared for the ACT while still allowing yourself time to retake the test once or twice. ACT Academy provides free learning resources for students preparing for the test. Additionally, utilizing the ACT Score Calculator can help you assess your readiness and determine your timeline.

The ACT is divided into 4 multiple-choice sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science. There is also an optional Writing test , which is required by some schools. Be sure to check requirements before you register for the ACT. If you’re not sure where you’re applying, it is a good idea to opt into the Writing test to cover your bases. The sections are structured as follows:

• 75 multiple-choice questions
• 60 multiple-choice questions

ACT Score Calculator (Continued)

• 5 passages with 8 questions per passage for a total of 40 multiple-choice questions
• 40 multiple-choice questions
• You’ll receive a prompt outlining a complex issue and 3 perspectives. Your task is to craft your own position and explain how it relates to the given perspectives.

The ACT totals 215 multiple-choice questions and 1 optional essay.

You’ll have 175 minutes, or 2 hours and 55 minutes, to complete the 4 required sections of the ACT. Including breaks, the test takes 3.5 hours to complete. If you sign up for the optional Writing Test, you’ll have 220 minutes, or 3 hours and 40 minutes, to complete the test (just over 4 hours with breaks).

Note that while the ACT is longer than the SAT, the time per question is shorter. This means that effective time management is crucial for the ACT.

First, we’ll discuss how the 4 required sections are scored . Then we’ll discuss the scoring of the optional Writing test .

ACT Scoring

• First , your raw scores are calculated. Your “raw scores” are the number of questions you answered correctly. For example, let’s say you answered 50/60 questions correctly in the math section. Your raw score would be 50. There is no penalty for incorrect answers. Always, always venture a guess rather than skipping a question altogether!
• Next, on each section of the ACT (English, math, reading, science), your raw score is converted to a “scaled score” of 1-36. The scaled scoring system evens out any differences in level of difficulty across test dates. This is known as an “equating process,” and it also means that you’ll notice differences in the scoring across practice tests.
• Finally, your Composite score is calculated by taking the average of your four section scores and rounding them to the nearest whole number. Decimals less than .5 are rounded down; decimals of .5 or more are rounded up.Let’s say, for example, that your scaled score for each section was as follows:English: 32 Math: 29 Reading: 31 Science: 30The average would be 30.5, and would be rounded up to a Composite score of 31. Your Composite Score constitutes your “official” ACT score, although different institutions may be interested in your section-specific scores or your STEM score , which is the average of your math and science scores.

Moreover, after you take the ACT, you’ll receive an official score report that includes your raw scores. Using the ACT Score Calculator can help you assess how even minor adjustments to your raw scores can affect your Composite Score should you choose to retake the test.

ACT Writing Test Scoring

Taking the optional Writing test won’t affect your Composite score, but it does add an English Language Arts (ELA) score to your report. Like the ACT Composite Score, the ACT ELA score is out of 36, and represents your overall performance on the English, reading, and writing tests. That is, your ELA score is arrived at by considering: 1) your scaled scores in 2/4 of the required ACT sections, and 2) your Writing test domain scores (see below).

Your essay is evaluated according to four domains:

• Ideas and Analysis
• Development and Support
• Organization
• Language Use and Conventions

Two trained readers will score your essay on a scale of 1-6 in each of the 4 domains. The domain scores of the two readers are added together, giving you final domain scores on a scale of 2-12.  If readers’ ratings differ by more than one point, a third reader evaluates the essay to resolve the discrepancy.

To help you prepare, ACT provides sample prompts and essays , as well as additional details about the scoring rubric.

What is an ACT Superscore? – ACT Superstore Calculator

Superscores are actually pretty cool. While your Composite score is the average of your four subject scores from one ACT attempt, your ACT Superscore is the average of your four best subject scores from all your ACT test attempts.

That is, your Superscore combines your best performances into one score. This eliminates much of the risk of taking the test multiple times, and allows you to take a focused approach to improving your performance in select sections. Like we said: pretty cool.

A perfect ACT score is a 36, but we can’t all be perfect! Interestingly, though, it is possible to achieve a perfect ACT score without getting every single question correct.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the ACT score ranges and establish a target score using the ACT Calculator as you are preparing for the test.

ACT breaks down the score range as follows:

• Below Average Score Range : 1-16
• Average Score Range : 17-24
• Above Average Score Range : 25-36

For the class of 2023, ACT reports an average ACT score of 19.5 —reflecting a slight decline from past years.

What’s a good ACT score ?

Ah, the million-dollar question! The fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on your outlook) answer is that it depends.

Firstly, it is important to understand that your standardized test scores are just one component of your college application. It would be a mistake to obsess over your ACT score but neglect your essay , for instance. Furthermore, some schools place more significance on your ACT (or SAT) score than others.

Finally, it’s not just your score that matters, but your percentile. You can explore how different Composite scores correspond to percentiles using the ACT Score National Ranks. For example, a Composite score of 23 is 74. That means that 74 percent of recent students who took the ACT achieved a Composite score of 23 or lower. Put another way, scoring a 23 would place you in approximately the top 25%.

Rather than trying to identify an objectively “good” ACT score, your time is better spent identifying your individual target score—one that aligns with your college aspirations. You determine your target score in two ways:

• Firstly, assessing your own score potential by preparing academically, familiarizing yourself with the test structure, taking practice tests, and experimenting with the ACT Score Calculator to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Secondly, researching the ACT score ranges at different institutions. The average ACT score for students accepted to many state schools falls in the mid-twenties. The average ACT score for Arizona State University, for instance, is 25. Meanwhile, the average ACT score for MIT is 35. These are both “good” scores!

We thought you’d never ask! The ACT Score Calculator is designed to provide predictions so you can go into the ACT having a good sense of how you’ll perform. The ACT Calculator is interactive, which allows you to explore different scenarios and determine where and how to strive for improvements to your score based on your aspirations. Even minor improvements to your raw score in each section can have a significant impact on your Composite score.

Are you planning to take advantage of superscoring? The tool works as an ACT Superscore Calculator as well—just enter the highest scores earned on each section to determine your ACT Superscore.

Utilizing the ACT Score Calculator as part of your test preparation and target score setting can also help you refine your college search by allowing you to focus on institutions wherein the range of scores of accepted applicants align with your own predicted score.

In summary, beyond taking practice tests and reviewing testing strategies , you can prepare for the ACT by identifying targeted areas for improvement and taking advantage of Superscoring. Additionally, interacting with the ACT Score Calculator will enable you to focus on certain academic areas for increased study and review. It will also alert you to which aspects of the test you’ll need to devote the most care and attention.

Jordan Conley

Jordan received her BA from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, where she majored in Religious Studies and Classics. Following her undergraduate work, she spent several years teaching elementary school--first in northern Thailand as a fellow with Princeton in Asia, then in Bozeman, Montana. Jordan went on to receive a Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and is currently working toward completing her PhD at Boston University, focusing on religions of the Ancient Mediterranean.

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ACT Score Calculator

The curves of over 35 released ACT exams (from The Red Book, Q&A Service, and yearly booklets) have been thoroughly analyzed to bring you the most accurate prediction of your scores. For any given raw score, the entire range of scaled scores across all curves are computed along with the percentage of times each one has shown up in the past.

English Calculator

75 Questions, Scored from 1 to 36 Please enter valid inputs.

Math Calculator

60 Questions, Scored from 1 to 36 Please enter valid inputs.

Reading Calculator

40 Questions, Scored from 1 to 36 Please enter valid inputs.

Science Calculator

*Based only on recently released tests from 2015 onwards, rather than all released tests. The ACT made a few tweaks to the exam in 2015.

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How to Calculate ACT Scores: Step-by-Step Guide

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• Earning the highest ACT score can make you a more competitive college applicant.
• Each test section, as well as the ACT as a whole, is scored on a scale of 1-36.
• Use your practice test's ACT scoring chart to see how your raw scores translate into scale scores.
• You can miss 1-3 questions on each ACT section and still earn a 36 composite score.

College applicants with the highest ACT score hold an advantage over the competition. A good ACT score emphasizes to admissions officers both your strengths and readiness to tackle college-level coursework. Top scorers may also qualify for merit scholarships.

Learning how ACT scores are calculated can help you determine how many questions you can afford to get wrong on test day and what your biggest strengths and weaknesses are.

Keep reading to learn more about ACT scoring and how raw scores translate into scale scores.

How Is the ACT Scored?

The ACT is scored using a multistep process .

First, you'll get a raw score for each of the four exam sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Raw scores are simply the number of questions you answered correctly.

Incorrect answers do not count against your raw scores. As such, try to answer every question on the ACT, even if you have to guess.

Next, your raw scores are converted into scale section scores on a scale of 1-36.

Finally, your scale section scores are averaged to give you a single ACT composite score, also out of 36. This composite score will appear in the top-left corner of your ACT score report .

How raw scores translate into scale scores varies slightly depending on the test. This is why each official practice test comes with its own ACT scoring chart.

What about the essay? The optional ACT Writing section is scored on a scale of 2-12. Graders use a rubric to judge your essay's use of language, organization, analysis, and development. Your Writing section score does not factor into your composite ACT score.

How to Calculate Your ACT Score in 4 Easy Steps

You need only a few minutes to learn how to calculate your ACT score. Before starting, you'll need to find the ACT scoring chart included with your practice exam. This chart will provide the most accurate conversions of raw scores into scale scores.

If you don't have your practice test's ACT score chart handy, you can use the sample score chart below to estimate your scale scores.

Step 1: Find Your Raw Score for Each Section

The first step is to use the answer key that came with your ACT practice exam to calculate your raw score. Award yourself 1 point for each correct answer. Do not deduct any points for incorrect answers.

Take your time grading the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections. Rushing through grading may result in careless mistakes.

Example: After finishing the 2021-22 ACT practice test , Justine takes out that test's answer key. She marks questions she answered incorrectly before totaling her raw scores for each section. She answered 58 questions correctly on English, 53 on Math, 23 on Reading, and 30 on Science.

Step 2: Convert Your Raw Scores Into Scale Scores

Next, you'll need to convert your four raw scores (one for each section) into scale scores out of 36. To do this, you'll need your practice test's ACT score chart.

Find the column on the chart representing the section of the ACT you want to score, and then locate the raw score you earned. Look for the matching scale score (out of 36) in the leftmost or rightmost column.

If your ACT practice test doesn't come with a scoring chart, you can use an official ACT score chart, like the one below, to estimate how your raw scores may translate into scale scores.

Example: Using her practice test's scoring chart, Justine drags her finger across the chart from each raw score to the correct scale score. The chart shows that a 58 raw score on English corresponds to a scale score of 26, a 53 on Math to a 33, a 23 on Reading to a 21, and a 30 on Science to a 26.

Step 3: Average Together Your Scale Scores

The final step involves calculating your ACT composite score. College admissions counselors see this score first when reviewing your official score report.

You can use a calculator to find the average of your four scale scores. To find the average, add together your four scale scores and then divide the sum by 4.

Your result may include a decimal point. According to ACT Inc. , round up to the nearest whole number if the decimal is 0.5 or higher, and round down if the decimal is less than 0.5.

Example: Justine uses the calculator on her phone to find the average of her four scale scores, which are 26, 33, 21, and 26. The average comes out to 26.5, which she rounds up to 27. This means her composite ACT score is 27 out of 36.

Step 4 (Optional): Estimate Your Writing Score

Estimating your ACT Writing score takes more time and effort than calculating your raw score, scale score, or composite score. You must use the same rubric as official ACT graders and consider how your essay develops ideas, organizes thoughts, and uses language.

The official ACT website provides many sample essays , including those with high scores and those with the lowest ACT score possible. It's a good idea to spend time reviewing these before grading your practice essay.

You might also consider asking a teacher, guidance counselor, parent, or friend to grade your essay for you using the ACT Writing rubric.

How Many Questions Can You Miss on the ACT?

The ACT score chart below can help you estimate how many questions you can afford to miss on the ACT and still meet your target score. This scoring table was taken from the 2021-22 official ACT practice exam .

Remember that the conversions between raw and scale scores can vary slightly depending on the test. To calculate ACT scores with 100% accuracy, you must use the ACT scoring chart that accompanies your specific practice exam.

If your practice test doesn't have an ACT score chart, you can use the table below to estimate your scale scores.

As you can see, you could miss up to three questions on English, two on Math, one on Reading, and two on Science (eight total) and still get a max ACT score of 36 .

Even if you miss a few more questions and earn a 35 on two sections, you'll still wind up getting a 36 composite ACT score since these scores would average out to 35.5 (and thus round up to 36).

Some students are stronger in certain subjects. If this sounds like you, you could try to make up for a lower section score by overperforming in another section.

For example, say your target ACT score is 32 and you're better at reading and English than you are at math and science. In this case, you might aim for the following:

• English: 34 (miss no more than around 7 questions)
• Math: 28 (miss no more than around 16 questions)
• Reading: 34 (miss no more than around 3 questions)
• Science: 30 (miss no more than around 7 questions)

Frequently Asked Questions About ACT Scoring

• Collapse All

Why do ACT score conversions differ for each test?

How raw ACT scores convert to scale scores differs somewhat with each ACT exam due to variations in difficulty among tests. So on an easier test, you'd need to answer more questions correctly to get a higher composite score out of 36.

What does this mean exactly? A harder or easier ACT exam shouldn't impact your ability to earn a certain ACT score, since scale scores all represent the same performance tier regardless of test date or exam difficulty.

What is a good ACT score?

In general, a good ACT score puts you in or above the 75th percentile. According to official 2022 ACT percentiles , this means you'll need at least a 24 composite score.

That said, you may need higher than a 24 to get into competitive colleges . Creating a score goal for these schools involves researching the scores of the middle 50% of admitted students. This range can give you a target to meet or exceed.

Scholarship eligibility can also affect what constitutes a good ACT score. Some colleges require a specific score for institutional scholarships, for example.

Where can you find reliable ACT practice tests?

The best place to look for high-quality ACT practice tests and sample questions is the official ACT website . ACT Inc. currently provides one free full-length practice test in addition to many other test prep resources like practice questions, live classes, tutoring, and a self-paced prep course .

Popular test prep companies, like The Princeton Review and Kaplan, also publish high-quality practice tests for free online and in top-rated ACT prep books .

Explore More College Resources

How to get a 36 on the act: advice from perfect scorers.

How Long Is the ACT? Tips for Managing Your Time Wisely

Top 6 ACT Tips and Tricks

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ACT® Score Calculator

School entrance exams are required for many students to gain admittance to private schools. Students spend time learning how to maximize their scores on the exams and learn concepts and test-taking skills.

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English score, reading score, science score, total act® score, find out how we can help you., become a part of the zinkerz team and rise to your potencial, helpful information, what is a good act® score.

Defining a strong ACT® score is context-dependent, and a lot of it will depend on the expectations of the colleges you’re aiming for. Elite institutions, such as Harvard, often seek scores above 32, with a competitive range (their middle 50%) between 33 and 35. Meanwhile, the University of Miami might consider a score around 32 as more than acceptable. In this example, functionally all this means is that Harvard just weighs a high ACT® score a little bit more when considering potential students. Both of our potential Crimson and ‘Canes students in this example are both being selected by their respective institutions for more than their score.

Given that multiple sections contribute to the composite score, it’s essential to consider each section individually when thinking about your score. Some colleges prioritize specific sections, and your performance in these areas can influence your overall competitiveness.

The national average is complicated by the diversity of students’ strengths across sections. While one student might excel in Math, another might shine in English. So, for example, if you are applying to MIT and your English section is lower than your Math one, the school won’t throw your application out just because there’s a mismatch: it’s a Math heavy school, it makes sense! Therefore, the significance of each section varies depending on your academic strengths and the requirements of your target institutions. All that being said, about 80% of test takers in 2023 were able to score around a 25 or lower on each of the sections, so in terms of just percentiles, we would say that scoring above this would be a good place to aim for and hopefully surpass, as it would put you in the top 20%.

Still, understanding your prospective colleges’ preferences is key here. By focusing on both the composite and individual section scores, you can tailor your approach to align with the expectations of your chosen institutions.

What’s being tested on each ACT® section?

English Section: This segment evaluates your proficiency in grammar and usage. It assesses your ability to express ideas clearly, concisely, and effectively. The English section comprises 75 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 45 minutes.

Math Section: A critical measure of your mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills. The math section covers topics from pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions to be answered within 60 minutes.

Reading Section: Designed to evaluate your comprehension skills, the reading section assesses your ability to understand and analyze various types of passages. These could include prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science. With 40 questions, this section has a time limit of 35 minutes.

Science Section: While not strictly a test of scientific knowledge, the science section evaluates your interpretation, analysis, and problem-solving skills related to scientific information. It includes 40 questions and has a time limit of 35 minutes.

Optional Writing (Essay) Section: Although not mandatory, the optional essay section is recommended, especially if your preferred colleges consider it in their admissions process. This section requires you to analyze a given argument and write a persuasive essay. The time allocated for the essay is 40 minutes.

Why should I use this ACT® score calculator?

Firstly, we understand that the significance of an ACT® score goes beyond a simple numeric value. With our calculator, you get more than just a number; you get insights into your performance based on each section of the ACT® exam, helping you grasp your strengths and areas for improvement. Our tool provides an adaptive analysis of your scores, offering detailed breakdowns. Whether you’re aiming for the perfect score or just starting off and trying to boost your score, our calculator is designed to help you understand the nuances of your performance and how to understand your score as well.

Our calculator is designed to provide valuable insights into your exam preparation. It’s not just about the final result; it’s about the journey. In addition to Zinkerz courses, this score calculator can help you understand, for instance, how much better you would need to do on a section to boost your score, or which areas you can afford to get one or two wrong on if you’re already doing well!

Why choose Zinkerz’ Score Calculator? Because we’re not just about the numbers; we’re about your growth, understanding, and readiness for the academic road ahead. When combined with our classes and curriculum, this Calculator is your gateway to mastering the art of ACT® exam success. Use it to make your ACT® journey and transition into graduate studies truly worthwhile!

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Q: Which ACT ® scores do colleges care about most? A: Your individual test scores and your composite score.

Still, there are a lot more numbers on your score report than just those! Learn how to read your ACT scores, and use this ACT scoring guide to focus on the numbers that are most important to colleges.

• High Impact Scores 
• No Stress Scores 

When students and schools talk about ACT scores, they typically mean the composite score. Here's how to read your ACT Scores.

Start with Your Individual Test Scores

Scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 36 (36 being the highest score possible) for each of the four ACT tests:

Your raw score for each test is the total number of questions you got right. Remember, there is no penalty for wrong answers, so you shouldn’t leave any blanks!

ACT converts your raw scores to the scale of 1–36. Each test has its own conversion scale.

Composite Score = Average Score

Your composite score is the average of your English, Math, Reading, and Science test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. This score, on a scale of 1–36, is the score colleges primarily use to determine admission. 

ACT Percentiles

Next to each score is an ACT percentile ranking. Your rank shows how you performed on the test relative to other people who took it on the same day.  For example, a percentile ranking of 87% means you scored higher than 87% of the students who took the test, and the other 13% scored higher than you.

Read More: What's a Good ACT Score?

ACT Writing Score

If you take the “optional” essay (by signing up for the ACT with Writing ), you’ll receive a separate writing score. Some schools that you apply to may want to see your writing score, so we suggest you take it. Your writing score doesn’t factor into your composite score.

Using Your ACT Score Report

Use your ACT score report to identify your strengths and weaknesses, so you know what to focus on if you decide to take the ACT again. Are you strongest in English and Math? Work to raise those scores as high as you can.

The four tests are weighted equally, so improving individual test scores will help you raise your overall score. And if you are applying to colleges that superscores the ACT , improving your indviidual test scores will help you raise your overall, super composite score.

Where Will Your Scores Take You?

Now that you've got your ACT scores back, compare them with the score ranges for accepted students at the colleges on your wishlist. You can find scores and acceptance rates for many schools in our  college profiles .

Do your scores make your dream college a reach? With a little prep you CAN improve your score. Raising your ACT score by even 1 point can significantly boost your chance of admission at many schools, plus snag you additional  scholarship dollars .

Scores You Shouldn't Stress About

While admissions officers will certainly SEE the rest of the scores on your report, they'll mainly use your composite score to evaluate your application. Here's a quick overview of what else you'll find on your report.

7 Subscores

Some of the ACT test scores have subcategories. These scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 18 and as percentiles. Subscores provide you with more detail about your performance, but they are not typically used by colleges or universities.

Cross-Test Scores

These are definitely not scores to worry about! Use them if they are helpful to you, but rest assured that colleges aren’t evaluating them as part of your application.

College-Readiness Benchmark Scores

On your score report, ACT also indicates if you met their “College Readiness Benchmark Scores":

• 18 in English
• 21 in Reading
• 24 in Science

ACT maintains that these benchmarks can predict college “success,” defined by a “50 percent or higher probability of earning a B or higher in the corresponding college course or courses.”

Still, don't assume that these numbers will make or break you in college. These scores and their meaning have been determined by ACT’s own research and data, not by any studies done by colleges and universities themselves.

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Your ACT Scoring Guide for 2023

Act scoring: your complete guide for 2023.

Bonus Material: ACT Score Ranges for 499 Colleges

How does ACT scoring work?

Can you superscore the ACT? What does it take to get a “good” ACT score?

If you’re starting your ACT test prep, you’ve probably asked at least one of these questions.

The ACT is a vastly different test than the SAT, the other college entrance exam. It has different sections and time constraints. It especially has a different scoring system, which can feel foreign to first-time test-takers.

We’re here to break down everything you need to know about ACT scoring in 2022 so you can jump into this test feeling confident and prepared.

We also give readers access to the ACT Score Ranges for the top 499 U.S. colleges and universities, a great resource for those establishing their target ACT scores. Grab this below.

Download ACT Score Ranges for 499 Colleges

Here’s what we cover in this post:

• How the ACT is Scored

Which Scores Matter Most to Colleges in 2022

• Superscoring the ACT
• What Counts as a Good ACT Score for 2022
• ACT and SAT Score Comparison
• Bonus: ACT Score Ranges for 499 Colleges

ACT Scoring 101

The ACT has 5 sections, in this order:

• Essay ( optional )

Every section except the ACT essay is scored on a scale of 1-36. 1 is the lowest score you can achieve on an individual section, while 36 is the highest score possible.

Students also receive an ACT total score, called the composite score . This is the average of the scores received on the four required ACT sections.

Take a look at this sample student ACT score report to see this scoring system in action.

Here, the student’s composite score of 21 is the average of the student’s individual ACT section scores (19, 18, 24, and 23). If this average equates to a decimal, such as 20.8, ACT will round to the nearest whole number , which would be 21 in this case.

What about the ACT Essay score?

The student’s ACT essay (also referred to as Writing) scores do not impact their ACT composite score and fall on a range of 2-12. This number is the sum of two essay readers’ scores, which are assigned in 4 domains:

• Ideas & Analysis
• Development & Support
• Organization
• Language Use & Conventions

You can find the detailed rubric that ACT essay readers use here .

If you do not take the ACT essay, you will not see a score reported in the “Writing” column. Nor will you see an English Language Arts (ELA) score.

What are ranks?

As you can see in the sample ACT score report above, reports also include information about a student’s “ranking” in the U.S. and that student’s home state. These are approximate percentages of recent grads who have taken the ACT in the U.S. and your state and achieved the same score as you or lower.

The ACT offers these rankings for your composite score, individual section scores, and STEM/ELA scores.

These rankings can be helpful from an assessment perspective. But when it comes to the numbers colleges care about, they aren’t as essential.

What are college readiness benchmarks?

Your score report will also show how your scores relate to what ACT calls “College Readiness Benchmarks,” indicated by a purple line within each scoring column. These are scoring benchmarks designed to predict success in college-level courses.

In this sample score report, the student is below these benchmarks for Math and Science. She is above the benchmarks for English and Reading.

Here are the benchmark ACT scores for college readiness as of 2022:

• English: 18
• Math:  22
• Reading: 22
• Science: 23

How does ACT calculate my score per section?

Every ACT section has different content and different numbers of questions. So how does ACT boil each down to a number on a scale of 1-36?

Basically, they’ll tally up the number of questions you got correct on a section, called your raw score . They then convert these raw scores for each section to a number between 1-36 using a specific scaled conversion table, like the one below.

If you got 31 questions correct on the ACT Science section of this test, for example, this would yield a 26 sectional score. 50 correct questions on ACT Math on this test equates to a 30.

Is a 36 on one ACT exactly the same as a 36 on another ACT?

Not necessarily.

No two ACTs are alike. They will vary in difficulty, so ACT uses a process called “equating” to balance these discrepancies. The company doesn’t say much about what goes into the equating process, but we can see it at work if we look at sections from the raw score conversion charts for 2 official ACT practice tests.

To get a 30 on ACT English on Practice Test #1, a student must get 65 questions correct. But to get a 30 on ACT English on Practice Test #2, a student has to ace 66 questions.

This might seem like a subtle difference, but take a look at Math. 49 Math questions correct on Practice Test #1 yields a 30, while 51 equates to a 30 on Practice Test #2.

These differences can add up!

Can you predict when ACT will administer an “easy” test?

Nope. While taking the test, you might be able to sense if a section feels harder or easier than other official practice tests.

But there’s no viable way to predict an “easy” ACT. What’s more, an “easy” ACT does not necessarily equate to an easy perfect score! Easier sections often require students to get more questions correct to earn a higher score.

What scores will colleges prioritize when they look at your score report? Your composite? Each section score? Your Essay score? Your ACT rankings?

In a nutshell, colleges are going to care most about your ACT composite score . But they will also likely place a heavy emphasis on your ACT section scores.

That’s why we encourage students to work on maximizing their scores in all 4 sections of the ACT. Doing so will also positively impact their composite score, as the composite is the average of all 4 section scores.

Schools have different policies regarding how they assess ACT Essay scores. Because fewer and fewer schools are requiring the ACT Essay, it’s safe to say that most schools will only assess these Essay scores for advising purposes (if at all).

You can learn more about how specific colleges on your list review ACT score reports by checking out what they have to say about standardized tests on their websites.

Bates College , for example, while test-optional, actually specifies the Middle 50% of successful applicants’ test scores on its website. It also states that it superscores the ACT and SAT, which we discuss in the next section.

We’ve compiled the ACT score ranges of successful applicants to the top 499 U.S. colleges and universities in one easy-to-read document! Download a copy below.

Can You Superscore the ACT?

Yes! The ACT recently launched superscoring . Superscoring allows ACT test-takers to count their highest section and composite scores as official scores. Colleges ultimately have the final say in how they review these scores, but superscoring can be a valuable tool for students who plan on taking the ACT at least twice.

As we saw with Bates College above, many colleges already have their own superscoring policies in place.

They should elaborate on their website what these policies look like, which can vary widely. Some require submission of all test scores, for example, while others might only consider the highest scores submitted.

Here’s what Stanford says about superscoring on its website:

To make the most of superscoring opportunities, students should plan on taking the ACT at least twice.

Some students worry that taking the ACT two or three times may reflect badly on their college applications. This couldn’t be farther from the truth!

Most students take the ACT at least twice, and many experience a score increase the second or third time around. There is no evidence to suggest that taking the ACT more than once impacts the college admissions decision.

What is a Good ACT Score for 2022?

Most students assume that because 36 is the highest possible ACT score (both composite and individual), it’s a “good” ACT score.

Yet while a 36 will definitely add a competitive edge to an application, anything less than a 36 isn’t necessarily a bad  ACT score.

In fact, it all comes down to how you define a “good” ACT score . We have 2 definitions for this.

• “Good” is anything that is “above average” with sectional scores and percentile rankings
• “Good” is anything that will look competitive on a college application

Let’s start with the first definition.

Good ACT Score #1: The “Above Average” ACT Score

ACT regularly releases a “National Norms” report for ACT scores . This includes data from all ACT test scores reported for the 2023-2024 period (although these scores could be from 2021, 2022, and 2023 class graduates).

The most recent National Norms ACT Report includes the average section and composite scores of those reported between 2022 and 2023.

Here’s what they are:

Using the first definition of a “good” ACT score, a composite score of 20 or higher on the ACT could be considered a competitive score for 2023.

At the very least, we encourage students who are new to the ACT to aim for a target score that is above national averages, on individual sections and the whole test itself.

This would mean establishing a goal score of the following on each section:

Of course, your starting score may be higher than a composite of 21, so we also recommend that students start with a diagnostic ACT to see where they currently stand.

Good ACT Score #2: The College Competitive ACT Score

Of course, scoring above-average on the ACT is just  one  interpretation of what it means to do well on the test.

In the context of college entrance, one student’s “good” ACT score could be vastly different than another student’s. It just comes down to where you are applying and the average ACT scores of admitted applicants.

So, we like to say that, under this definition, a ‘good ACT score’ is the one that is right for you given your college aspirations. This will  probably be close to the ACT scores of admitted applicants. 

Plenty of universities specify ACT score ranges of successful applicants on their websites (although some are not public with this information).  

Most do so by specifying the ‘Middle 50,’ or the 25th and 75th percentile of accepted students’ ACT scores.

Here’s a sampling of the Middle 50s from various elite institutions:

Source :  The National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS (2019)

And here are the Middle 50s of ACT score ranges of successful applicants to the top 499 U.S. colleges and universities.

If the colleges on your list do not specify these score ranges on their websites, you can check out the Common Data Set, an effort to give clear, relevant information to everyone involved in the college admissions process about universities’ “institutional priorities.”

What are institutional priorities? These refer to what a college cares about when it’s admitting an incoming class.

The Common Data Set for Princeton University , for example, contains information about the university’s enrollment, admissions, financial aid, and more. A school’s CDS should also include details about test scores of admitted applicants, as Princeton’s shows here:  

Princeton’s CDS also breaks down ACT scores into 25th and 75th percentiles. You can use these percentiles to understand competitive scores of admitted applicants.

For example, one can safely conclude based on this CDS that 50% of admitted applicants to Princeton in 2022-2023 had ACT composite scores ranging from 34 to 35.

SAT and ACT Score Comparison

How do ACT scores compare to SAT scores?

The two college entrance exams are pretty different. But it is possible to figure out what an ACT score generally aligns with on the SAT, and vice versa.

In fact, in 2018, ACT and the CollegeBoard completed what’s called a “Concordance Study,” which examined the relationship between ACT scores and SAT scores. ACT emphasizes that this study does not “equate scores” but can be a “helpful tool for finding comparable scores.”

Translation: It’s impossible to pinpoint exact equivalences, but it is possible to approximate.

Here is one of the score comparison tables that resulted from this study, which compares ACT Composites to SAT Composites. Notice how this table also includes an “SAT Range,” designed to compensate for fluctuations in test difficulty.

ACT also has a digital tool on its website that allows for quick score comparison calculations:

Ideally, students should choose one test to prepare for as they plan their college application journey. All U.S. colleges accept both tests equally. Not sure which test is the best fit for you? We can help .

Download ACT Score Ranges of 499 Colleges

Curious about what ACT score you need to get into your dream school?

We’ve compiled the ACT score ranges of successful applicants to the top 499 U.S. colleges in one simple document, which you can download for free below!

Here’s what you’ll get with this handy resource:

• Middle 50 ACT composite scores for the top 499 U.S. colleges and universities
• Middle 50 ACT sectional scores for English and Math
• Admit rate for each college
• All based on the most recent available data (2019)

Kate is a graduate of Princeton University. Over the last decade, Kate has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay. 

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ACT Scoring Chart: Calculate Your Score

Looking to write the ACT but confused about how scoring works? Keep reading, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about ACT scoring charts!

A comprehensive discussion about college applications includes a few things: campus life, GPA, and standardized tests. Most students are familiar with the SAT, but what about the ACT?

It’s no surprise that being able to show your competence can open doors for you, and postsecondary education is no exception. Scoring well on a standardized test like the SAT and ACT can act as a saving grace for many students that may not have had the resources to perform well on other metrics like GPA.

Before you worry about how to study for the ACT, it’s a good idea to learn how it works. Many students find the ACT score chart somewhat confusing, but it’s actually pretty straightforward once you understand it. 

Without further delay, let's get into the ins and outs of ACT scores!

What Is The ACT?

The ACT is one of two standardized tests that colleges use to assess students’ potential to succeed in a postsecondary environment. Typically, the test is taken towards the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year, with some students opting to take the test more than once.

Understanding The ACT

The key to understanding the ACT is by being familiar with how the test is structured. The test lasts approximately three hours and consists of four sections with an additional writing test, which is optional. The four required sections are English, math, reading, and science.

How The ACT Is Scored

ACT scoring can seem a bit complex at first glance. The process of how your answers are converted to your final score is a multi-step process. Below, we’ll go over things like score methodology, raw vs scale scores, and superscores. 

Scoring Methodology

Probably the first thing you’ll notice about the ACT is that there are far more questions to answer than your final score would suggest. Although your final score is only out of 36, each of the four sections has 40 or more questions. 

The English sections contain 75 questions, and the math section contains 60 questions. Both the reading and science sections have 40 questions each. What’s more, there are categories within each of the sections to give a fair balance of the kinds of questions you’ll encounter.

Raw Scores Vs. Scale Scores

Students often find converting raw scores into scale scores confusing, but what exactly does this mean? 

Well, let’s say you answer 52 out of 75 questions correctly on the English portion of the test. This is your raw English score. Using a conversion chart , this is converted to a score out of 36, which is referred to as your scaled English score. 

You’ll find that the chart doesn’t represent a one-to-one correspondence of your raw score to scale score. That is to say, your raw score isn’t converted into a percentage but simply applied to a 36 total. What this means is that you can actually get a perfect 36 score without actually answering everything correctly.

Average ACT Score

The ACT collects considerable data on how students are performing on their tests every year. The national ranks allow you to compare your score to fresh high school grads who have taken the ACT.

If we take a look at recent figures, the mean scores were as follows: 

• English : 19.0
• Math : 19.4
• Reading : 20.5
• Science : 20.0
• Composite score : 19.9

What’s more, the standard deviation is also provided, with composite scores ranging by around six points. This means that about seven out of ten students score within a range of six points above or below the mean, which is about 20. So, scoring between 14 to 26 would put you in line with your peers

When Will You Get Your ACT Score?

With all this talk of ACT scoring methodology, you’re probably wondering when you actually get to see your scores. Looking at the ACT’s score reporting dates will tell you when you can expect to see your results. As a general rule of thumb, expect to wait around two weeks, but be prepared for a wait as long as eight weeks.

Superscoring Explained

Now that you understand the basics of how ACT scores work, you’re probably wondering about how many times you can write the ACT. Let’s say you do very well in the science section from a previous attempt. On another, you outdo yourself in the reading section. Which attempt do colleges see?

Well, fortunately, the ACT has implemented a new scoring methodology called superscoring . Now, you can combine the best scores from all previous attempts, so you don’t have to worry if you tanked a certain subject despite an otherwise stellar performance. What’s more, ACT research shows that superscores are better at predicting college success.

Keep in mind that not all colleges accept superscores. Although the number is increasing, your target school may only accept traditional scoring methods such as your average or highest total score.

Improving Your ACT Score

After writing the ACT, you may find your score lower than that on previous practice tests. In this case, ACT tips and strategies are worth thinking about. Although there isn’t a single best-proven method, having a firm study plan can get you on track to where you need to be.

The ACT actually does a pretty thorough job of breaking down the ACT score chart to show exactly where you performed well and where you missed the mark. It’s advisable to study this feedback and work on areas that need improvement opposed to going over all of the material again.

If you’re ever feeling confused about ACT-related subject matter, don’t hesitate to reach out to book a free session with our expert tutors . We’re here to help and make streamlining success as easy as possible.

Practical Tips To Increase Your ACT Score

Asking yourself questions when planning your study sessions can be an effective way to gauge your preparedness for the ACT. For instance, say for the math section, you actually performed fairly well, and it was only geometry that tripped you up. Mastering concepts in this focused manner is better than going over everything.

Try measuring your preparedness with mock tests; it’s been proven that the context in which we learn something plays a crucial role in how well we remember and apply that knowledge. So, try pretending it’s a real test without interruptions to see where you stand.

Sample ACT Scoring Chart

ACT provides a convenient scoring chart for you to convert raw scores into scaled scores. You’ll notice each of the four categories is slightly different in their conversion methodology. At any rate, the table on page six has the raw scores for each section and their respective scaled scores.

Still have questions about ACT test score charts? Read our facts for more details!

1. Is the ACT Hard?

The ACT in itself isn’t necessarily a hard test. That being said, coming unprepared to any standardized evaluation is bound to be cumbersome. The key to having an easy time with the ACT is making sure you’ve studied the material beforehand. That way, you’re not caught off guard by any surprises.

2. How Is the ACT Writing Section Scored, and Is It Required By All Colleges?

The ACT Writing section is scored separately from the other sections, and it is optional. It's scored on a scale of 2 to 12, with scores based on the quality of your essay and your ability to address the given prompt. 

Not all colleges require the ACT Writing section, so it's important to check the admission requirements of the colleges you're interested in to determine if it's necessary for your application.

3. Can I Take the Act Multiple Times, and Do Colleges Consider My Best Scores?

Yes, you can take the ACT multiple times. Most colleges and universities consider your best scores when evaluating your application. They often use a process called "score choice," allowing you to select which set of scores to send. It's essential to check the policies of the specific colleges you're applying to regarding score reporting.

Final Thoughts

The ACT scoring chart can be a bit counterintuitive if you’re not familiar with it. However, the actual scoring methodology not only gives students opportunities to perform to the best of their abilities, but also to receive targeted feedback in areas which they may be lacking.

Having a deeper understanding of the way standardized tests are scored can lift some anxieties you may have about writing them. When we’re faced with unknowns, there’s a tendency to feel anxious about how things will turn out. The good news is that the ACT is actually a fairly forgiving test, especially with their new superscoring. 

If you ever need help planning or understanding things during your academic journey, speaking to the right people can get you on track to performing your best. This way, you can spend time on things that matter to you, like career planning and professional success. At any rate, the ACT can prove to be a useful tool to show colleges what you’re capable of when it comes time for admission.

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SAT/ACT Score Target , ACT General Info

Planning and trying to reach your ACT target score can be stressful and frustrating. You got a 36 in Math on one test date and a 35 in Reading on another test date. Why can’t you just get all of your highest individual section scores on the same test date?

If you’re applying to colleges that superscore the ACT , you don’t have to worry about that. So what is an ACT superscore? And how do you calculate it? In this post, I’ll explain what superscoring means, how to create your own ACT superscore calculator, and how superscoring affects your test-prep strategy.

What’s an ACT Superscore?

An ACT superscore is a new final composite score that is made up of your best individual section scores across all ACT tests you took. These best individual section scores are averaged to create a brand new composite ACT score.

In case you're unfamiliar with how to calculate your composite ACT score , here's a brief explanation. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored individually on a scale of 1-36. These section scores are then averaged to give you a composite ACT score, also on a scale of 1-36.

What if you took the Writing section, too? Don't worry—your Writing score, which uses a different point range of 2-12 , will not affect your composite ACT score or superscore. That said, you don't want to get a high ACT score and flunk your essay, so be sure you know how to write a good one !

How Do You Calculate Your ACT Superscore?

To create an ACT superscore, you'll pick out your best section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science across all ACTs you took and then average them together. This will give you a new ACT composite score, or superscore.

But what are the specific steps? First, make a table to use as your ACT superscore calculator. In this table, insert six columns. The number of rows you have will depend on the number of times you've taken the ACT. Your total number of rows should equal the number of tests taken + 2.

Label the table as I've done below:

Next, fill in your respective test date section scores and composite scores:

The third step is to fill in the superscore number for each section by selecting the HIGHEST individual section score. Leave the "Superscore Composite" area blank for now.

Finally, average the superscore section scores (i.e., the scores in the bottom row of your chart):

(32+29+35+29) / 4 = 31

The number you get will be your final composite ACT superscore. Write this score down in the "Superscore Composite" blank in the bottom-right of your chart:

Make sure to round your average to the nearest whole number. For example, if we got 30.5, our composite superscore would round up to 31. However, if we got 30.25, our superscore would round down to 30.

As you can see in these charts, by creating an ACT superscore, our composite score increased by 2 points—that's a considerable jump on the ACT!

Before you get too excited, though, make sure the colleges you plan to apply to superscore the ACT since not all colleges do. For example, MIT, NYU, and Cornell all superscore the ACT, whereas Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown do not. Not all schools superscore, but check for information about your target schools anyway. You never know what you'll find out unless you look!

Many colleges like ACT superscoring because it increases the average ACT composite score of admitted students, which, in turn, helps schools improve their rankings.

Superscoring is also helpful for you. If you do poorly on a section on one test date, it won’t affect you with colleges who use superscoring, as long as you get a higher score for that section on another test date.

What Does Superscoring Mean for Your ACT Strategy?

Now that you know the ins and outs of ACT superscoring, what does this mean for your approach to test prep?

Here, I’ll give a brief summary of the three steps you'll need to take to be able to use superscoring to your advantage. For more info, check out our detailed guide on how ACT superscoring can affect your test prep .

Remember: the following strategy only applies if all of the schools you’re applying to superscore the ACT. If some of the schools on your target list do not superscore, then you’ll need to aim for your composite target score on one test (meaning the steps below won't apply to you).

Step 1: Plan Your ACT Schedule Early

Planning ahead of time, preferably before the start of your junior year, can be a big help in figuring out how you can benefit from schools' superscoring policies.

Since you’re able to superscore your ACT scores, it's best to sit for around three test dates. If you reach your target composite score the first time, then great—you’re done early!

If you don’t reach your goal score the first time around, though, you'll still have plenty of time to sit for other test dates, and can eventually pick out your best section scores from each date to create a great superscore.

Step 2: Focus Your Prep

If you reached your target ACT scores on two sections but didn’t do very well on the other two, you can thereafter channel all of your energy into preparing for your two weaker sections. Doing this gives you a better shot at scoring highly, and means you won't have to worry about doing well on the two sections on which you already hit your goal scores.

Of course, this doesn't mean you should put zero effort into studying for your stronger sections—just that you should put more effort into prepping for the sections you're weaker at.

Step 3: Relax!

Ultimately, superscoring should make your test prep more relaxed. Why? Even if you completely mess up on a section on one ACT test date, you could still get into your dream college if you get a better score on a different test date.

So if you score poorly on a section, it's not the end of the world—all you need to do is retake the ACT and tailor your prep to that particular section!

What’s Next?

Got more questions about ACT scoring? Learn about what qualifies as a good ACT score for your college and how to calculate your target score .

Already got an ACT score goal? Then take a look at our top 15 ACT tips and tricks as well as our 20-hour prep guide to help you get started.

Finally, make sure you're studying the right way with our guide to reviewing your ACT/SAT mistakes .

Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.

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