ACT Score Calculator: Calculate Your Composite ACT Score
Our ACT Score Calculator helps you compute your composite ACT score from your section scores. Whether you're planning your test prep, estimating your score after practice tests, or understanding how section scores combine, this tool gives you accurate results using the official ACT scoring method.
What This Calculator Does
The ACT Score Calculator computes your composite ACT score by:
- Converting section scores: Accepts scores from 1-36 for each of the four required sections (English, Math, Reading, Science)
- Calculating the average: Computes the mathematical average of all four section scores
- Rounding to composite: Rounds the average to the nearest whole number to produce your composite score (1-36)
- Displaying all scores: Shows your individual section scores and composite score for complete understanding
This calculator is useful for students preparing for the ACT, educators helping students understand scoring, and parents tracking their child's test performance.
How to Use It
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Enter your section scores: For each of the four required sections, enter your score:
- English: Score from 1-36
- Math: Score from 1-36
- Reading: Score from 1-36
- Science: Score from 1-36
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Click Calculate: Your composite score will be displayed instantly
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Review your results: See your composite score (rounded to the nearest whole number) along with individual section scores
Note: The ACT Writing section is optional and scored separately (on a scale of 2-12). It does not affect your composite score.
Interpreting Your Results
- Composite Score: Your overall ACT score (1-36), calculated as the rounded average of your four section scores
- Section Scores: Individual scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science (each 1-36)
- Average: The unrounded average before composite rounding
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Entering scores outside the 1-36 range: ACT section scores are always between 1 and 36. Scores outside this range will be clamped to valid values
- Confusing raw scores with scaled scores: This calculator uses scaled scores (1-36), not raw scores (number of correct answers)
- Including Writing score: The Writing section score is separate and not included in the composite calculation
- Forgetting about rounding: The composite score is rounded to the nearest whole number, so a 23.5 average becomes 24, while a 23.4 average becomes 23
Understanding ACT Scoring
The ACT composite score is calculated by averaging your four section scores and rounding to the nearest whole number. For example:
- English: 28, Math: 30, Reading: 26, Science: 29
- Average: (28 + 30 + 26 + 29) / 4 = 28.25
- Composite Score: 28 (rounded)
Keep Learning
If you're preparing for the ACT or want to improve your scores, these guides can help:
Sources
- ACT, Inc. – Official ACT scoring guide and composite score calculation method
- College Board – ACT score interpretation and percentile rankings
