ACT General Info, Content and Scoring Details

What is the ACT?

The ACT is a test used by college/university admissions offices to more quickly evaluate among the many applicants whether enrolling a student is desirable for their institutions.  The test is significant but not the only factor taken into consideration; GPA, extracurricular work and experience, background as well as the application itself-- essays and recommendation letters-- are all part of the decision-making process.  Each school values these factors differently, but generally the larger the school, the more important the test score.  

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The ACT uses composite scoring.  What’s that?

• The scores from the four multiple-choice test sections are averaged to get a composite score. The Writing Test plays no role in the composite score.

• Your score report features all of the sub-scores (and their sub-scores!), but admissions really only values the big score.  If you really want to understand the full complexities of ACT scoring, go to ACT scoring

So composite scoring means that means that you can use your strengths to make up for your weaknesses.  For example, a student with a 36 on the Math section and a 16 on the English section would seemingly have a respectable 26 on both.

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When Should The ACT Be Taken For The First Time?

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Since you may take the test up to 12 times and you only need to send in your best score, there are few downsides to taking the test early.  The time and effort to sign up and sit through it and the potential to hurt the confidence of a student too young are possible disadvantages.  However, nothing in practice can replicate the experience of seriously* sitting for an official test. 

*(If for example the student hasn’t learned the math yet, it cannot be a serious attempt)

 Therefore, Ivy Bridge recommends attempting the ACT as early as June after freshman year of high school and no later than Autumn of junior year (must be taken by Autumn senior year or many universities' deadlines will be missed).  If you are planning to apply to a school which superscores your ACT, it is even a greater advantage to take it many times.  However, you shouldn't completely dismiss sections in attempt to focus on improving specific section scores, as large score fluctuations could raise red flags. Another reason to be wary of neglecting a section is that most schools, even those that superscore, request to see all your scores.  International test dates are in September, October, December, April, and June. 

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How Do I Find My Target Score?

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Your target score is based on three things:  Which institutions you want to attend, your current score, and how much meaningful time you put in to improving.  

• What is the mean score of admitted students for the last few years at the schools to which you want to apply? 

  Consider your other factors like GPA and extracurricular résumé when evaluating the average score range

• Have you taken a test or practice test?  How did you feel about it?​

       If you did well and felt good on any sections, you may be at or near your target score​.  If you felt bad and did poorly, you may have a lot of room for progress (unless language is an issue)

• Based on your schedule, how much meaningful time can you devote to test preparation?

       Meaningful time is concentrating on practicing the right way and giving your best effort.  Learning anything takes time and practice, obviously, the more time and effort the better the results.​

​      ​​​​Your Target Score should be in the range of the most competitive school in which you are seriously interested, given that based on the previous questions, you have a legitimate chance of hitting that score.

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I Want A Concrete Answer!!! What should my target score be?

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There are so many variables, like the biggest one of all--the uniqueness of each student--, that it is impossible to make any definitive formula.  However, Ivy Bridge can give an estimate:

​Is it possible to go from [x] ACT score to [y] ACT score in [z] amount of time?

First, in terms of ACT composite score increases, these are the basic possibilities, which of course will vary based on personal factors:

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1-2 points: Very doable. Your main obstacle is likely test-taking strategy and a few small content issues.
3-5 points: Doable, but you will have to devote more study hours to accomplish this increase.
6-8 points: Possible, but it will take some very serious studying and commitment. You likely will have to address some content deficits in addition to practicing.
8+: This will really depend on your situation and time available for studying. You will likely have to address some serious content deficits before you focus on improving your test-taking strategy. 

Those possibilities aside, whether you can actually achieve your desired increase depends simply on this: how many hours can you devote to studying? Even if you're just aiming for a small 2-point increase, you have to devote time to studying to actually meet your goal. There are no shortcuts!

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With that in mind, this is an estimate of the amount of hours you will need to accomplish ACT composite point increases:

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0-1 ACT Composite Point Improvement: 10 hours
2-3 ACT Point Improvement: 20 hours
4-5 ACT Point Improvement: 40 hours
5-6 ACT Point Improvement: 80 hours
6-9 ACT Point Improvement: 150 hours+

Again, these are just estimates, and the time you need will vary based on your own personal strengths and weaknesses.  The Ivy Bridge course is 20 hours with an expected 20 hours of homework and three mock tests.  

Above is the general timeline for Ivy Bridge preparation and below is our fundamental system. To see specifically by section how the test tries to trick you and how we help you, click here.

Fundamentals

1.  Master the concepts tested

2.  Master the strategies that beat the test

3.  See the test through the eyes of the test architects

 What Is Tested?

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The ACT is divided into five sections that always appear in the same order: English-75 min 60 questions, Math-60 min 60 questions, Reading-35 min 40 questions, Science-35 min 40 questions, Writing-40 min 1 essay. 

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• the English section tests editing passages (grammar rules & style)

  • Editing Writing:  This section primarily tests a students’ knowledge of the rules of English grammar.  Although secondary, it also tests their ability to make stylistic decisions.  There are many rules tested, but certain rules are tested far more than others.  In addition to requiring knowledge of grammar, there are, of course, tricks that the test makers use.  Grammar rules tested: Punctuation, Pronouns, Verb Tense, Subject/Verb Agreement Comparisons, Parallel Construction, Faulty Modifiers & Diction

• the Math section tests mathematical skills (any 4 function or graphing calculator is permitted, except) The questions at the beginning of this section test basic math knowledge with few tricks.  The middle ones also test basic math knowledge, yet with many tricks.  The end of the section has the hard questions which are difficult due to tricks, higher level math concepts tested and time consumption.   The major categories tested are Pre-Algebra (20-25%), Elementary Algebra (15-20%), Intermediate Algebra (15-20%), Coordinate Geometry (15-20%), Plane Geometry (20-25%), and Trigonometry (5-10%)  For specific concepts and prohibited calculators, click here

• the Reading section tests reading comprehension and author’s intention. This section is based on a variety of skill evaluations such as the ability to recognize key points, make generalizations from the evidence, decide what evidence supports a conclusion, consider the author’s intentions, and occasionally predicting how the passage or author might fit into criteria outside of the passage based on its characteristics.

• the Science section tests reading comprehension and data reasoning. This section has a variety of visual data and verbal evidence that test student’s ability to analyze and synthesize information with little (but not zero) outside scientific knowledge.  The 6-8 experiments/trials/scientific explanations and 4-6 questions relating to them are not created equal:  some problems, graphs, charts, and reading are significantly easier than others. 

• the Writing section consists of an essay.  The ACT writing consists of a single essay with three different possible perspectives to choose from.   Students are judged on their ideas, analysis, development, support, organization, and to a much lesser degree, language use.

So how is the ACT scored? The ACT has four sections, sometimes called subject areas: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each subject area is given a scaled score between 1 and 36. Those area scores are then averaged into your composite score, which also ranges between 1 and 36.

So where do those scaled scores come from? The scaled scores from 1 to 36 are converted from your raw scores on each of the subject areas. Your raw score is simply the total number of questions you answer correctly in each section. There is no point deduction for wrong answers on the ACT.

How Are Raw ACT Scores Turned Into Scaled Scores?

The first thing to understand about ACT scores is that the score you get for each subject area, between 1 and 36, is a scaled score. That scaled score is converted from your raw score. The reason the ACT (as well as other standardized tests) uses scaled scores is to make sure their scores are consistent across multiple test dates. In other words, they have to make sure a 28 on an April ACT represents the same level of skill as a 28 on a June ACT.

Scaling is not curving your score relative to the scores of other students who take the test the same day as you. What scaling does is analyze average scores for each version of the ACT to ensure no test date is easier or harder than another.

The ACT provides a table in their Preparing for the ACT guide that estimates how certain raw scores will translate into scaled scores on each section of the ACT.

However, the process of scaling means that on different editions of the ACT, raw scores can translate to scaled scores differently. In other words, these numbers aren’t set in stone, but they can give you an idea of what raw score to shoot for on each section.

How Is My Composite ACT Score Computed?

To recap, we know that you get a score of between 1 and 36 for each subject area, which is converted from your raw score. But how do those four area scores combine to your final composite score?

Your composite score is simply the average of your four area scores, rounded up to the nearest whole number (half a point or more is rounded up, less than half a point is rounded down).

For example, say you got a 24 on the Math section, 23 on Science, 26 on Reading, and 25 on English. Your composite score would be:

(24 + 23 + 26 + 25) / 4 = 24.5

This would be rounded up to 25.

What Are the ACT Subscores?

In addition to your main composite score and your four subject area scores, the ACT also gives you subscores in three of the four subject areas. English, Math, and Reading all have subscores, which give you more information about your strengths and weaknesses in each subject.

Subscores range from 1 to 18, and they are also scaled from your raw score. However, there is no direct relationship between your subscores and your final scaled score (for example, your subscores do not add up to your scaled score). Your subscore just gives you more information about your performance and where you might want to improve.

Should you worry about these? No. Colleges care most about your composite score on the ACT, and they will also look at your four subject area scores. However, you can use the ACT’s subscores to help you prepare for the test since they break the subject areas down into manageable categories.

To help with that process, we are going to break down each section of the ACT. 

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ACT Plus Writing

In addition to the four subject areas, it's also possible to take the ACT with an additional writing section. The writing section is not another multiple-choice section – it’s just the ACT with an essay added on.

So how is the essay scored, and how will it affect your composite score? Your essay will be evaluated by two graders, who score your essay from 1-6 on each of four domains, leading to scores out of 12 for each domain. Your Writing score is calculated by averaging your four domain scores, leading to a total ACT Writing score from 2-12.

Next, the ACT will combine your essay score with your English and Reading sections score and average them to give you an English/Language Arts subscore between 1 and 36.

So does the writing score change your composite score? No. Your composite score is still just the average of the four multiple-choice sections. The essay gives more information about your writing skills, but does not affect your overall ACT score.

ACT Section Breakdown

In this section, you will learn how many raw points are possible on each section of the ACT, what the subscores are, and how scores are calculated.

English

The English section of the ACT has 75 multiple-choice questions, meaning the highest raw score you can earn is 75. Remember that your raw score is just the total number of questions you answer correctly. Questions you leave blank or answer incorrectly are simply not added on to your raw score.

The subscores on the English section are for Usage/Mechanics (40 questions) and Rhetorical Skills (35 questions). For more on what these questions are like, see our guide. 

To give a scoring example, say you answer 55 questions correctly on the English section, get 15 wrong, and leave 5 blank (NEVER EVER LEAVE A QUESTION BLANK!!). Your raw score will be 55, the total amount of questions you got right. Using ACT’s table above, we can estimate that a raw score of 55 would get a scaled score of 23.

Mathematics

The Math section of the ACT has 60 questions total, meaning the highest possible raw score is 60. The subscores are given for Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra (24 questions), Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry (18 questions) and Plane Geometry/Trigonometry-based problems (18 questions). For more on the Math section’s content, see our guide. 

Say you got 45 questions right, 12 wrong, and left 3 blank (NEVER LEAVE ANY BLANK!). Your raw score would be 45, which ACT estimates would scale to a 27.

Reading

The Reading section has 40 questions total, so your highest raw score here is 40. The subscores are given for Social Studies/Natural Sciences reading skills (20 questions) and for Arts/Literature reading skills (20 questions). For more detailed info on the reading section, see our guide to ACT Reading. 

Science

The science section has 40 questions total, like the reading section, so the highest raw score here is 40. It is the only ACT section that does not have subscores, though it still has three distinct question types: data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints. For more on science section content, check out our guide.

​Writing

The essay is scored on a scale of 2-12 under the following criteria for a perfect 12:​

• Ideas & Analysis: "an argument that critically engages with multiple perspectives on the given issue. The argument’s thesis reflects nuance and precision in thought and purpose. The argument establishes and employs an insightful context for analysis of the issue and its perspectives. The analysis examines implications, complexities and tensions, and/or underlying values and assumptions."​

•  Development & Support: "development of ideas and support for claims deepen insight and broaden context. An integrated line of skillful reasoning and illustration effectively conveys the significance of the argument. Qualifications and complications enrich and bolster ideas and analysis."

• Organization:  "exhibits a skillful organizational strategy. The response is unified by a controlling idea or purpose, and a logical progression of ideas increases the effectiveness of the writer’s argument. Transitions between and within paragraphs strengthen the relationships among ideas."

• Language Use:  "enhances the argument. Word choice is skillful and precise. Sentence structures are consistently varied and clear. Stylistic and register choices, including voice and tone, are strategic and effective. While a few minor errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics may be present, they do not impede understanding."

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How To Use This Information

So now that you know how the ACT is scored, how can you use that info to get the biggest advantage on the test? Read on for our top five suggestions.

#1: Hide a Weak Subject

Since the ACT is averaged, not totaled, and there are four sections, you can "hide" a weak section more easily than on the SAT, which has three sections and totals your score. For example, say you struggle with math and got the following subject area scores on the ACT:

Reading: 30

English: 29

Science: 31

Math: 22

While you might think your math score is going to drag down your composite, since it is only one-fourth of your score, its effect isn’t huge:

(30 + 31 + 29 + 22) / 4 = 28

So even though your math score was a lot lower than the other three sections, you still come out with a 28 (which is, by the way, a 90th percentile score).

While we are not recommending you don’t study for a certain section because it’s only one-fourth of your total ACT score, it is helpful to know that each subject area’s score will not make or break your composite.

#2: Maximize Your Composite Score

Since the composite is averaged, you should work to maximize your subject area scores that you are strong in as well as working to minimize weaknesses. Just focusing on trying to fix your weak spots could actually cause you to miss out on points.

For example, say you have always excelled in English and history classes but struggle with math. You might think you should spend all of your ACT studying time drilling math problems. However, working to maximize your strengths – in this case reading and writing – could improve your score the most.

Let’s take two scenarios. In the first, you spend all of your time studying for the math section and get the following scores:

English: 28

Reading: 27

Math: 25

Science: 26

Composite: 27

Not bad! You got your math score up to a 25, which is just about the 80th percentile, and got a composite of 27, which is in the 87th.

But what would have happened if you had spent some time on English and Reading and less time on math? Getting just five more raw points on both the English and Reading sections could have a huge boost to your score. If those are personal strengths, picking up five points should be easy with some smart studying. So let’s say you spend some time on English and Reading and earn five more raw points on each section, and less time on math:

English: 33

Reading: 32

Math: 23

Science: 26

Composite: 29

So even if you got a lower score on math, the time spent studying on English and Reading could net you two higher section scores as opposed to just one, resulting in a higher composite. 

#3: Develop Target Raw Scores

Using the ACT’s raw score to scaled score estimates, you can develop target raw scores for each section. This makes studying easier – thinking in terms of raw points is simpler when you are working through practice problems.

For example, say you want to break a scaled score of 26 in each section. Looking at the raw-to-scaled-score table, you should aim for at least the following raw scores:

English: 60/75

Reading: 31/40

Math: 43/60

Science: 30/40

Now this suggests a strategy - skipping questions. For example, if you're aiming for a raw score of 43 in Math, you can actually completely skip the last ten hardest questions (by bubbling in a random answer) and attempt 50 questions. This gives you more time per question, increasing the chance you will get more of them correct. Plus, even if you still miss seven of them, you'll get your raw score of 43!

#4: Guess Agressively— Leave No Bubble Unbubbled

Since there is no guessing penalty on the ACT, the best way to maximize your score is to eliminate wrong answer choices and guess. We are not saying to rush through each section in order to answer every single question – as we saw above, you might have a target raw score that’s much lower than the total points possible. In that case, it makes sense to spend more time focusing on fewer questions. What this means is that if you do spend time on a question, even if you are not totally sure of the answer, it’s the best use of your time to eliminate some answer choices to give yourself the best shot at guessing the right answer.

Furthermore, when the proctor says there is one minute remaining, go ahead and bubble every blank answer you have remaining. Even if you haven't looked at the question in the book, you aren't losing anything by guessing. You might pick up a raw point or two on each section this way, which can have a surprising effect on your scaled score, as we have seen.

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5: Understand How the Essay Affects Your Score

If you take the ACT with Writing, you'll receive a composite plus your essay score. However, this doesn’t mean the essay should become the biggest priority on your study plan. Your subject area scores and composite score are the most important aspects of the ACT, so you should prioritize studying for the multiple-choice sections.

For most colleges, your essay score is the least important part of your ACT score. This means that a low essay score may not have much of a negative impact on your applications if your composite ACT score is high. Don't blow the essay off if you're taking it, but you should prioritize studying for the other sections of the ACT. ​

The important scoring differences between the ACT and SAT are on the test preparation page but if you are interested in how the subscores compare, check out this article. 

Now that you know how about the scoring, check out the strategies!