ACT score calculator (raw → scaled, 1–36).
Convert your raw scores from each section into ACT scaled scores, then average them for your composite. The conversion table is calibrated against publicly released ACT score charts.
Raw to scaled conversion table
This table shows the typical scaled score for each raw score band. Real ACT conversions vary slightly between forms — these values are an average of recent released tests.
| Scaled | English (/75) | Math (/60) | Reading (/40) | Science (/40) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 74-75 | 58-60 | 39-40 | 39-40 |
| 33 | 70-72 | 55-57 | 37-38 | 37-38 |
| 30 | 66-69 | 51-54 | 35-36 | 34-36 |
| 27 | 60-65 | 45-50 | 32-34 | 30-33 |
| 24 | 53-59 | 38-44 | 28-31 | 25-29 |
| 21 | 46-52 | 31-37 | 24-27 | 21-24 |
| 18 | 37-45 | 24-30 | 19-23 | 16-20 |
| 15 | 28-36 | 17-23 | 14-18 | 12-15 |
| 12 | 20-27 | 11-16 | 10-13 | 8-11 |
| 9 | 13-19 | 7-10 | 7-9 | 5-7 |
| 6 | 6-12 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 3-4 |
| 3 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
How ACT scoring actually works
Each ACT section is scored from 1 to 36. The composite score is the simple average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number (with .5 rounded up). There is no penalty for guessing — every blank answer is a wasted opportunity.
The conversion from raw score (number correct) to scaled score is recalibrated for every test form, so the curve slides slightly. A "missed three on Math" can translate to a 33 on one form and a 34 on another. Don't obsess over a single point on a single section in practice — focus on the trend over multiple tests.
What composite scores mean
- 34–36 — top 1% of test-takers; competitive at most highly selective schools.
- 30–33 — top 5–10%; strong applications to selective universities.
- 26–29 — top 15–25%; competitive at many four-year colleges.
- 21–25 — around the national average; broadly admissible.
- Below 21 — a productive zone for retake-and-improve strategy.
Improving your composite by even one point
Because the composite is an average, the cheapest way to raise it is usually to fix your single weakest section. A jump from a 22 to a 28 in your worst section moves your composite by 1.5 points — far more than grinding your already-strong sections to perfection.