{"id":8069,"date":"2025-07-31T20:45:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T01:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mcclatchymhstg.wpenginepowered.com\/careers-education\/?p=8069"},"modified":"2026-01-18T17:24:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T22:24:53","slug":"how-the-act-is-scored","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/","title":{"rendered":"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown"},"content":{"rendered":" <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thinking about taking the ACT? <\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re in good company\u2014more than 1.4 million students take the ACT each year to boost their college admissions chances. But understanding how the test is scored is just as crucial as preparing for it.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the class of 2024\u2014students whose high school experience was shaped by pandemic-era disruptions\u2014the average composite score was just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.act.org\/content\/act\/en\/research\/services-and-resources\/data-and-visualization\/grad-class-database-2024.html\">19.4<\/a>. Knowing how your score is calculated can help you set realistic goals, track your progress, and interpret your results with confidence.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this guide, I break it all down: raw scores, section scores, and how they come together to form the all-important composite. Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p> <p class=\"custom_key wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list custom_underline\"> <li><strong>ACT scores are scaled for fairness<\/strong>: Your raw scores (correct answers) are converted to scale scores from 1 to 36 to ensure consistency across test dates.<\/li> <li><strong>The composite ACT score is an average<\/strong>: Your overall ACT score is the average of your section scores, which are now often just English, math, and reading, if you skip science.<\/li> <li><strong>Science is now optional<\/strong>: Starting in April 2025 (online) and September 2025 (paper), the science section is optional and will be scored separately if taken.<\/li> <li><strong>No penalty for wrong answers<\/strong>: You won\u2019t lose points for incorrect responses, so always guess rather than leave a question blank.<\/li> <li><strong>Writing scores are separate<\/strong>: The optional essay is scored from 2 to 12 based on four domain scores and does not affect your composite score.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-basics-of-act-scoring\"><strong>The Basics of ACT Scoring<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ACT is made up of four main multiple-choice sections:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>English<\/li> <li>Math<\/li> <li>Reading<\/li> <li>(Optional) Science<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of April 2025 for online test takers and September 2025 for paper test takers, the science section is optional. This is part of the new Enhanced ACT, which shortens the test while maintaining its core purpose: assessing your readiness for college-level work.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ACT also offers an optional writing test, commonly referred to as the ACT essay. While fewer schools require the ACT writing scores, some selective programs may still recommend or require them.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Top ACT prep courses can help you boost your score. Consider choices like <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"UWorld ACT\" href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/recommends\/uworld\/uworld-act\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">UWorld<\/a>, <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Prep Scholar ACT Coupon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/recommends\/prep-scholar\/prep-scholar-act\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">PrepScholar<\/a>, and <a class=\"thirstylink\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Prep Expert College Admissions Coupon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/recommends\/prep-expert-college-admissions\/\" data-shortcode=\"true\">Prep Expert<\/a>.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-raw-score-to-scale-score\"><strong>From Raw Score to Scale Score<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, how is your ACT score calculated?<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s start with the raw score, which is simply the number of correct answers you get on each section. There\u2019s no penalty for wrong answers, so always guess if you\u2019re unsure. Skipping a question gives you no advantage over guessing incorrectly.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once raw scores are tallied, they\u2019re converted into scale scores. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/act-score-range\/\">Each section score ranges<\/a> from 1 to 36, regardless of the total number of questions or the specific test form you take.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This scaling ensures fairness across different test dates and versions. In other words, a scaled math score of 28 means the same thing whether you took the ACT in April or October.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-your-act-composite-score\"><strong>Your ACT Composite Score<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your composite ACT score is the average of your four test scores: English, math, reading, and, if taken, science. If you skip the science section (now optional), your composite will be based on the remaining three.<\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"410\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/ACT-Score-Range-410x1024.jpg\" alt=\"ACT exam changes\" class=\"wp-image-8061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/ACT-Score-Range-410x1024.jpg 410w, https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/ACT-Score-Range-120x300.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/ACT-Score-Range-768x1920.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/ACT-Score-Range-60x150.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/ACT-Score-Range.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/figure> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p> <ol class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Add your section scores (e.g., 28 English, 25 math, 27 reading, 24 science).<\/li> <li>Divide by 4.<\/li> <li>Round to the nearest whole number.<\/li> <\/ol> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this case, the composite score would be (28 + 25 + 27 + 24) \u00f7 4 = 26.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you didn\u2019t take science, you\u2019d average just the other three. That new rule is part of the redesigned test format, and your score reports will clearly indicate whether you took science.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-closer-look-at-section-scores\"><strong>A Closer Look at Section Scores<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each section of the ACT assesses different skills:<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-english\"><strong>English<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scored on 75 questions, the English section breaks into reporting categories like:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Rhetorical skills<\/li> <li>Grammar and usage (conventions of standard English)<\/li> <li>Knowledge of language<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-math\"><strong>Math<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 60 math questions, covering areas like:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Algebra<\/li> <li>Geometry<\/li> <li>Functions<\/li> <li>Number &amp; quantity<\/li> <li>Statistics &amp; probability<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both math and science scores reflect your ability to interpret information and solve problems, but only math is required on every test.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reading\"><strong>Reading<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This 40-question section focuses on:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Key ideas and details<\/li> <li>Craft and structure<\/li> <li>Integration of knowledge and ideas<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-science-optional-starting-in-2025\"><strong>Science (Optional Starting in 2025)<\/strong><\/h3> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The science section score (if taken) comes from 40 questions in:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Data representation<\/li> <li>Scientific investigation<\/li> <li>Evaluation of models and experiments<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although it&#8217;s optional, taking the science section can be beneficial if you&#8217;re applying to STEM programs or want to demonstrate strength in analytical thinking.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-about-the-act-writing-test\"><strong>What About the ACT Writing Test?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ACT writing score (also referred to as the ACT essay score) is entirely separate. It ranges from 2 to 12, based on four domain scores:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Ideas and analysis<\/li> <li>Development and support<\/li> <li>Organization<\/li> <li>Language use and conventions<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each domain is scored by two readers. If their scores differ by more than one point, a third reader steps in. The final writing score is the average of the four domain scores, not a composite. If you take the writing test, you\u2019ll also receive an ELA score, which combines your English, reading, and writing performance. This is especially useful for humanities-focused applicants.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-act-scores-compare\"><strong>How Do ACT Scores Compare?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many students ask how ACT scores compare to the SAT or other College Board exams. While both aim to measure college readiness, they use different scoring scales\u2014the ACT is scored on a 1\u201336 composite scale, while the SAT ranges from 400 to 1600.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To help bridge this gap, ACT and the College Board created official concordance tables. These allow students, counselors, and admissions officers to interpret how an ACT score might translate to the SAT\u2014and vice versa.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some key points to keep in mind:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Score Equivalency Example<\/strong>: An ACT composite score of 24 typically aligns with an SAT score of around 1180\u20131200, based on concordance charts.<\/li> <li><strong>No One-to-One Match<\/strong>: Because the two tests assess different skills (e.g., ACT includes science; SAT emphasizes evidence-based reading), conversions are estimates\u2014not perfect matches.<\/li> <li><strong>Use for Target Setting<\/strong>: If you\u2019ve already taken one test, use the concordance chart to set a target score for the other if you decide to switch.<\/li> <li><strong>Colleges Accept Either<\/strong>: Nearly all U.S. colleges accept both ACT and SAT scores, so focus on the test that suits your strengths.<\/li> <li><strong>Some Students Try Both<\/strong>: It\u2019s not uncommon for students to take both tests at least once to see which better fits their test-taking style, then submit their stronger score.<\/li> <\/ul> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-score-reports-and-national-ranks\"><strong>Score Reports and National Ranks<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When your score report arrives, you\u2019ll see more than just numbers. You&#8217;ll find:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Scale score for each section<\/li> <li>Composite ACT score<\/li> <li>National ranks (percentile comparisons)<\/li> <li>Score ranges (your expected performance on a retake)<\/li> <li>Reporting category breakdowns (like rhetorical skills or data interpretation)<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your national rank shows how your scores stack up against other test takers nationwide. For example, if you score in the 75th percentile, you performed better than 75% of students who took the ACT.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-good-act-score\"><strong>What Is a Good ACT Score?<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the most frequently asked questions, and the answer depends on your specific goals.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally, the average ACT score <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/average-act-score\/\">is around 19\u201321<\/a>, although it may vary slightly from year to year. That means scoring in the mid-20s puts you ahead of most high school students.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But what\u2019s a good score? That depends on your college list:<\/p> <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>For more selective schools (like Ivy League or top public universities), aim for a composite score in the 30s.<\/li> <li>For mid-tier schools, a score between 23 and 27 is often competitive.<\/li> <li>For community colleges and less selective schools, scores in the high teens may still be accepted.<\/li> <\/ul> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always research the average ACT scores of your target colleges. Admissions websites typically list the ACT section score ranges of admitted students, which helps you set realistic goals.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-thoughts\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ACT isn\u2019t just about one big number; it\u2019s a detailed, multi-part assessment that gives colleges insight into your unique strengths. Whether you\u2019re aiming for a perfect score, looking to boost your math and science performance, or wondering how your writing score factors in, understanding how the ACT is scored helps you test smarter\u2014not harder.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And remember: a good ACT score isn\u2019t just about impressing admissions officers. It\u2019s about unlocking college courses, scholarships, and future opportunities that align with your goals.<\/p> <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re worried about your score or simply want to gain an edge, investing in one of my recommended ACT prep courses can make a big difference. With expert strategies, realistic practice tests, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-to-study-for-the-act\/\">guided study plans<\/a>, you\u2019ll feel more confident\u2014and prepared\u2014when test day arrives.<\/p> <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2> <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753859439830\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How are ACT scores calculated?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Raw scores (the number of correct answers) are converted into scale scores from 1 to 36; your composite score is the average of your section scores.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753859446346\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a 27 a good ACT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, a 27 is above the national average and considered competitive for many mid-tier and some selective colleges.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753859450518\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a 36 on the ACT 100%?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Not exactly; due to score scaling, you don\u2019t need to get every question right to earn a perfect 36.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753859455076\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Is a 17 a good ACT score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A 17 is below the national average, but some colleges still accept it, especially if other parts of your application are strong.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1753859460450\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Does the writing score affect your composite score?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No, the ACT writing score is reported separately and does not influence your 1\u201336 composite score.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thinking about taking the ACT? You\u2019re in good company\u2014more than 1.4 million students take the ACT each year to boost their college admissions chances. But understanding how the test is scored is just as crucial as preparing for it. For the class of 2024\u2014students whose high school experience was shaped by pandemic-era disruptions\u2014the average composite [&hellip;]<\/p> ","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":8070,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,242],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers-education","category-college"],"acf":{"external_author":[129],"external_editor":"","select_template":"default","not_show_feature_image":false,"hide_toc":false},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img-768x427.png","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/author\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering how the ACT is scored? Learn how test, composite, and writing scores are calculated, plus tips on raw scores and ranks.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wondering how the ACT is scored? Learn how test, composite, and writing scores are calculated, plus tips on raw scores and ranks.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Miami Herald - Careers &amp; Education\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-01T01:45:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-18T22:24:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"889\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-01T01:45:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-18T22:24:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1528,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Careers &amp; Education\",\"College\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-01T01:45:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-18T22:24:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"description\":\"Wondering how the ACT is scored? Learn how test, composite, and writing scores are calculated, plus tips on raw scores and ranks.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859439830\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859446346\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859450518\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859455076\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859460450\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2025\\\/07\\\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":889,\"caption\":\"How Is the ACT Scored\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/\",\"name\":\"Miami Herald - Careers & Education\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859439830\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859439830\",\"name\":\"How are ACT scores calculated?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Raw scores (the number of correct answers) are converted into scale scores from 1 to 36; your composite score is the average of your section scores.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859446346\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859446346\",\"name\":\"Is a 27 a good ACT score?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, a 27 is above the national average and considered competitive for many mid-tier and some selective colleges.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859450518\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859450518\",\"name\":\"Is a 36 on the ACT 100%?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Not exactly; due to score scaling, you don\u2019t need to get every question right to earn a perfect 36.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859455076\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859455076\",\"name\":\"Is a 17 a good ACT score?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A 17 is below the national average, but some colleges still accept it, especially if other parts of your application are strong.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859460450\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.miamiherald.com\\\/careers-education\\\/how-the-act-is-scored\\\/#faq-question-1753859460450\",\"name\":\"Does the writing score affect your composite score?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No, the ACT writing score is reported separately and does not influence your 1\u201336 composite score.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown","description":"Wondering how the ACT is scored? Learn how test, composite, and writing scores are calculated, plus tips on raw scores and ranks.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown","og_description":"Wondering how the ACT is scored? Learn how test, composite, and writing scores are calculated, plus tips on raw scores and ranks.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/","og_site_name":"Miami Herald - Careers &amp; Education","article_published_time":"2025-08-01T01:45:11+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-18T22:24:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":889,"url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown","datePublished":"2025-08-01T01:45:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-18T22:24:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/"},"wordCount":1528,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png","articleSection":["Careers &amp; Education","College"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/","url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/","name":"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png","datePublished":"2025-08-01T01:45:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-18T22:24:53+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"description":"Wondering how the ACT is scored? Learn how test, composite, and writing scores are calculated, plus tips on raw scores and ranks.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859439830"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859446346"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859450518"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859455076"},{"@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859460450"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/07\/How-Is-the-ACT-Scored-feature-img.png","width":1600,"height":889,"caption":"How Is the ACT Scored"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Is the ACT Scored? Full Breakdown"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/","name":"Miami Herald - Careers & Education","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":""},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859439830","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859439830","name":"How are ACT scores calculated?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Raw scores (the number of correct answers) are converted into scale scores from 1 to 36; your composite score is the average of your section scores.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859446346","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859446346","name":"Is a 27 a good ACT score?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, a 27 is above the national average and considered competitive for many mid-tier and some selective colleges.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859450518","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859450518","name":"Is a 36 on the ACT 100%?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Not exactly; due to score scaling, you don\u2019t need to get every question right to earn a perfect 36.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859455076","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859455076","name":"Is a 17 a good ACT score?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A 17 is below the national average, but some colleges still accept it, especially if other parts of your application are strong.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859460450","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/how-the-act-is-scored\/#faq-question-1753859460450","name":"Does the writing score affect your composite score?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No, the ACT writing score is reported separately and does not influence your 1\u201336 composite score.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"first_category":{"name":"College","url":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/college\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8069"}],"collection":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8069"}],"version-history":[{"attributes":{"count":0},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8069\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/external-author\/129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"attributes":{"embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"attributes":[],"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8069"}],"wp:term":[{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8069"},{"attributes":{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true},"href":"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/careers-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}