ACT Score Calculator
Calculate your ACT composite score, superscore and percentile, or find the section score you need for your goal.
Your ACT composite score is the average of your English, Math and Reading scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, English 28, Math 25 and Reading 30 average 27.67, which rounds up to a 28, at the 91st percentile. Science is optional on the enhanced ACT and is not part of the composite.
- Composite = (English + Math + Reading) ÷ 3, rounded; one-half or more rounds up.
- Each section and the composite are scored from 1 to 36.
- Science is optional and reported separately; STEM = average of Math and Science.
How to Use the ACT Score Calculator
- Composite: enter your English, Math and Reading scores from your score report or a practice test. Add Science if you took it to see your STEM score.
- Superscore: enter your section scores from two or three test dates. The calculator keeps your best score in each section.
- Score I need: enter your goal composite and two section scores to see the minimum you need on the third section.
How the Enhanced ACT Is Scored
ACT shortened the test and made Science optional, starting with national online tests in April 2025 and paper national tests in September 2025.
| Section | Questions | Time | Counts in composite? |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 35 minutes | Yes |
| Math | 45 | 50 minutes | Yes |
| Reading | 36 | 40 minutes | Yes |
| Science (optional) | 40 | 40 minutes | No (part of the STEM score) |
| Writing (optional) | 1 essay | — | No (scored 2–12) |
Each section gets a scale score from 1 to 36. ACT also reports a STEM score (Math and Science) and, for students who take Writing, an ELA score (English, Reading and Writing).
ACT Composite Score Formula
- English 28, Math 25, Reading 30: 83 ÷ 3 = 27.67 → 28
- English 24, Math 22, Reading 23: 69 ÷ 3 = 23.00 → 23
- English 20, Math 21, Reading 19: 60 ÷ 3 = 20.00 → 20
Because the composite averages three scores, one extra point in a single section moves the average by a third of a point. That can still bump the composite up when your average is just below a half.
ACT Superscore
A superscore takes your best English, Math and Reading scores from different test dates and averages them into a new composite.
Test 1: English 26, Math 27, Reading 24. Test 2: English 29, Math 25, Reading 28.
- Best scores: English 29, Math 27, Reading 28
- (29 + 27 + 28) ÷ 3 = 28.00 → superscore 28
Your single-test composites were 26 and 27, so the superscore is higher than either. Many colleges accept superscores, but each sets its own policy.
ACT Percentiles (National Ranks)
A national rank is the percent of ACT-tested students who scored the same as or lower than you. These figures are ACT’s national ranks for ACT-tested high school graduates from 2024–2026.
| Score | Composite | English | Math | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 35 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 98 |
| 34 | 99 | 97 | 99 | 97 |
| 33 | 98 | 96 | 98 | 95 |
| 32 | 97 | 95 | 97 | 93 |
| 31 | 96 | 94 | 96 | 91 |
| 30 | 94 | 93 | 95 | 89 |
| 29 | 93 | 92 | 94 | 87 |
| 28 | 91 | 90 | 93 | 85 |
| 27 | 89 | 88 | 91 | 83 |
| 26 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 81 |
| 25 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 78 |
| 24 | 80 | 81 | 81 | 75 |
| 23 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 71 |
| 22 | 72 | 74 | 74 | 66 |
| 21 | 68 | 70 | 71 | 61 |
| 20 | 63 | 64 | 68 | 56 |
| 19 | 58 | 58 | 64 | 51 |
| 18 | 52 | 54 | 60 | 47 |
| 17 | 47 | 50 | 53 | 42 |
| 16 | 41 | 46 | 45 | 37 |
| 15 | 34 | 41 | 33 | 33 |
Source: ACT, National Ranks for test scores. Want the percentile for any list of scores, such as a class test? Use our percentile calculator.
What Is a Good ACT Score?
- 20: about the 63rd percentile, so better than most ACT takers.
- 24: the 80th percentile, better than 4 in 5 students.
- 28: the 91st percentile, competitive for many selective colleges.
- 32 and above: the 97th percentile and higher.
Colleges look at your test score alongside your grades, so keep track of your high school GPA and class rank too. Taking the SAT instead? Use the SAT score calculator.
Why There Is No “Questions Correct” Mode
ACT converts the number of questions you get right into a 1–36 scale score with a table that is different for each test form. The same raw score can give a different scale score on another test. For a practice test, use the conversion table printed with that test, then enter your section scores above for an exact composite and percentile.
Tips to Raise Your ACT Score
- Target your weakest section. Every section counts equally in the composite.
- Answer every question. There is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT.
- Practise under real timing. English and Reading are fast-paced, so pacing matters.
- Plan a retake. If your colleges superscore, improving one section on a second test can raise your superscore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the ACT composite score calculated?
Your composite is the average of your English, Math and Reading scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Fractions of one-half or more round up, so 27.67 becomes 28 and 23.33 becomes 23.
Does ACT Science count toward the composite?
Not on the enhanced ACT. Science is optional and is reported separately, along with a STEM score that averages Math and Science. Older four-section composites included Science.
What is a good ACT score?
It depends on your colleges. A 20 composite is around the 63rd percentile, 24 is the 80th and 28 is the 91st percentile of ACT-tested students.
What is an ACT superscore?
A superscore combines your best English, Math and Reading scores from different test dates into a new composite. Many colleges accept superscores, but check each college’s policy.
How many questions are on the ACT?
The enhanced ACT has 50 English questions (35 minutes), 45 Math questions (50 minutes) and 36 Reading questions (40 minutes). Optional Science adds 40 questions in 40 minutes.
Can I calculate my ACT score from the number of questions I got right?
Only roughly. Raw-to-scale conversion tables change from one test form to the next, so use the table that came with your practice test, then enter your section scores here.
What is the highest ACT score?
The highest composite is 36, and each section is also scored from 1 to 36. A 36 composite is at the 100th percentile in ACT’s national ranks.
What does the ACT percentile mean?
It is the percent of ACT-tested students who scored at or below your score. A 25 composite is at the 83rd percentile, so you scored the same as or higher than 83% of students.
Add This ACT Score Calculator to Your Website
School counselors and test-prep pages can add this ACT score calculator for students. Copy the code and paste it into an HTML or embed block on your class site, LMS page, LibGuide or Google Site. It is free and needs no sign-up. See all free calculator widgets.
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