Act how does it work

So the scoring, each of the four sections has a score ranging between a one and These scores are averaged together to get your Composite Score, which is also between a one and a So let's take a look at this score report. For each of the sections, they can see how they did at a high level. The overall section scores are out of There's a perfect score in reading of 36, and the lowest of the four sections is in Science, which is a Other sections have sub-scores which lets you see if there was one area that was stronger than another.

In the English area for instance, the student did slightly better on the Usage and Mechanics questions than compared to the Rhetorical Skills questions. This information allows the student to target and study what they need to do better on, or what they need to retake.

If you use this example, let's do the Math. You take a 32, a 35, a 36, and a 28, and you add that up, you get You divide it by four, and this person's score is a So their Composite is a Read on to learn more about how the ACT scoring curve works. Your ACT is scored through a series of careful calculations. First, the number of questions you got right on each separate section is tallied. This results in what is known as a raw score.

The raw score is simply the number of correct answers you submitted, and this number is not readily apparent on your score report. Instead, you see a score that is scaled. Your raw score is converted to a scaled score ranging from Your scaled scores for each separate section are then averaged to calculate your composite score. Fractions more than or equal to one half are rounded up to the nearest whole number, while fractions under one half are rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Your composite score is the first number that appears on your score report and is widely accepted as the most important indicator of your success on the test. Raw scores are converted to scaled scores by using a test-specific curve designed to correct for slight variations in the difficulty of each test.

The curve is not based in any way on the performance of your peers. Instead, the curve is calculated based on the specific difficulty of the ACT that you took. Very few colleges have a minimum required ACT score for admission. GPA and extracurricular activities carry a variety of weight in the decision-making process depending on the school you apply to. The ACT is actually pretty easy to study for. It tests specific knowledge areas, so it doesn't include word puzzles or intentionally confusing questions.

Once you know exactly what kinds of questions will be asked, you can identify the areas where you're weakest and study those. You can also focus your study time on areas with the most impact. Are you totally clueless about elementary trig?

That's only four questions on the entire test, so save that for last. Brushing up on your algebra will be time better spent. Finally, if you have a pretty solid idea of what you want to major in when you go to college, it's a good idea to focus on that subject area.

When you tell a college admissions officer you want to go to their for their excellent physics program, a sub-par science score on your ACT will not look good. Of course, you might not have any idea what you want to major in until you've been in a college for a semester or two, in which case this strategy won't really help you.

ACT sends your scores to you, your high school, and to up to six colleges selected by you additional colleges cost an extra fee. If you don't like your scores, you can retake the ACT, and they'll only send your best score to the colleges you select. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.

Personal Finance. Planning for College. How the ACT Works. The ACT is one of two major standardized college entrance exams given in the U. See more college pictures. Here's the breakdown: English -- 45 Minutes Advertisement. Prose fiction Social science Humanities Natural science. How is the Essay Section Scored? What Should I Aim For? Who Sees My Scores? Accessed, Feb. Cracking the ACT, Edition. The Princeton Review, Knowing how to use the right planning tools can help you navigate this time in your life.

For explanations of the different sections of your ACT score report and how you can use it to make decisions about college and beyond, download this FREE eBook.

These college courses include English composition, college algebra, introductory social science courses, and biology. Based on a sample of institutions and more than , students from across the United States, the Benchmarks are median course placement values for these institutions and as such represent a typical set of expectations.