ACT Score Calculator
Enter the number of questions you got right in each ACT section to estimate your 1–36 scale scores, composite, STEM score and percentile. It supports the shorter enhanced ACT (composite from English, Math and Reading) and the older four-section test, and can combine two test dates into a superscore.
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The enhanced ACT is shorter and its composite uses English, Math and Reading; Science is optional.
Leave blank to skip on the enhanced ACT.
How to use the ACT Score Calculator
- Pick the test format: the enhanced ACT (2025 and later) or the older four-section test.
- Enter your correct answers for English, Math and Reading, and Science if you took it.
- Tick the superscore box and enter your section scores from an earlier test date, if you have one.
- Press Calculate score to see section scores, composite, STEM score and percentile.
- Check the chart to see how many more correct answers each next scale score needs.
ACT format: enhanced vs. older test
| Section | Enhanced ACT (2025+) | Older ACT | In the composite? |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 questions, 35 min | 75 questions, 45 min | Yes |
| Math | 45 questions, 50 min | 60 questions, 60 min | Yes |
| Reading | 36 questions, 40 min | 40 questions, 35 min | Yes |
| Science | 40 questions, 40 min (optional) | 40 questions, 35 min | Older format only; enhanced: STEM score |
| Writing | Optional essay | Optional essay | No (scored 2–12 separately) |
How the scores are built
- Raw score: the number of questions answered correctly in a section. Wrong answers are not subtracted.
- Scale score: each raw score is converted to 1–36 using a chart made for that specific test form, which evens out small differences in difficulty between test dates.
- Composite: the average of the counted section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number (x.5 rounds up).
- STEM score: the rounded average of Math and Science, reported when you take Science.
- Superscore: the average of your best score in each section across all your test dates.
Approximate ACT composite percentiles
| Composite | Approx. percentile | Composite | Approx. percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 99+ | 24 | 74 |
| 34 | 99 | 22 | 64 |
| 32 | 97 | 20 | 52 |
| 30 | 93 | 18 | 39 |
| 28 | 88 | 16 | 24 |
| 26 | 82 | 14 | 8 |
Rounded approximations of ACT's published national ranks for recent graduating classes. ACT updates these norms periodically, so check your score report for the official percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
How is the ACT composite score calculated?
Each section is scored 1–36, then the composite is the average of the section scores rounded to the nearest whole number, with halves rounded up. On the enhanced ACT the composite averages English, Math and Reading; on the older format it averaged all four sections, including Science. For example English 27, Math 25 and Reading 28 average 26.67, a composite of 27.
What changed with the enhanced ACT?
From 2025 the ACT became shorter: English has 50 questions, Math 45, Reading 36 and Science 40, and Science became optional. The composite now uses only English, Math and Reading, and Science counts toward a separate STEM score together with Math.
What is an ACT superscore?
A superscore combines your best section scores from different test dates and averages them into a new composite. If you scored Math 30 on one date and English 28 on another, both can count. Many colleges accept superscores, but check each school's policy.
How accurate is this ACT raw score conversion?
It uses a typical conversion chart, so it is usually within about one point per section. Every ACT form is equated separately, so the exact raw score needed for each scale score varies a little; official practice tests include their own chart.
What is a good ACT score?
The national average composite is around 19–20. A 24 is roughly the 74th percentile, 28 about the 88th, and 30 or more puts you in about the top 7 percent. Compare with the middle-50% range published by the colleges you are interested in.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers on the ACT?
No. Your raw score is simply the number of questions answered correctly, so you should never leave a question blank.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.