ACT Score Calculator

Free ACT Score Calculator for the Enhanced ACT 2026. Convert raw answers to scaled scores (1-36), get your composite score, and see college benchmarks.

40 scored · 35 min
30 / 40 correct75% accuracy
41 scored · 50 min
30 / 41 correct73% accuracy
27 scored · 40 min
20 / 27 correct74% accuracy
Optional

Science does not affect your composite score on the Enhanced ACT.

Scored Questions80 / 108
Composite SectionsE + M + R (3)
Estimated Composite Score
26
out of 36
Average of English + Math + Reading
Above Average86th Percentile

Section Breakdown

Scaled scores and percentiles per section

English
30/40 correct
24/36
81st percentile
Math
30/41 correct
28/36
93rd percentile
Reading
20/27 correct
25/36
78th percentile

How This Was Calculated

Formula behind your composite score

Enhanced ACT Composite = average of English + Math + Reading.

E: 24 + M: 28 + R: 25 = 77
77 / 3 = 25.67, rounded to 26

Science is not included in the composite. It is reported separately.

What Your Score Means

How your score compares to other test-takers

26 — Above Average

Above the national average (~19.2). Meets requirements for many four-year colleges.

Score Benchmarks

Common college admission score ranges

ACT score benchmarks for college admissions
Score RangePercentileCompetitiveness
34–3699th+Ivy League / Top 20
31–3396th–98thTop 50 Universities
27–3088th–94thSelective Colleges
24–2680th–86thMany 4-Year Schools
19–2357th–76thState Universities
14–1827th–52ndOpen Admission
1–131st–20thCommunity College

Note: Enhanced ACT estimates are based on official 2025-2026 practice-test conversion tables. Actual scaled scores may vary by test form due to ACT equating. For the most accurate results, use the scoring table provided with your specific practice test. Visit act.org for official score reports and percentile data.

How to Use This ACT Score Calculator

A quick guide to estimating your ACT composite score

1
Choose your test version

Select Enhanced (2025+) for the current format, or Legacy for pre-2025 practice tests.

2
Pick your input mode

Use Raw Answers to enter correct answers per section (ideal for practice tests), or Section Scores to enter scaled scores directly.

3
Enter your scores

For raw answer mode, use the slider or number input for English (0-40), Math (0-41), and Reading (0-27). Toggle Science on if you took the optional section.

4
Review your results

Your composite score, section scaled scores, percentiles, and college benchmarks appear instantly. The “How This Was Calculated” block shows the exact math.

Worked Example: Enhanced ACT

A step-by-step walkthrough of ACT composite score calculation

Suppose a student takes the Enhanced ACT and gets these raw scores:

English
30/40 correct→24 scaled
Math
35/41 correct→32 scaled
Reading
22/27 correct→28 scaled
Composite Calculation
24 + 32 + 28 = 84
84 ÷ 3 = 28 28

A composite of 28 places the student at approximately the 91st percentile, making them competitive for selective colleges. Since the Enhanced ACT composite uses only three sections, earning a high score in your weakest subject area has a bigger impact than on the legacy test.

ACT Composite Score Formula

The exact calculation for Enhanced and Legacy ACT formats

Enhanced ACT (2025+)
Composite = (E + M + R) / 3

3 mandatory sections. Science is optional — STEM score reported separately.

Legacy ACT (pre-2025)
Composite = (E + M + R + S) / 4

4 mandatory sections. Science is required for the composite.

In both formats, the composite is rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, 24.5 rounds to 25, and 24.4 rounds to 24. ACT section scores range from 1 to 36.

Raw-to-Scaled Score Reference Charts

Approximate conversion tables for Enhanced ACT (2025-2026)

These charts show approximately how raw scores map to scaled scores (1-36). Actual conversions vary by test date due to equating — use the scoring table from your specific practice test for the most accurate results.

English40 scored
Raw 40
36
Raw 37-39
33-35
Raw 34-36
28-31
Raw 30-33
24-27
Raw 25-29
20-23
Raw 18-24
15-20
Raw 10-17
10-14
Raw 0-9
1-10
Math41 scored
Raw 40-41
36
Raw 37-39
34-35
Raw 34-36
31-33
Raw 30-33
28-30
Raw 24-29
23-27
Raw 18-23
18-22
Raw 10-17
15-17
Raw 0-9
1-14
Reading27 scored
Raw 27
36
Raw 25-26
34-35
Raw 23-24
30-32
Raw 20-22
25-28
Raw 15-19
20-24
Raw 10-14
14-19
Raw 5-9
10-13
Raw 0-4
1-9
Science34 scored
Raw 34
36
Raw 32-33
34-35
Raw 28-31
30-33
Raw 23-27
25-29
Raw 18-22
20-24
Raw 12-17
16-20
Raw 6-11
11-15
Raw 0-5
1-10

ACT Score Without Science

How the Enhanced ACT composite works with 3 sections

Science is optional

On the Enhanced ACT (2025+), the composite score uses only English, Math, and Reading. Science does not affect your composite — this is the most significant change from the legacy format.

STEM score is supplementary

If you take Science, you'll receive a separate Science subscore (1-36) and a STEM score (average of Math + Science). Colleges see these on your score report, but most admissions decisions focus on the composite.

Why this matters

Because the composite averages only 3 sections, improving your lowest section has a bigger impact than before. A 3-point gain in one section raises your composite by 1 full point — you no longer need to spread gains across four sections.

How ACT Scoring Works

Understanding the Enhanced ACT (2025+) raw-to-scaled score conversion

The Enhanced ACT (national testing from September 2025) has three mandatory sections: English (40 scored questions), Math (41 scored), and Reading (27 scored). Science (34 scored) is optional and does not affect your composite score. There is no penalty for wrong answers.

1
Raw Score
Count correct answers
2
Scaled Score
1–36 per section
3
Composite
Avg of E + M + R

Your composite score is the average of your English, Math, and Reading scaled scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. ACT uses equating to ensure scores from different test dates are comparable.

Enhanced ACT Test Structure

Sections, scored questions, and timing (2025-2026)

English
40/50
Scored
35 min
Time
42s
Per Q
Grammar, punctuation, rhetoric
Math
41/45
Scored
50 min
Time
67s
Per Q
Pre-algebra to trigonometry
Reading
27/36
Scored
40 min
Time
67s
Per Q
Prose, social science, humanities
Science
Optional
34/40
Scored
40 min
Time
60s
Per Q
Data, experiments, viewpoints
Core Test
108 scored2 hr 5 minScore: 1–36

Each section contains embedded field-test questions that do not count toward your score. The STEM score (Math + Science average) is only reported if you take the optional Science section. An optional Writing section (40 minutes, 1 essay) is scored separately on a 2–12 scale.

What Is a Good ACT Score?

Score benchmarks for college admissions

The national average ACT composite score is approximately 19.2 (based on 2023–2025 graduates). A “good” score depends on your target colleges:

34–36Exceptional
99th+

Ivy League, MIT, Stanford, and other highly selective schools.

31–33Excellent
96th–98th

Top-50 universities and competitive merit scholarships.

27–30Strong
88th–94th

Selective colleges with good scholarship opportunities.

24–26Above Average
80th–86th

Many four-year colleges and state universities.

19–23Average
57th–76th

State universities and colleges with flexible admissions.

Tips for Improving Your ACT Score

Evidence-based strategies for test preparation

Answer every question

There’s no penalty for guessing on the ACT. All questions now have 4 answer choices, giving you a 25% chance on random guesses.

Focus on your weakest section

Since the enhanced composite averages only 3 sections, improving your lowest section has an even bigger impact than before.

Master time management

The enhanced ACT gives more time per question than the legacy test, but pacing still matters. Practice under timed conditions to build stamina.

Take full-length practice tests

Use official ACT practice tests from act.org. The 2025-2026 practice test uses the new format with embedded field-test items.

Consider superscoring

Many colleges accept ACT superscores — your best section scores across multiple test dates. Focus on improving one or two sections per sitting.

Note: This calculator also supports the legacy ACT format (pre-2025) with all four required sections and a 4-section composite. Use the version toggle in the input panel to switch.

Official ACT Resources

Sources and references for ACT scoring data

ACT Scores
Official Score Reports
National Ranks
Percentile Data (Sept 2025–Aug 2026)
Test Preparation
Free practice tests & study guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ACT scoring, composite calculation, section scores, and test preparation

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Last updated Jun 8, 2026