ACT Score Calculator

ACT Format

2025 composite = avg of English + Math + Reading. Science is optional (STEM only).

Input Mode

English

Scaled score 1–36 from your score report or practice test.

Math

Scaled score 1–36 from your score report or practice test.

Reading

Scaled score 1–36 from your score report or practice test.

Science(Optional)

In 2025 format, Science does not count toward composite — only STEM score.

Writing / Essay(Optional)

Essay score 2–12. Not included in composite. Used for reference only.

Target Composite Score

Enter a goal composite (1–36) to see the score gap and required section scores.

Enter Your Section Scores

Enter your English, Math, and Reading scores (scaled 1–36 or raw correct answers) to calculate your ACT composite, percentile rank, SAT equivalent, and college tier benchmarks.

Last updated October 20, 2018

Composite score, percentile ranks, SAT concordance, and college tier benchmarks

The ACT (American College Testing) is one of the two major college admissions standardized tests in the United States, used by virtually every four-year college and university. Millions of students take the ACT each year as part of their college application process, making it one of the most consequential exams a student will sit. Understanding what your score means — and how to interpret it in context — is essential for setting realistic college goals, tracking progress on practice tests, and making strategic decisions about test preparation. Our ACT Score Calculator gives you an instant, accurate composite score from your section scores, along with rich context that many basic calculators omit. You can enter either your scaled section scores (1–36, as reported on your official score report) or your raw scores (number of correct answers from a practice test). The calculator automatically converts raw scores to scaled scores using the standard percentage-based approximation from 2023–2024 median test administrations, so you can estimate your performance after a practice session without needing a specific scoring rubric. The 2025 ACT format represents a significant structural change. Starting with tests administered in Spring 2025, the composite score is calculated as the average of only three sections — English, Math, and Reading. Science is still administered but is no longer included in the composite calculation; instead, it contributes to the STEM score (Math + Science average). This calculator fully supports both formats: toggle between 2025 and pre-2025 to see how the same section scores produce different composites under each formula. If you enter a Science score, the calculator will show both composite values side by side, which can be valuable for comparing historical practice test scores with new-format expectations. Percentile ranks are a critical part of interpreting ACT scores, yet they are often misunderstood. A percentile rank tells you what percentage of students who tested scored at or below your score — it is not a percentage of questions answered correctly. The data used in this calculator comes from the official ACT 2025–2026 national percentile tables (ACT.org), so you can trust the rankings are accurate and current. A composite of 20 places you at the 63rd percentile, meaning you scored higher than 63% of test-takers nationally. A score of 30 reaches the 94th percentile, while the maximum score of 36 represents the top 1% of all students. SAT concordance allows students — and colleges — to compare scores across the two major standardized tests. The concordance values in this calculator follow the officially published ACT-SAT concordance tables. For example, a 30 on the ACT is broadly equivalent to a 1400 on the SAT. This is useful when deciding which test to submit to a college that accepts both, or when a school's median reported scores are only available in one format. ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are official cutoffs published by ACT Inc. representing the score at which a student has approximately a 50% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year college course in the corresponding subject area: English 18 (English Composition), Math 22 (College Algebra/Statistics), Reading 22 (Social Sciences or Humanities), and Science 23 (Biology). Meeting these benchmarks is a meaningful indicator of academic preparedness beyond just a composite score. College tier context helps you understand where your composite score is competitive for admission. The tiers — from Ivy League and Top 10 (34–36), to Top 20 (32–33), Top 50 (28–31), Selective State Universities (24–27), Most 4-Year Colleges (20–23), Less Selective Colleges (17–19), and Below College Readiness (below 17) — give you a realistic picture of your admissions landscape based on median admitted student ranges at schools in each tier. Whether you are interpreting a real score report, evaluating practice test results, or planning which sections to prioritize for improvement, this calculator provides everything you need in a single, fast, client-side tool — no login required, no data stored.

Understanding ACT Scores

What Is the ACT?

The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized college admissions exam administered by ACT Inc. and accepted by all major U.S. colleges and universities. The test covers four academic areas: English (grammar, punctuation, and rhetorical skills), Mathematics (pre-algebra through trigonometry and some pre-calculus), Reading (comprehension of complex passages), and Science (data interpretation, scientific reasoning, and experimental analysis). As of 2025, the exam is 2 hours and 5 minutes long in its core format, down from the previous 2 hours and 55 minutes, due to fewer questions per section. The composite score ranges from 1 to 36, calculated as the average of the three core section scores (English, Math, Reading) under the 2025 format. Each section is scored on a 1–36 scale, and the composite is rounded to the nearest whole number. The national average composite is approximately 19.5.

How Is the ACT Score Calculated?

Your ACT score involves two conversion steps. First, your raw score — the number of questions you answered correctly — is converted to a scaled section score on the 1–36 scale using a conversion table specific to that test administration. This conversion accounts for the slight variation in difficulty between different test forms, a process called equating. Second, your composite score is calculated as the arithmetic mean of your section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5 rounds up). Under the 2025 format, the composite averages English, Math, and Reading only. Under the pre-2025 format, all four sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) are averaged. The STEM score is the average of Math and Science. The ELA score averages English and Reading (and Writing when the optional essay is taken, though Writing uses a separate 2–12 scale).

Why ACT Scores Matter

ACT scores are used by college admissions offices as one factor in evaluating applicants, alongside GPA, course rigor, extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation. Many colleges report the middle 50% of admitted students' ACT scores, giving applicants a realistic benchmark for where their score stands relative to accepted students. Scholarships — both institutional and external — frequently use ACT thresholds to determine eligibility, sometimes offering substantial awards for scores above 28 or 30. States like Tennessee, Kentucky, and others also use the ACT for high school accountability and offer free testing to all 11th graders. Some military branches and technical schools use ACT or its equivalent ASVAB as placement or qualification tools. Meeting or exceeding the official College Readiness Benchmarks (English 18, Math 22, Reading 22, Science 23) is associated with higher likelihood of completing first-year college courses without remediation.

Limitations and Considerations

The raw-to-scaled score conversion used in this calculator is an approximation based on 2023–2024 median test forms. Actual conversions vary by test administration — the curve can be more or less generous depending on a specific form's difficulty. Always use the official score conversion table included with your specific released practice test for the most accurate raw-to-scaled estimates. Additionally, percentile ranks change slightly each year as the test-taking population shifts; this calculator uses the official 2025–2026 percentile data from ACT.org. SAT concordance values are approximations from the officially published concordance tables and should be treated as estimates rather than exact equivalencies — different colleges may interpret them differently. Finally, college admission is a holistic process: ACT scores are one factor among many, and a score that falls below a school's median range does not automatically disqualify an applicant.

ACT Score Formulas

ACT Composite (2025 Format)

Composite = round((English + Math + Reading) / 3)

Starting Spring 2025, the composite is the arithmetic average of three section scores (English, Math, Reading), rounded to the nearest whole number. Science is no longer included in the composite but contributes to the STEM score.

ACT Composite (Pre-2025 Format)

Composite = round((English + Math + Reading + Science) / 4)

Under the pre-2025 format, the composite is the average of all four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5 rounds up). Each section is scored 1–36.

STEM Score

STEM = round((Math + Science) / 2)

The STEM score averages your Math and Science section scores. In the 2025 format, this is where Science contributes — it no longer affects the composite but is still reported as part of the STEM benchmark.

ACT to SAT Conversion (Approximation)

SAT ≈ concordance_table(ACT Composite)

The officially published ACT-SAT concordance maps each ACT composite to an equivalent SAT score. For example: ACT 36 ≈ SAT 1590, ACT 30 ≈ SAT 1400, ACT 24 ≈ SAT 1160, ACT 20 ≈ SAT 1030.

ACT Reference Tables

ACT Score Percentiles (2025–2026)

National percentile ranks for ACT composite scores based on official ACT 2025–2026 data. Percentile indicates the percentage of test-takers who scored at or below each score.

ACT Composite	Percentile	Performance Level
36	99+	Perfect / Elite
35	99	Elite
34	99	Elite
33	98	Excellent
32	97	Excellent
31	96	Excellent
30	94	Very Good
28	91	Very Good
26	85	Good
24	80	Above Average
22	72	Above Average
20	63	Average
18	46	Below Average
16	30	Below Average
14	16	Low

ACT to SAT Concordance

Official concordance values mapping ACT composite scores to equivalent SAT total scores. Useful for comparing requirements across colleges.

ACT Composite	SAT Equivalent	College Tier
36	1590	Ivy League / Top 10
35	1570	Ivy League / Top 10
34	1550	Top 10–15
33	1500	Top 15–20
32	1470	Top 20–25
31	1440	Top 25–30
30	1400	Top 30–50
28	1330	Top 50 / Selective State
26	1240	Selective State
24	1160	Most 4-Year Colleges
22	1100	Most 4-Year Colleges
20	1030	Less Selective
18	970	Less Selective

Worked Examples

Calculate Composite from Section Scores

A student receives the following ACT section scores: English 28, Math 32, Reading 26, Science 30.

2025 Format composite (3 sections): (28 + 32 + 26) / 3 = 86 / 3 = 28.67 → rounds to 29

Pre-2025 Format composite (4 sections): (28 + 32 + 26 + 30) / 4 = 116 / 4 = 29.0 → 29

STEM score: (32 + 30) / 2 = 31.0 → 31

ELA score: (28 + 26) / 2 = 27.0 → 27

Percentile for composite 29: approximately 93rd percentile

SAT equivalent for 29: approximately 1380

The student's composite is 29 under both formats (coincidentally equal in this case). This places them at the 93rd percentile, equivalent to approximately 1380 on the SAT, and competitive for Top 30–50 universities.

Convert ACT 30 to SAT Equivalent

A student scored ACT 30 composite and wants to know the SAT equivalent for a college that only reports SAT median ranges.

Look up ACT 30 in the official concordance table

ACT 30 corresponds to SAT 1400

The student's score is at the 94th percentile on the ACT scale

An SAT 1400 is approximately the 94th percentile as well, confirming the concordance

An ACT composite of 30 is equivalent to an SAT score of approximately 1400. This score is competitive at Top 30–50 universities and represents the 94th percentile nationally.

Superscore from Two Test Sittings

A student took the ACT twice. Sitting 1: English 28, Math 24, Reading 22. Sitting 2: English 25, Math 27, Reading 26.

Best English: max(28, 25) = 28 (from Sitting 1)

Best Math: max(24, 27) = 27 (from Sitting 2)

Best Reading: max(22, 26) = 26 (from Sitting 2)

Superscore composite (2025): (28 + 27 + 26) / 3 = 81 / 3 = 27

Sitting 1 composite: (28 + 24 + 22) / 3 = 24.67 → 25

Sitting 2 composite: (25 + 27 + 26) / 3 = 26.0 → 26

Superscore improvement over best single sitting: 27 − 26 = +1 point

The superscore composite is 27, one point higher than the best single-sitting score of 26. This moves the student from the 85th to the 88th percentile.

How to Use This Calculator

Select ACT Format and Input Mode

Choose whether you are calculating under the 2025 ACT format (composite = English + Math + Reading average) or the pre-2025 format (all 4 sections). Then select whether to enter scaled scores (1–36, from your official score report) or raw scores (number of correct answers from a practice test).

Enter Your Section Scores

Enter your English, Math, and Reading scores. Science is optional in the 2025 format — it contributes to the STEM score but not the composite. In the pre-2025 format, all four sections contribute to the composite. You may also enter your optional Writing score (2–12) for reference.

Review Your Composite and Percentile

The calculator instantly shows your composite score (1–36) with a visual progress ring, your national percentile rank from official ACT 2025–2026 data, your equivalent SAT score from the ACT-SAT concordance tables, and your STEM and ELA sub-scores.

Use the Benchmarks and Tier Analysis

Review the College Readiness Benchmarks to see which sections you have met (English 18, Math 22, Reading 22, Science 23). Then check your College Tier placement to understand which tier of schools your composite is competitive for. Use the improvement insight to decide which section to prioritize for your next practice session.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the ACT composite score calculated in 2025?

Starting with tests administered in Spring 2025, the ACT composite score is calculated as the arithmetic average of three section scores — English, Math, and Reading — rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5 rounds up). Science is still part of the test but no longer contributes to the composite; instead, it is used in the STEM score (average of Math and Science). This change was part of a broader redesign that also reduced total question counts. The composite still ranges from 1 to 36. If you are scoring a pre-2025 practice test or official test, the composite is the average of all four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science).

What is a good ACT score?

The national average ACT composite score is approximately 19.5. A score of 21 or above places you in the top third of all test-takers (above the 68th percentile). For competitive college admissions, context matters: a score of 24–27 is competitive at most state universities, 28–31 is competitive at top-50 institutions, and 32+ is expected at highly selective schools. Ivy League and Top 10 universities typically look for scores of 34 or above, with median admitted student scores often around 34–36. Rather than aiming for a single 'good' score, research the middle 50% of admitted ACT scores at your target schools and aim for the upper end of that range.

What do ACT College Readiness Benchmarks mean?

ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are official cutoff scores published by ACT Inc. that represent a 50% probability of earning a B or higher in a first-year college course in the corresponding subject. The benchmarks are: English 18 (English Composition), Math 22 (College Algebra or Statistics), Reading 22 (Social Sciences or Humanities), and Science 23 (Biology). Meeting these benchmarks means you are considered college-ready in that subject by ACT's research. Missing a benchmark does not automatically mean you will struggle — it is a statistical threshold, not a guarantee — but it can signal which areas need more preparation or support before beginning college-level coursework.

How does ACT superscoring work?

Superscoring is a policy used by many colleges in which the admissions office takes your highest section score from each ACT sitting and combines them into a new composite, regardless of the test date. For example, if you scored English 28, Math 24, Reading 22 on one sitting and English 25, Math 27, Reading 26 on another, a superscored composite would use English 28, Math 27, and Reading 26, yielding a higher composite than either individual sitting. Most four-year colleges and universities that accept the ACT now superscore it. Always check each school's specific policy, as a small number of schools require a single-sitting composite. Superscoring rewards students who retest with a targeted focus on specific sections.

How does the ACT to SAT conversion work?

The ACT-to-SAT concordance table was developed through a research study comparing how students perform on both tests. The concordance values used in this calculator come from the officially published concordance tables and represent the SAT score that corresponds to the same performance level as a given ACT composite. For example, an ACT 30 corresponds to approximately an SAT 1400. These concordances are approximate — the same student may not always score at the concordance level on both tests, because each test has a different emphasis and format. The concordance is most useful for comparing score requirements across colleges that report their admitted student ranges in only one test's format.

What is the difference between a raw score and a scaled score?

A raw score is simply the number of questions you answered correctly on the test — there is no penalty for wrong answers on the ACT, so your raw score equals the count of correct responses. A scaled score converts your raw score to the 1–36 scale, accounting for the difficulty of the specific test form. Because different administrations have slightly different question difficulties, the raw-to-scaled conversion (called the 'curve' or 'equating') adjusts scores so that a 25 on one test form represents the same performance level as a 25 on another. The raw-to-scaled conversion used in this calculator is a median approximation — actual curves vary per administration, so always use the official answer key and conversion chart included with any specific practice test.

ACT Score Calculator