From raw answers to an ACT composite
The ACT is four separate tests, each scored 1–36, and a composite that is simply their average. Between your answer sheet and those numbers sits one step: each section's raw score — the number of questions you got right — is converted to a scaled score. The section lengths are fixed: English has 75 questions, Math 60, Reading 40 and Science 40, for 215 questions in total. Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, and a blank scores the same as a wrong answer, so there is never a reason to leave a bubble empty.
The composite, and the rounding that trips people up
The composite is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number, with .5 rounded up. Four 30s give a 30; 30, 30, 30 and 31 also give a 30 (30.25); 31, 31, 30, 30 gives 30.5, which rounds to 31. Because of that rule, "I need a 30" actually means "I need a four-section total of at least 118" — which is why the target helper on this page starts from target − 0.5 rather than the target itself.
Why the conversion tables are editable
ACT equates each form, so there is no single published raw-to-scaled table, and the official practice tests each come with their own. A raw score of 68 in English might scale to a 32 on one form and a 33 on another. The defaults on this page are a straight line from 1 at zero correct to 36 at a perfect raw score, which is a decent middle-of-the-range estimate and slightly harsh at the very top, where real curves are flatter. If you have a score report or an official practice-test conversion table, paste it in and every result recalculates from it.
Sections, subscores, and what colleges see
- English (75 questions): grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetoric.
- Math (60 questions): algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and trigonometry; a calculator is allowed throughout.
- Reading (40 questions): four passages with 10 questions each.
- Science (40 questions): data representation, research summaries and conflicting viewpoints — reading graphs more than recalling facts.
- STEM and ELA scores: the report also shows an average of Math + Science (STEM) and English + Reading (ELA), plus a writing score if you took the essay.
Colleges most often look at the composite, sometimes the English and Math sections specifically for placement, and occasionally a superscore built from your best section scores across dates. Improving one weak section is usually the fastest route to a higher composite: lifting Science from 24 to 30 moves the average by 1.5 points, which is often a full composite point after rounding.
Frequently asked questions
How is the ACT composite calculated?
Average the four section scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), then round to the nearest whole number with .5 rounded up. 30, 30, 30, 31 gives 30; 31, 31, 30, 30 gives 30.5 and therefore a 31.
How many questions are in each ACT section?
English 75, Math 60, Reading 40 and Science 40 — 215 questions in total, plus an optional essay. The section lengths never change, which is why raw scores are comparable between forms even though the conversion curves differ.
Does the ACT penalise wrong answers?
No, and it never has. A wrong answer and a blank are both worth zero, so leaving a question unanswered can only cost you the chance of getting it right. Guess on everything.
Is there an official ACT raw score conversion table?
Not a single fixed one — each test form is equated and each official practice test ships with its own table. Use the curve from your own score report or practice test; this page lets you paste it in and recalculates everything from it.
What raw score do I need for a 30 composite?
A four-section total of at least 118, because 117/4 = 29.25 rounds to 29 while 118/4 = 29.5 rounds up to 30. On a fairly even profile that is roughly 30 per section, or 34s in two sections and 25s in the other two.
What is a superscore and does it matter?
A superscore averages your best English, Math, Reading and Science scores across multiple test dates. Many colleges accept them, some do not, and a few compute their own. It is worth retaking the test if one section is clearly holding your composite down.
Should I retake the ACT to raise one section?
Often yes. Because the composite is an average, +6 points in one section lifts it by 1.5, which is usually a full composite point. Most students improve on a retake, and a single-section retake is cheaper in time than preparing all four again.
How accurate is this calculator without my real curve?
Treat it as a planning estimate, not a prediction. With the default linear table expect the composite to be within about a point for mid-range raw scores, and less accurate at the extremes, where real curves flatten out.