Introduction
The ACT is one of the most important college entrance exams in the United States. Your ACT composite score, which ranges from 1 to 36, plays a big role in college admissions, scholarships, and course placement. But figuring out how your raw scores (the number of questions you got right) turn into scaled scores can be confusing. That's where this ACT Score Calculator comes in.
This tool converts your raw scores from each section — English, Math, Reading, and Science — into scaled scores on the 1–36 scale. It then calculates your composite score, STEM score, and percentile rankings so you can see exactly where you stand. You can choose from multiple test years, including the 2025 new format where Science is optional and does not count toward your composite. Simply enter the number of questions you answered correctly in each section using the sliders or input boxes, and the calculator does the rest instantly. Whether you're practicing with old tests or preparing for the latest ACT format, this calculator gives you a clear picture of your performance and helps you set score goals for test day.
How to Use Our ACT Score Calculator
Enter the number of questions you answered correctly in each ACT section, and this calculator will convert your raw scores into scaled scores (1–36), a composite score, a STEM score, and percentile rankings.
Practice Test Version: Select the test year or format that matches your practice test. The 2025 format has different question counts and makes Science optional, while earlier years (2023–2024, 2019–2020, 2018–2019, and 2016–2017) use the standard 215-question format. The calculator adjusts its scoring tables based on your selection.
English Raw Score: Use the slider or type in the number of English questions you got right. The maximum depends on the test year you chose — 50 questions for the 2025 format or 75 questions for earlier years.
Math Raw Score: Enter the number of Math questions you answered correctly. The 2025 format has 45 questions, while older formats have 60.
Reading Raw Score: Enter the number of Reading questions you got right. The 2025 format includes 36 questions, and earlier years include 40.
Science Raw Score: Enter the number of Science questions you answered correctly. On the 2025 format, Science is optional and does not count toward your composite score. For all other test years, Science is required and factors into the composite. This section always has 40 questions.
After entering your scores, click Calculate to see your scaled score and percentile for each section, your overall ACT composite score, your STEM score (average of Math and Science), a bar chart comparing all sections, and a donut chart showing how each section contributes to your composite. Click Reset to return all values to their defaults.
ACT Score Calculator – Convert Raw Scores to Scaled Scores
The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges and universities across the United States to help with admissions decisions. It measures what you've learned in high school across four main subject areas: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Your performance on the ACT gives colleges a way to compare students from different schools and backgrounds on a common scale. If you're also preparing for the SAT, our SAT Score Calculator can help you estimate those scores as well.
How ACT Scoring Works
When you take the ACT, you earn a raw score for each section. Your raw score is simply the total number of questions you answered correctly. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so every question you get right adds one point to your raw score. This raw score is then converted into a scaled score that ranges from 1 to 36 using a conversion table. The conversion table changes slightly from test to test to account for small differences in difficulty between test versions.
Your composite score is the average of your four section scaled scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. This single number between 1 and 36 is what most people refer to as your "ACT score." The national average composite score is around 19 to 20. To understand how averages work in a statistical context, you might find our Average Calculator helpful.
ACT Section Breakdown
- English: Tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.
- Math: Covers pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
- Reading: Measures reading comprehension across different passage types.
- Science: Tests your ability to interpret data, analyze experiments, and evaluate scientific reasoning.
Changes in the 2025 ACT Format
Starting in 2025, the ACT introduced a new shorter format. The question counts changed to 50 English, 45 Math, and 36 Reading questions. A major change is that the Science section is now optional and does not count toward your composite score. If you do take Science, you still receive a scaled score for it, and it is used to calculate your STEM score, which is the average of your Math and Science scaled scores.
What Are Percentiles?
Your percentile ranking tells you what percentage of test takers you scored higher than. For example, if you are in the 85th percentile, you scored better than 85% of students who took the test. Percentiles help you understand how competitive your score is compared to other students nationwide. If you'd like to explore percentile concepts further, our Z Score Calculator and Normal Distribution Calculator can help you understand how scores are distributed in a population.
What Is a Good ACT Score?
A "good" score depends on where you want to apply. Here is a general guide:
- 30–36: Excellent — puts you in the top 5–10% of all test takers and makes you competitive at highly selective schools.
- 24–29: Above Average — strong enough for most four-year colleges and universities.
- 20–23: Average — meets the requirements for many colleges.
- Below 20: Below Average — you may want to consider retaking the test or looking at test-optional schools.
Always check the middle 50% score range for the specific colleges you are interested in. That range tells you the scores that the middle half of admitted students earned, giving you a realistic target to aim for. If you're tracking your academic progress alongside test prep, tools like our GPA Calculator, Weighted GPA Calculator, and College GPA Calculator can help you monitor your grades. For individual class assignments and exams, our Grade Calculator and Test Grade Calculator are also useful. Students preparing for graduate school entrance exams may also want to check out our MCAT Score Calculator and LSAT Score Calculator.