ACT Score Calculator 2026 | Calculate & Superscore

ACT Exam Format (2026)

The ACT is a standardized college admissions test that assesses high school students' readiness for college-level coursework. According to ACT.org, the ACT consists of four required multiple-choice sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science—plus an optional Writing section. Unlike the SAT, the ACT Science section tests data interpretation and scientific reasoning rather than specific science knowledge.

ACT Scoring System

The ACT uses a straightforward scoring system that makes it easy to understand your performance.

How Composite Scores are Calculated

Your composite score is simply the average of your four required section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number:

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

Section Scores: 1-36 each
Composite Score: 1-36 (average of the 4 sections)
Writing Score: 2-12 (reported separately, does not affect composite)

Example Calculation

If you score:

English: 28
Math: 26
Reading: 30
Science: 27

Your composite = Round((28 + 26 + 30 + 27) / 4) = Round(27.75) = 28

ACT Score Percentiles (2024 Data)

Understanding where your score falls relative to other test-takers helps contextualize your performance. The table below shows approximate percentile rankings based on ACT National Norms.

Composite Score	Percentile	Meaning
36	100th	Perfect score
35	99th	Top 1%
34	99th	Top 1%
33	98th	Top 2%
32	97th	Top 3% - Excellent
31	96th	Top 4%
30	94th	Top 6%
29	92nd	Top 8%
28	88th	Top 12% - Very Good
27	87th	Top 13%
26	83rd	Top 17%
25	79th	Top 21%
24	74th	Top 26% - Good
23	69th	Top 31%
22	63rd	Top 37%
21	57th	Top 43%
20	50th	Median - Above Average
19	44th	Average
18	38th	Average
17	31st	Below Average
16	25th	Below Average

College Readiness Benchmarks

ACT has established College Readiness Benchmarks that indicate a 75% likelihood of earning a grade of B or higher in corresponding first-year college courses. These benchmarks are based on extensive research correlating ACT scores with college performance, as documented by ACT Research.

Section	Benchmark Score	College Course Equivalency
English	18	English Composition
Math	22	College Algebra
Reading	22	Social Sciences courses
Science	23	Biology

Meeting benchmarks indicates you are academically prepared for college-level work in these subjects.

What's a Good ACT Score?

A "good" ACT score depends on your college goals and target schools. Here's a comprehensive breakdown:

32-36: Excellent

Percentile: 97th-100th
College Tier: Highly selective schools (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, top liberal arts colleges)
Outlook: Extremely competitive for merit scholarships and honors programs

28-31: Very Good

Percentile: 88th-96th
College Tier: Selective universities and top state flagships
Outlook: Strong candidacy at most schools, competitive for merit scholarships

24-27: Good

Percentile: 74th-87th
College Tier: Many state universities, competitive private colleges
Outlook: Solid profile for a wide range of schools

20-23: Above Average

Percentile: 50th-69th
College Tier: State universities, many private colleges
Outlook: Meets requirements for most schools, may need stronger application in other areas for selective institutions

16-19: Average

Percentile: 25th-44th
College Tier: Less selective colleges, regional universities
Outlook: Consider improving score or highlighting other strengths in application

Below 16: Below Average

Percentile: Below 25th
Recommendation: Retake the ACT with focused preparation or consider test-optional schools

Understanding ACT Superscoring

Many colleges use "superscoring," which means they consider your highest section scores across multiple test dates, even if those scores come from different sittings.

How Superscoring Works

If you take the ACT three times:

Test 1: English: 26, Math: 28, Reading: 24, Science: 27 → Composite: 26
Test 2: English: 28, Math: 27, Reading: 26, Science: 25 → Composite: 27
Test 3: English: 27, Math: 30, Reading: 28, Science: 26 → Composite: 28

Your Superscore would be:

English: 28 (from Test 2)
Math: 30 (from Test 3)
Reading: 28 (from Test 3)
Science: 27 (from Test 1)
Superscore Composite: 28 (average of best sections)

Why Superscoring Matters

Gives credit for your best performance in each section
Reduces test-day anxiety since you can focus on improving one or two sections at a time
Can significantly boost your composite score

Important: Not all colleges superscore the ACT. Check each college's testing policy on their admissions website.

Strategies to Improve Your ACT Score

Improving your ACT score requires strategic preparation across all four sections. Here are proven strategies:

1. Master Time Management for Each Section

The ACT is known for its tight timing. Effective pacing is crucial:

English: 45 minutes for 75 questions (~36 seconds per question)
Math: 60 minutes for 60 questions (1 minute per question)
Reading: 35 minutes for 40 questions (~8-9 minutes per passage)
Science: 35 minutes for 40 questions (~5 minutes per passage)

Practice with timers to build speed without sacrificing accuracy. If you're stuck, make an educated guess and move on—there's no penalty for wrong answers.

2. Use Process of Elimination

The ACT is a multiple-choice test, which means you can use strategic guessing:

Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
Look for extreme language or absolutes that are often incorrect
When down to two choices, look for subtle differences
Never leave a question blank (no guessing penalty!)

3. Understand the Science Section Strategy

The Science section doesn't test science knowledge—it tests data interpretation:

Spend most of your time reading graphs, tables, and charts
Passage text is often less important than the data presented
Look for trends, patterns, and relationships in the data
Practice extracting information quickly from scientific figures

4. Develop Reading Passage Strategies

The Reading section requires efficient passage comprehension:

Skim the questions first to know what to look for
Read actively, noting main ideas and structure
Don't get bogged down in details on first read
Use line references in questions to locate information quickly
Practice different passage types (prose, social science, humanities, natural science)

5. Memorize Key Math Formulas

Unlike the SAT, the ACT doesn't provide a formula sheet:

Memorize common formulas (area, volume, trigonometry, circle properties)
Know the quadratic formula and how to factor
Practice mental math for simple calculations
Use your calculator strategically (allowed for all math questions)
Review algebra, geometry, and basic trigonometry concepts

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a good ACT score for college admissions?

A "good" ACT score depends on your target colleges. For highly selective schools (Ivy League, Stanford, etc.), aim for 32+. For selective state universities and private colleges, a 26-30 is competitive. For most state universities, a 22-26 is solid. Check the middle 50% score range for your target schools on their common data sets or admissions websites to set realistic score goals.

How is the ACT composite score calculated?

Your composite score is the average of your four required section scores (English, Math, Reading, Science), rounded to the nearest whole number. Each section is scored 1-36, so your composite also ranges from 1-36. The optional Writing section is scored 2-12 and reported separately—it does not affect your composite score.

Should I take the optional Writing section?

Check the requirements of your target colleges. Many schools no longer require the Writing section, but some highly selective institutions still recommend or require it. If any of your schools require it, take it. Otherwise, you can usually skip it. The Writing score is reported separately and doesn't affect your composite, so it won't hurt your overall score if you perform poorly.

Can I retake the ACT to improve my score?

Yes! You can take the ACT up to 12 times total, though most students take it 2-3 times. Scores typically improve with each attempt, especially when paired with focused preparation. Many students see their biggest score gains between their first and second attempts. Consider retaking if you scored significantly below your target or if you believe you can improve specific sections.

How does the ACT compare to the SAT?

Both tests assess college readiness but have different formats:

ACT: 4 required sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) + optional Writing. Straightforward, fast-paced, includes Science section.
SAT: 2 sections (Reading & Writing, Math). More time per question, no Science section, different math content emphasis.

Some students perform better on one test than the other. Consider taking both once to see which suits you better, then focus your preparation on that test.

What is ACT superscoring and do all colleges use it?

Superscoring means colleges take your highest score from each section across multiple test dates and calculate a new composite from those best sections. Not all colleges superscore—policies vary. Some schools only consider your highest single-sitting composite. Check each college's testing policy on their admissions website or contact their admissions office directly.

How many times should I take the ACT?

Most students take the ACT 2-3 times. Taking it once establishes a baseline, twice or three times allows for improvement through targeted preparation. Beyond three attempts, score improvements tend to plateau unless there were unusual circumstances affecting earlier performances. Focus on quality preparation between attempts rather than simply taking the test repeatedly.

References

The information and calculators on this page are based on official data from ACT, Inc. and historical test analysis.

ACT Score Calculator (2026)

Required Sections

Optional Section

Composite Score