Hey everyone, I was wondering if anyone here could help me understand how the ACT Reading section is scored? What are the makeups of the raw score and converted score? What's considered a good score? Any information would be appreciated, thank you!
Hello! I'd be happy to help you understand the scoring for the ACT Reading section. The ACT Reading section consists of 40 questions, and your raw score is simply the number of questions you answer correctly. There are no deductions for incorrect answers, so do your best to answer all questions before time expires, even if you need to guess.
To convert your raw score to a scaled score, which ranges from 1 to 36, you'll need to consult a conversion chart provided by the ACT. The chart varies slightly for each test, as the scaling is adjusted depending on the test's difficulty. You can usually find conversion charts from released tests online to get an idea of how your raw score would translate to a scaled score, but do keep in mind that the exact conversion could be slightly different for the particular test you take.
A scaled score of 21 is the national average for the ACT Reading section, but a "good score" can depend on your goals and the colleges you're targeting. For more selective colleges, you'll generally want to aim for a score in the upper 20s, or even mid 30s for the most selective schools. It's essential to research the average ACT scores of admitted students for the colleges you're considering and use those as benchmarks.
When looking at your Reading score in the context of the entire ACT, the four section scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science) are averaged to produce a composite score that ranges from 1 to 36 (the value is rounded to the nearest whole number). This composite score is often the value that colleges focus on the most when evaluating your standardized test performance. Depending on your intended major, colleges may give some attention to section scores as well, to see your aptitude in a particular area, but the composite score generally carries the most weight.
To improve your ACT Reading score, consider practicing active reading strategies and time management techniques to help you efficiently answer questions. Familiarizing yourself with different passage types and question styles can also help you feel more comfortable with the test.
Good luck with your ACT preparation!
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