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How does the ACT English scoring chart work?

Hi there, I'm a bit confused about how ACT English scores are calculated. Could someone explain the scoring chart to me or point me to a source that breaks it down? Thanks!

8 months ago

Sure, I'd be happy to help! The ACT is divided into four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1-36, and these individual section scores are then averaged to calculate your composite ACT score, which is also on a scale of 1-36.

For the ACT English section specifically, you'll encounter 75 multiple-choice questions that you need to complete within 45 minutes. Your raw score for the ACT English section will be the total number of correct answers you provide out of the 75 questions. There's no penalty for incorrect answers, so guessing can be a good strategy if you're unsure about a particular question.

Once you have your raw score, it will be converted to a scaled score on the 1-36 scale. The conversion process relies on an equating method that can vary for each test, taking into account subtle differences in test difficulty to ensure fairness across different test dates.

Conversion tables are provided by the ACT for each test date, so you'll need to refer to the scoring chart specific to your test administration to determine your scaled score. You can find your scoring chart in your testing materials or online in the ACT report portal.

Here's an example of how the scoring might work:

Suppose you get a raw score of 65 out of 75 on the English section. You would consult the scoring chart for your specific test date, which would provide the scaled score conversion. In this case, let's say the conversion chart indicates a raw score of 65 corresponds to a scaled score of 32. Then, your ACT English score would be 32.

Remember that the composite ACT score is an average of your four section scores, so you'll need to repeat a similar process for each of the other three sections. Once you have your individual section scores, simply add them up and divide by 4 to calculate your composite score. Finally, round to the nearest whole number to obtain your overall ACT score.

I hope this clears up the confusion! Good luck on your ACT!

8 months ago

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