Understanding ACT Reading Scale?

Hi everyone! I'm new to the ACT and I'm a bit confused about how the reading scores are scaled. Can someone help me understand the scaling process and how it affects my composite score?

Hi there! I'd be happy to help explain the ACT Reading scaling process and how it contributes to your composite score.

The ACT consists of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. The Reading section specifically consists of 40 questions, and the number of correct answers determines your raw score. The raw score is then converted to a scaled score using a process called equating. Equating takes into account the slight variations in difficulty across different test versions, ensuring that scores are comparable across test dates.

To better understand equating, let's take an example: suppose on one test date, a raw score of 30 correct answers converts to a scaled score of 26. On another test date with a slightly more difficult version, a raw score of 29 correct answers might also convert to a scaled score of 26. This conversion varies with each test, so there is no one-size-fits-all conversion chart. After each test administration, the ACT releases a scaling chart unique to that specific test.

After you receive scaled scores for each section (English, Math, Reading, and Science), they are averaged to calculate your composite score, which also ranges from 1 to 36. Your composite score is simply the arithmetic mean of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.

To summarize, your raw score on the Reading section is the number of correct answers. It is then equated to a scaled score, taking into account the difficulty of the test. Your scaled scores for all four sections are averaged to determine your composite score, which ranges from 1 to 36. Good luck with your ACT preparation!