Hi folks, can someone please decipher the ACT math score chart for me? Couldn't find a source that explains it well. What scores are considered good, and how's the chart formatted? Thanks!
Sure thing! The ACT math test is structured as a 60-question, 60-minute exam comprised of multiple-choice questions that represent the math levels typically achieved by 11th and 12th graders. Your raw score will be the number of questions you answered correctly. Since there's no penalty for guessing on the ACT, you should aim to answer all 60 questions within the hour.
The raw score is then converted to a scaled score that ranges from 1 to 36. This process, known as equating, ensures that scores are standard across different test dates, accounting for variations in test difficulty.
As for what scores are good, it's largely dependent on the college or university you're interested in. Some might require a 30 or above, while others will be content with a score in the mid-20s. For reference, a score of 28 or above puts you in the top 25% of all test-takers, while a score of 16 or lower puts you in the bottom 25%.
Here's a basic breakdown of how the ACT Math scaled scores correspond to percentiles:
- Score of 36 (100th percentile): You're basically in the top 1% of test takers.
- Score of 34 (99th percentile): You've scored better than 99% of test takers.
- Score of 30 (94th percentile): This means you've scored better than 94% of test takers.
- Score of 28 (89th percentile): You've scored better than 89% of test takers.
- Score of 24 (74th percentile): This means you're above average as you've scored better than roughly 74% of test takers.
- Score of 20 (57th percentile): This is around the average ACT math score.
- Score of 16 (35th percentile): You've scored better than 35% of test takers.
- Score of 12 (6th percentile): This is considered quite low on the score chart.
Remember, every university has its preferred range of ACT scores, so you need to check the ACT requirements of the colleges you aspire to apply to and aim to fall within that range or exceed it! I hope this helps clarify the scoring system.
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