Can anyone explain what an ACT scale score is? I've come across this term while prepping for the ACT, and I'm a bit unsure about what it actually means.
Sure, happy to clarify this for you! An ACT scale score is a converted raw score. In the ACT, you first earn a "raw score," which is just the number of questions you answered correctly on each test section (English, Math, Reading, and Science). These raw scores are then converted into a standard score known as the scale score, which ranges between 1 and 36 for each test section.
The primary purpose of these ACT scale scores is to standardize the scoring across different versions of the test. As some test versions may be slightly more difficult or easier than others, scale scores ensure that all students are evaluated fairly regardless of which test version they took.
After the individual section scores are calculated, these are averaged to create your composite score, which is also a scale score and ranges from 1 to 36. The composite score represents your overall ACT performance and is often the first score that college admissions officers look at.
Remember, the scores from the optional writing section don't factor into this composite score. The writing section is scored separately on a scale of 2 to 12.
I hope this information has added a bit of clarity! Feel free to reach out if you have more questions.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.