Sorry for sounding like a newbie but I'm confused - what exactly is an ACT scaled score? Is it the same as the composite score or something different?
The ACT scaled score is a converted version of your raw score, derived from the number of questions you answer correctly on each section (English, Math, Reading, and Science). The raw score for each section, varying from 1 to 36, is determined based on how many questions you answered correctly within that section.
However, it's worth mentioning that these raw scores do not usually mirror the exact number of correct answers due to the use of equating. This process means that harder versions of the exam require fewer correct answers to achieve a certain scaled score, while easier versions require a greater number.
Now, the ACT composite score is an average of your scaled scores from the four sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science). To simplify, it takes the average of your four scores (rounded to the nearest whole number), resulting in a composite score on the same 1-36 scale. Therefore, while related, an ACT scaled score refers to an individual section score, while the ACT composite score is the average of these.
Remember, your composite ACT score plays a significant role in the college admissions process. So make sure to prepare thoroughly for all the sections!
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