Study on the fly›ACT›How the ACT is scored

How the ACT is scored

• ACT
• Composite 1–36 a 1–36 band; the national average is about 19
• 4 answer options per question
• Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer
• Free

The ACT reports a Composite score that runs from 1 to 36, drawn from the English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science sections.

Work out your score

Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer, so a section’s net is simply the number of right answers.

Where to work next: English · Mathematics · Reading · Science

What the paper is made of

What the app estimates

More ACT topics

English18 topics

English

• Run-ons and comma splices
• Sentence fragments
• Subject–verb agreement
• Verb tense, form, and consistency
• Pronoun case, agreement, and clear reference
• Misplaced and dangling modifiers; adjective vs. adverb
• Idioms and standard usage
• Commas
• Semicolons and colons
• Apostrophes, dashes, and parentheses
• Author's purpose and focus
• Adding, deleting, and revising sentences (relevance)
• Logical organization and ordering
• Transitions
• Introductions and conclusions
• Word choice and precision (diction)
• Redundancy and wordiness (concision)
• Consistency of style and tone

Mathematics34 topics

Mathematics

• Real number system and number properties
• Integer and rational exponents
• Radicals and roots
• Complex numbers
• Vectors and matrices
• Fractions, decimals, and operations
• Percents and percent change
• Ratios, rates, and proportional relationships
• Linear equations and expressions in one variable
• Inequalities (linear and compound)
• Systems of equations
• Polynomial expressions and factoring
• Quadratic equations
• Radical and rational equations
• Exponential relationships
• Function notation and evaluating functions
• Linear functions and graphs
• Quadratic and polynomial functions
• Radical and rational functions
• Piecewise functions
• Exponential and logarithmic functions
• Key features and transformations of graphs
• Lines, angles, and polygons
• Triangles — congruence, similarity, Pythagorean theorem
• Circles — arcs, sectors, angles, equations
• Surface area and volume of solids
• Coordinate geometry — distance, midpoint, slope, line equations
• Conic sections
• Right-triangle trigonometry and trig functions
• Measures of center and spread
• Data collection methods and study design
• Bivariate data and relationships (scatterplots, correlation)
• Probability and sample spaces
• Counting, combinations, and permutations

Reading15 topics

Reading

• Central idea, theme, and main idea
• Locating and interpreting explicit details
• Summarizing information
• Inferences and logical conclusions
• Relationships — sequential, comparative, cause-effect
• Vocabulary in context (word and phrase meaning)
• Rhetorical word choice and tone
• Text structure
• Author's purpose and perspective
• Point of view
• Author's claims and arguments
• Fact vs. opinion
• Command of evidence and support
• Evaluating reasoning and argument construction
• Comparing paired passages

Science14 topics

Science

• Reading values from tables, graphs, and diagrams
• Recognizing relationships and trends in data
• Interpolation and extrapolation
• Translating between tables and graphs
• Experimental design, tools, and procedures
• Identifying controls, variables, and hypotheses
• Comparing and interpreting results across experiments
• Predicting and extending experiments
• Summarizing competing hypotheses/theories
• Comparing and contrasting alternative viewpoints
• Evaluating support for each viewpoint
• Reasoning mathematically about data
• Judging validity / evaluating hypotheses
• Formulating evidence-supported conclusions