The ACT is a standardized college admissions test that reports a composite score from 1 to 36, based on the average of a student’s English, math and reading scores.

How the composite works now

ACT’s score guide explains that the composite is the average of English, math and reading, rounded to the nearest whole number; fractions of one-half or more round up. Science used to be part of the composite, but ACT began phasing it out in April 2025 for national online testing, and by September 2025 every ACT used the new calculation.

Example. English 28, math 25, reading 30:

(28 + 25 + 30) ÷ 3 = 83 ÷ 3 = 27.67 → composite 28

Optional sections

  • Science (optional): scored 1 to 36. It also feeds a STEM score, the average of math and science.
  • Writing (optional): scored 2 to 12, reported separately. It doesn’t affect the composite.

Check whether the colleges on your list want either one before you skip them.

Estimating and comparing

The ACT score calculator converts practice-test raw scores to the 1 to 36 scale and computes the composite. If you’ve taken the SAT too, the SAT score calculator helps you compare where you’re stronger. Many colleges take your best section scores from different test dates and recalculate, which is called superscoring.

Where you’ll see it

Colleges, some state scholarship programs and a number of state school-day testing programs use ACT scores. For study habits that use AI without crossing the line, see AI for test prep.

Related: SAT · percentile rank

Frequently asked questions

Is science still part of the ACT?
Science is now an optional section. ACT began removing science from the composite score for national online testing in April 2025, and by September 2025 all ACT tests used the new calculation. Students who take science get a science score and a separate STEM score.
What is a perfect ACT score?
  1. Each section is scored from 1 to 36, and the composite is the rounded average of English, math and reading, so a 36 composite requires near-perfect scores in all three.