ACT Score Calculator
Calculate your ACT composite score (1–36) from your section scores and see your percentile ranking and how it compares to top university ranges.
Core Sections (factored into composite score)
Optional Sections
How is the ACT scored?
The ACT is scored on a 1–36 scale. English, Math, Reading, and Science are each scored from 1 to 36, and your composite is the average of those four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The test runs about three hours with breaks, and the optional essay adds time.
How is your ACT composite calculated?
Each of the four sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — is scored from 1 to 36. Those four scores are averaged and rounded to produce your composite. The optional Writing test is scored separately from 2 to 12 and does not change your composite. The ACT is popular with US universities, particularly in the Midwest, and is increasingly used nationwide.
What are ACT score percentiles?
Your percentile tells you the share of test-takers you scored higher than. A composite of 24 sits around the 57th percentile, while a 30 is roughly the 90th.
| Composite score | Approx. percentile |
|---|---|
| 36 | 99+ |
| 34 | 98 |
| 32 | 95 |
| 30 | 90 |
| 28 | 82 |
| 26 | 71 |
| 24 | 57 |
| 22 | 41 |
| 20 | 25 |
What ACT score do top universities expect?
Most top-tier universities report middle-50% composites of roughly 33–36. Selective universities publish the middle-50% ACT range of admitted students; aim for the upper half of a school’s range to stay competitive.
| University | Middle-50% range |
|---|---|
| MIT | 34–36 |
| Harvard | 33–35 |
| Stanford | 33–35 |
| Princeton | 33–35 |
| UC Berkeley | 29–33 |
What are the ACT test sections?
English (1–36) covers grammar, usage, and rhetorical skills in the context of real passages.
Math (1–36) covers algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and problem-solving.
Reading (1–36) tests reading comprehension and critical thinking across various passage types.
Science (1–36) tests interpreting data and understanding scientific concepts and experimental design.
Writing (2–12, optional) is one 40-minute essay demonstrating writing skills and argumentation; it does not affect your composite.
How should I prepare for the ACT?
- Take full-length official ACT Inc. practice tests to get familiar with the format and timing.
- Identify your weaker sections and focus study time where it moves your composite the most.
- Master time management — the ACT is fast-paced, so practice pacing across all sections.
- Learn ACT-specific question formats so nothing surprises you on test day, and track your scores over time.
Some students score better on the SAT — it is worth comparing. Try our SAT Score Calculator to see which test suits your strengths.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 24 a good ACT score?
A composite of 24 sits around the 57th percentile, meaning you scored higher than more than half of test-takers. Selective universities generally expect more — UC Berkeley's middle-50% range is 29–33.
Does the ACT Writing test affect my composite score?
No. The optional Writing test is scored separately from 2 to 12 and does not change your 1–36 composite.
How is the ACT composite score calculated?
Your English, Math, Reading, and Science scores — each from 1 to 36 — are averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number.
What ACT score do I need for Harvard or MIT?
MIT reports a middle-50% range of 34–36, while Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton report 33–35. Aim for the upper half of a school's range to stay competitive.
Is this ACT score calculator official?
No — it is a free, unofficial estimator that averages your four section scores the same way ACT scoring does. Only your official score report shows your real composite.
Related Guides
Understand the scoring behind the numbers this tool gives you.
How ACT Scoring Works: From Raw Score to 36
How ACT scoring works: correct answers become 1 to 36 section scores, and English, Math and Reading average into your Composite.
What Is a Good ACT Score
What counts as a good ACT score: national average, score bands, section goals, and targets by college selectivity.
ACT Percentiles Explained
See the current ACT percentile table for composite and section scores, and how national rank differs from your scale score.
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