Your ACT composite score is the single number colleges look at first — and it is simply the average of your section scores rounded to a whole number. But with the enhanced ACT rolling out in 2025, the calculation has changed: Science is now optional, and your composite averages three sections instead of four. Here is exactly how the math works, what the new format means for your score, and how to use this knowledge to your advantage.
Your ACT composite score is the average of your individual section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Each section — English, Math, and Reading — is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, and your composite falls on that same 1-36 scale. Under the enhanced ACT (2025 and beyond), the composite is calculated from three sections. On the legacy ACT, it averaged four sections including Science.
The composite is the single most commonly reported ACT number in college admissions. It is the number that appears on scholarship applications, admissions dashboards, and school profile comparisons. When a college lists an "average ACT score" for admitted students, they are referring to the composite. It is also the primary number used for merit-based scholarship thresholds — a one-point difference can mean thousands of dollars in aid.
The ACT score calculation is straightforward arithmetic. For the enhanced ACT, add your English, Math, and Reading section scores, then divide by 3. For the legacy ACT, add all four section scores (including Science) and divide by 4. The result is rounded to a whole number — that is your composite.
Enhanced ACT formula: Composite = (English + Math + Reading) / 3
Legacy ACT formula: Composite = (English + Math + Reading + Science) / 4
Worked Example
A student takes the enhanced ACT and receives the following section scores: English 28, Math 25, Reading 30.
Rounding determines whether you land on the higher or lower whole number. The rule is simple: if the fractional part of your average is 0.5 or higher, round up. If it is below 0.5, round down. For example, an average of 25.5 rounds up to 26, while 25.49 rounds down to 25. This single point can shift your percentile ranking and potentially affect scholarship eligibility.
Your raw score on each ACT section equals the number of questions you answer correctly — period. There is no point deduction for incorrect responses. This means you should always answer every question, even if you need to guess. Leaving a question blank guarantees zero points, but guessing gives you a chance of earning a point.
Enter your section scores to calculate your composite score instantly. Uses the enhanced ACT formula (3 sections).
The biggest change to the enhanced ACT is that the Science section is now optional. It is no longer included in your composite score calculation. Instead, if you choose to take Science, your score is reported separately and contributes to a new STEM score (the average of your Math and Science section scores). This means your composite now reflects only English, Math, and Reading.
The enhanced ACT features fewer questions per section with more time per question. The new question counts are: English 50 questions in 35 minutes, Math 45 questions in 50 minutes, Reading 36 questions in 40 minutes, and Science 40 questions in 40 minutes (optional). Online testing launched in April 2025, with paper testing following in September 2025.
| Section | Questions | Time | Score Range | In Composite? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 35 min | 1–36 | Yes |
| Math | 45 | 50 min | 1–36 | Yes |
| Reading | 36 | 40 min | 1–36 | Yes |
| Science (Optional) | 40 | 40 min | 1–36 | No (reported separately) |
The 1-36 scoring scale remains unchanged. Rounding rules are identical — fractions of 0.5 or higher still round up. The test is still offered at the same testing centers, and scores from the enhanced ACT are considered interchangeable with legacy ACT scores by ACT Inc. College readiness benchmarks remain the same reference points.
| Feature | Legacy ACT (Pre-2025) | Enhanced ACT (2025+) |
|---|---|---|
| Sections in composite | 4 (English, Math, Reading, Science) | 3 (English, Math, Reading) |
| Composite formula | (E + M + R + S) / 4 | (E + M + R) / 3 |
| Science section | Required, counted in composite | Optional, reported separately |
| STEM score | Not reported | Math + Science average (if Science taken) |
| Score range | 1–36 | 1–36 |
| Rounding | 0.5+ rounds up | 0.5+ rounds up |
Your raw score on each section is simply the number of questions you answered correctly. This raw score is then converted to a scaled score on the 1-36 scale using a conversion table specific to your test form. Each ACT test form has its own unique conversion table, which is why you cannot predict your exact scaled score from raw scores alone.
For example, on one test form getting 67 out of 75 questions correct in English might yield a scaled score of 30, while on a slightly harder form that same raw score might yield a 31. The conversion table accounts for differences in difficulty between test forms.
ACT uses a statistical process called equating to ensure that scores from different test dates are comparable. If one test form is slightly harder than another, the conversion table adjusts so that equivalent abilities produce equivalent scaled scores. This is why a "good" raw score varies from test to test — the scaled score is what matters for consistent comparison.
Your ACT score percentile tells you the percentage of test takers you scored equal to or above. A composite of 24 at the 75th percentile means you scored as well as or better than 75% of test takers. The national average ACT composite score for the high school graduating class of 2024 was 19.4 out of 36 — the lowest average in over three decades, down from 19.5 for the class of 2023. Approximately 1.4 million students, or 36% of the U.S. high school graduating class of 2024, took the ACT.
| Composite Score | Approximate Percentile | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 34–36 | 99th | Top-tier (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT) |
| 30–33 | 93rd–98th | Highly competitive (Top 50 schools) |
| 24–29 | 75th–92nd | Competitive (selective colleges) |
| 20–23 | 53rd–74th | Average to above average |
| 16–19 | 25th–52nd | Below national average |
| 1–15 | Below 25th | Significant room for improvement |
Select a composite score range to see the approximate percentile and what it means for college admissions.
ACT Inc. defines College Readiness Benchmarks as the minimum section scores indicating a student has a high probability of success in credit-bearing college courses. Only 30% of 2024 high school graduates met three or four of these benchmarks.
| Subject | Benchmark Score | Indicates Readiness For |
|---|---|---|
| English | 18 | English Composition I |
| Math | 22 | College Algebra |
| Reading | 22 | Social Science / Humanities courses |
| Science | 23 | Biology |
Your composite score comes from a single test sitting — it is the average of the section scores you earned on one date. A superscore is different: it takes the highest section score from each subject across multiple test dates and averages those best scores into a new composite. The result can be higher than any single-sitting composite you earned.
Worked Example — Superscoring
A student takes the ACT twice. First sitting: English 26, Math 24, Reading 28. Second sitting: English 24, Math 28, Reading 26.
About two-thirds of selective colleges accept ACT superscores, but policies vary. Some schools will superscore automatically when you send multiple test dates, while others require you to request it. Always check the admissions page of your target schools for their specific policy. Even when a college does not officially superscore, admissions officers may informally note your highest section scores across test dates.
Because the composite is an average, raising your lowest section score has the biggest impact. If your English is 32 but your Math is 24, studying Math to bring it up by even 3 points (to 27) could raise your composite by a full point. The math is simple: with three sections in the composite, every 3-point improvement on one section adds 1 point to your composite.
The ACT is heavily time-pressured. Take full-length practice tests under strict timing to build endurance and identify which sections you struggle with most. Simulate real test conditions: sit at a desk, use a timer, take the permitted breaks, and do not check your phone. Students who practice under realistic conditions consistently perform closer to their practice test scores on the actual exam.