ACT test scores are important for college admissions. The composite score ranges from 1 to 36 and is difficult to interpret without comparison to others. Individual section scores provide insight into a student’s strengths and weaknesses in specific areas. Colleges use scores to predict future academic performance.
Correctly interpreting an ACT test score can give a student a general idea of how attractive he or she may be to colleges. While extracurricular activities and community involvement may indicate to a college that a candidate is a sociable and well-rounded individual, exam scores are also very important. While exam scores only provide a snapshot of a student’s competence, colleges often use them to assess and predict future GPA and overall academic performance that the student could achieve if admitted. An ACT test score can be evaluated by looking at the individual section scores, the overall composite score, and comparing an individual’s score to the rest of people who have taken the test in recent years.
The ACT test composite score is the average of all section scores and ranges from a low score of 1 to a high score of 36. The composite number is difficult to interpret without any reference for comparison; therefore, it is often listed alongside a percentage score. The percentile tells the student how they scored relative to other individuals.
For 2008-2011, for example, a composite score of 25 is at the 80th percentile, meaning that a person who received an ACT test score of 25 performed at the same level or better than 80% but less than 20% of others people who took the test. The ACT provides additional data that is updated every few years, including the average ACT test score, the frequency with which each score is achieved, and the range of ACT scores that colleges typically admit. This information helps the student determine whether he has an unusually high or low score and whether that score will be suitable for college admission.
The individual section scores, also on a scale of 1-36, provide a better insight into which areas, such as science, math, or language, the student excels or struggles with. For example, a high language score but a low math score might equal an average score. This does not give an accurate picture of a student’s above-average performance in the language, which can be important if he or she is trying to get accepted into a language-focused course. If, instead, that same student were trying to major in a math-related field, the low score indicates that he or she may struggle in that area and could benefit from extra preparatory classes.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
