The ACT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their readiness for college-level work. The ACT consists of four multiple-choice sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. Each of these sections is scored on a scale of 1 to 36.
How the ACT Composite Score is Calculated
The ACT Composite Score is the average of the scores from the four multiple-choice sections. The calculation is straightforward:
Sum the scores from the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections.
Divide the sum by 4.
The result is then rounded to the nearest whole number. For example, if the sum divided by 4 results in 25.75, the Composite Score is 26. If it results in 25.25, the Composite Score is 25.
Why the Composite Score Matters
The ACT Composite Score is a crucial metric for college admissions. Many universities use it, along with GPA and other application components, to evaluate applicants. A higher composite score can strengthen your application and potentially qualify you for scholarships and honors programs.
Which Calculators are ACT Approved?
The ACT organization specifically permits the use of basic four-function calculators (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and scientific calculators on the exam. Graphing calculators are also permitted, but their use may be restricted in specific sections (e.g., some advanced functions might be disabled). The key is that the calculator should not have features that could give an unfair advantage, such as:
Built-in algebra solvers
Equation menyimpan capability
Pre-programmed formulas or notes
QWERTY keyboards
Other advanced computing or electronic "paper" features
Therefore, the calculator you use to prepare for the ACT should be similar in function to a standard scientific calculator. The calculator below is a simple tool to help you understand how your section scores translate into the final composite score.
function calculateCompositeScore() {
var englishScore = parseFloat(document.getElementById("englishScore").value);
var mathScore = parseFloat(document.getElementById("mathScore").value);
var readingScore = parseFloat(document.getElementById("readingScore").value);
var scienceScore = parseFloat(document.getElementById("scienceScore").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(englishScore) || englishScore 36 ||
isNaN(mathScore) || mathScore 36 ||
isNaN(readingScore) || readingScore 36 ||
isNaN(scienceScore) || scienceScore 36) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid scores between 1 and 36 for all sections.";
return;
}
var sumOfScores = englishScore + mathScore + readingScore + scienceScore;
var compositeScore = Math.round(sumOfScores / 4);
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your ACT Composite Score is: " + compositeScore + "";
}