Enter how many questions you got right in each section of one of ACT's free practice tests to see your scale scores, your Composite, your national rank, and how many more correct answers your next point takes.
Official ACT conversion tablesPractice Tests 1 to 4Checked October 27, 2026
Jump to:How scoring worksPractice testsHow many you can missNext stepsFAQ
Step 1 of 5
Which ACT practice test did you take?
ACT's four free official practice tests, online or on paper. Each test form has its own conversion table.
Step 2 of 5
How many English questions did you get right?
Count only scored questions, from 0 to 40.
Step 3 of 5
How many Math questions did you get right?
Count only scored questions, from 0 to 41.
Step 4 of 5
How many Reading questions did you get right?
Count only scored questions, from 0 to 27.
Step 5 of 5
How many Science questions did you get right?
Count only scored questions, from 0 to 34.
Your scores
How ACT scoring works
- Raw score: the number of scored questions you get right in a section. Wrong answers cost nothing, so answer every question, even if you have to guess.
- Scored questions: English 40 of 50, Math 41 of 45, Reading 27 of 36, and Science 34 of 40. The rest are field-test questions that ACT is trying out, and they do not count.
- Scale score: each raw score converts to a score from 1 to 36 with a table made for that test form.
- Composite: the average of your English, Math, and Reading scale scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Fractions of one-half or more round up.
- Science and STEM: Science is optional and does not count toward the Composite. If you take it, ACT also reports a STEM score, the average of Math and Science.
Conversion tables differ because test forms differ a little in difficulty. ACT's own example: a raw score of 35 on one Math form may be about as hard to earn as a 37 on another. On the practice tests, 37 correct in English is a 33 on Practice Test 1 and a 34 on Practice Tests 2, 3, and 4.
Sources: ACT, Understanding Your Scores; the scoring keys for Practice Tests 1 to 4.
The practice tests this calculator covers
ACT offers four full practice tests free, online or as printable PDFs, on its free test prep page. Each has a scoring key with the answers and a conversion table. Practice Tests 2, 3, and 4 share one table; Practice Test 1 has its own. When you count your raw score, skip the field-test questions:
| Test | English | Math | Reading | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice Test 1 | 41 to 50 | 7, 16, 29, and 40 | 1 to 9 | 29 to 34 |
| Practice Test 2 | 16 to 25 | 8, 18, 28, and 38 | 19 to 27 | 6 to 11 |
| Practice Test 3 | 11 to 20 | 6, 18, 29, and 40 | 10 to 18 | 11 to 16 |
| Practice Test 4 | 31 to 40 | 8, 16, 28, and 39 | 19 to 27 | 6 to 11 |
Question numbers from each test's scoring key (ACT, 2026). The links open the official scoring keys.
How many questions can you miss?
The fewest correct answers needed for each scale score on ACT's practice tests:
| Scale score | English (of 40) | Math (of 41) | Reading (of 27) | Science (of 34) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 40 | 40 | 27 | 34 |
| 33 | 37 | 37 | 25 | 32 |
| 30 | 35 | 35 | 23 | 30 |
| 27 | 33 | 31 | 21 | 28 |
| 24 | 30 | 27 | 19 | 23 |
| 21 | 25 | 24 | 16 | 18 |
| Scale score | English (of 40) | Math (of 41) | Reading (of 27) | Science (of 34) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 40 | 40 | 27 | 34 |
| 33 | 37 | 36 | 25 | 31 |
| 30 | 36 | 33 | 23 | 28 |
| 27 | 33 | 28 | 22 | 25 |
| 24 | 30 | 25 | 19 | 21 |
| 21 | 26 | 22 | 16 | 17 |
Real test forms have their own tables, so expect these numbers to shift by a question or two on test day.
What to do with your practice score
ACT calls a practice test score an estimate of the score you would get on test day. To see where it puts you, use our ACT score checker for your national rank and the college readiness benchmarks, or the ACT to SAT converter to compare it with an SAT score. Then go back through the test: the questions you missed, the ones you guessed on, and any section where you ran out of time show you what to work on next. If you will test more than once, read about score choice and superscoring, and combine your best sections with our ACT superscore calculator.
Get a plan built around your practice test. Blake Jensen has nearly 20 years of experience helping students raise their SAT and ACT scores. He tutors in person in Carmel Valley and online over Zoom. Consultations are free: call or text him at (858) 367-0187, or book one below.
More about ACT tutoring, online ACT tutoring, and ACT tutoring for high scorers.
Frequently asked questions
How is the ACT scored?
Each section is scored by counting the questions you answer correctly (your raw score) and converting that number to a scale score from 1 to 36 with a table made for that test form. Wrong answers cost nothing. Your Composite is the average of your English, Math, and Reading scale scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
How many questions can you miss on the ACT and still get a 36?
On all four of ACT's practice tests, a 36 takes every scored question right in English, Reading, and Science, and you can miss one in Math. Real test forms have their own tables, so the cutoff can shift by a question or two.
How is the ACT Composite score calculated?
Add your English, Math, and Reading scale scores and divide by 3. Fractions of one-half or more round up, and smaller fractions round down. For example, 25, 27, and 28 average 26.67, which rounds to 27.
Does Science count toward the ACT Composite?
No. Science is optional and reported on its own. If you take it, you also get a STEM score, the average of your Math and Science scores.
Why don't all ACT questions count?
Every section includes field-test questions that ACT is trying out for future tests. They are not scored: 10 of 50 in English, 4 of 45 in Math, 9 of 36 in Reading, and 6 of 40 in Science. The scoring key for each practice test shows which ones they are.
Is my practice test score accurate?
ACT calls a practice test score an estimate of the score you would get on test day. Take the test timed and in one sitting, as on test day, so the estimate means more.
Can I use this calculator for older ACT practice tests?
No. ACT shortened the test in 2025 (44 fewer questions overall), and older practice tests use their own conversion tables, printed in their own booklets. This calculator covers ACT's four current free practice tests.
What is a good ACT score?
The class of 2026 averaged 19.2. See what counts as a good ACT score for percentiles, benchmarks, and college ranges.
Scale scores come from the conversion tables in ACT's official scoring keys for Practice Tests 1 to 4. National ranks, benchmarks, and the class of 2026 average come from ACT, and SAT equivalents from the official ACT/SAT concordance. We are independent tutors and are not affiliated with ACT. Last checked October 27, 2026.