Case 1
- English score
- 24
- Math score
- 22
- Reading score
- 25
- Science score
- 23
24
Open with these valuesACT Score Calculator (US College Entrance Test)
24
Result: 24The composite is the plain average of your four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number — no weighting and no conversion between sections. The rounding is the whole calculator: a half rounds up, so 23.5 becomes 24 while 23.25 becomes 23. Each section runs from 1 to 36, so the composite does too.
Worked examples
Case 2
- English score
- 30
- Math score
- 30
- Reading score
- 30
- Science score
- 30
30
Open with these valuesCase 3
- English score
- 20
- Math score
- 20
- Reading score
- 20
- Science score
- 21
20
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
composite = round((English + Math + Reading + Science) ÷ 4)
- StepEnter your English, math, reading and science scores, each from 1 to 36.
- StepAdd the four and divide by four to get the section average.
- StepRound to the nearest whole number — one half or more rounds up.
- ResultRead the composite, on the same 1-to-36 scale as the sections.
Reference table
| English, math, reading, science | Section average | Composite |
|---|---|---|
| 36, 36, 36, 36 | 36.00 | 36 |
| 30, 30, 30, 30 | 30.00 | 30 |
| 24, 22, 25, 23 | 23.50 | 24 |
| 23, 24, 24, 24 | 23.75 | 24 |
| 23, 23, 24, 24 | 23.50 | 24 |
| 23, 23, 23, 24 | 23.25 | 23 |
| 20, 20, 20, 21 | 20.25 | 20 |
| 1, 1, 1, 1 | 1.00 | 1 |
Questions
How is the ACT composite score calculated?
It is the average of your four section scores — English, math, reading and science — each on a 1 to 36 scale, rounded to the nearest whole number. Add the four, divide by four, and round. Scores of 24, 22, 25 and 23 average 23.5, which rounds up to a composite of 24.
Does a half-point average round up?
Yes. ACT rounds the composite to the nearest whole number, and fractions of one half or more round up. A section average of 23.5 becomes a composite of 24, while 23.25 becomes 23.
Is science still part of the composite?
Not always. Since the enhanced ACT of 2025 the science section is optional, and for students who skip it the composite averages English, math and reading only. This calculator computes the four-section composite, which applied through 2024 and still applies whenever science is taken.
What is the fastest way to raise my composite?
Focus on your weakest section. Because the composite is a plain average, lifting your lowest score moves it most per point gained. Raising a 19 to a 24 changes the average far more than nudging an already strong 30 to a 31.
What is ACT superscoring?
Superscoring is when a college combines your best section scores across several test dates into one new, higher composite. Not every school does it, and this calculator scores a single sitting. If you have taken the ACT more than once, enter your best score in each section to estimate the superscore.
Does the composite include the Writing test?
No. The optional Writing essay is scored separately on a 2 to 12 scale and never enters the composite. This calculator leaves it out for the same reason.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.