this post has been updated for the new format of the act starting april 2025. for details on how the new act differs from the old one, see how to prepare for the act.

when you sit down for the official act exam, act math is the second section you’ll see on the test. so just what does this section test? the act math test assesses the mathematical skills students are expected to obtain before grade 12 (meaning through advanced algebra and basic trigonometry, but not calculus). here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know:

• you have a 50-minute time limit
• you will face 45 multiple choice math questions
• you get to use a calculator for the whole test (but it must be an approved one)

still curious? read on for everything you need to know about the act mathematics test!

what kind of math is on the act?

the act is a standardized test–and that’s great news for test-takers! it means that the test makers aren’t just pulling questions out of thin air: there’s a standardized list of topics that questions can cover. in the mathematics section on the act, an act math question could come from any category below:

pre-algebra

• decimals, fractions, integers, number properties, positive and negative numbers, square roots, scientific notation, factors, ratios, proportions, percents, averages, charts and graphs of statistics

algebra

• elementary algebra
  • exponents, evaluating algebraic expressions through substitution, using variables to express relationships, algebraic operations, and factoring quadratic equations
• intermediate algebra
  • quadratic formula, rational and radical expressions (including some logarithms), absolute value equations and inequalities, sequences and series, systems of equations, quadratic inequalities, functions, matrices, roots of polynomials, probability, and complex numbers

geometry

• coordinate geometry
  • evaluating points and lines on a graph, polynomials, circles and other curves, graphing inequalities, slope, parallel and perpendicular lines, distance, midpoints, and conics
• plane geometry
  • angles and relationships among perpendicular and parallel lines, properties of circles, ellipses, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, transformations, area, volume, three-dimensional geometry

trigonometry

• trigonometric relations in right angles, values and properties of trig functions, graphing trig functions, using trig identities, solving trig equations

how do you get a 36 on the act math?

have you set your sights high when it comes to your act math score? awesome! we love it. here are a few essential skills to get your math score into that stratospheric range. then, for more advice, check out our guide to getting a perfect 36 on the math test!

1. pacing is key. check out our tips for improving your timing on the act!
    
2. focus on high-frequency topics. familiarize yourself with the most frequently tested math concepts as well as other key concepts for act math to make sure you have them down pat by test day!
    
3. balance hard and easy problems. practice with hard math problems–but don’t forget to practice easy and medium problems, too! after all, they’re just as common on the exam.
    
4. practice using formulas. ensure you don’t just memorize math formulas–work on using them in context by applying them to act math practice questions!

the post how to ace act math: topics and tips appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

this post has been updated for the new format of the act starting april 2025. for details on how the new act differs from the old one, see how to prepare for the act.

studying for a standardized test can be like navigating the amazon river by yourself. it’s possible to do it on your own—but at some point, you’re probably really going to wish that you had a guide. lucky for you, finding an act study guide online is (slightly) easier than going down the amazon! while finding the right act test study guide may seem overwhelming, given all the material that’s out there, we have the perfect resources to help you navigate those muddy waters of act prep! so let’s start our journey by taking a look at magoosh’s act prep study guide and what you can expect to find in it.

table of contents

• the magoosh act study guide ebook
• act test study guide (one month schedule)
• study calendar
• weekly checkpoints
• act english study guide
• act math study guide
• act reading study guide
• act science study guide
• act writing (essay) study guide
• act prep study guide resources
• a final word

the magoosh act study guide ebook

our downloadable act study guide will:

• provide you with a clear overview of the exam, explaining what you’ll encounter on test day;
• explain how to use the test’s logistics (scheduling, timing, format) to your advantage;
• introduce you to the material (content) the act tests, before giving you an in-depth look at the different sub-content areas the exam may ask about;
• teach you strategies you can use, both in each section and on the test as a whole, to get your highest possible score.

and best of all? it’s free!

also make sure you check out our post on how to prepare for the act for an overview of the more recent changes to the act.

act test study guide schedules

so, what next?

go ahead and skim through the ebook if you haven’t already. spend a minute or two orienting yourself with the table of contents and take note of the format, resources, and key concepts we’ve included.

using the magoosh act study guide

it can be tempting to try to get through it all in one go. if your test is tomorrow, go for it—you have nothing to lose! but if you have a little more time for your act prep, know that smarts and strategy will win this race. even with the best study guide, it still can be hard to know the best way to approach your prep.

with that in mind, we’ve created a one month calendar to show you how to get the most out of your act exam study guide!

if you want a printable copy of this calendar, download the one month study calendar pdf.

making progress with the act exam study guide

as you study for the act exam, and work through all those act prep questions, you may find that you’re struggling to measure your progress. should you amp up your practice before the big exam, or are you on track to get your dream score?

take a look at our weekly checkpoints for the one month study schedule to follow your progress and ensure that you’re on the right track.

to use the checkpoints, simply copy the following information into a notebook at the end of each week, after you’ve taken an act practice test. or, if you prefer, you can print the pdf version of the checkpoints and track your progress directly on that paper. if you’re going the printer route, make sure to print four copies so you have one for each week of the act study guide!

if you want a printable copy of these checkpoints, download the weekly checkpoints pdf.

adapting the study guide for the act to your schedule

it’s important to note that you don’t have to use the magoosh study guide for act in just one month. some students find that they want to devote more time to their act studies. that’s great! what counts as efficient act prep can vary from person to person.

keep in mind that, combined with the resources we mention in the act study guide, you can adapt the above calendar to suit your own schedule. you can also find advice for one week, two month, and three month act study schedules right here on the magoosh high school blog!

next up, let’s look at study guides for each act test.

act english study guide

what’s the first thing you’re going to see when you open that test booklet on the official exam? well, after all the administrative stuff, you’ll see the act english test. here’s what it will look like and how to get the most out of the act english study guide!

the format of the act english test

the act english test is 35 minutes long and, as we’ve seen, the first section of the act. within that time frame, you’ll answer 50 multiple-choice questions—that’s more than one a minute!

with that kind of time pressure, you’re not going to want to waste precious seconds figuring out what a question’s testing you on. with that in mind, let’s take a look at…

what to study for act english

as you work through the act study guide, you’ll see that the 50 english questions fall into only a few categories. to make your act english practice easier, let’s divide them into two categories and six subcategories:

• usage/mechanics
  • grammar and usage
  • punctuation
  • sentence structure

• rhetorical skills
  • strategy
  • organization
  • style

suggested resources for act english practice

within the magoosh act study guide, you’ll find the english section covered from pages 57-103. if you’re still craving act english practice, check out more resources on the magoosh act english page!

it’s also important to note that act testmakers publish free practice resources and tests on their website.

act math study guide

after the act english test, you’re going to have to switch gears pretty quickly, because here comes act math! while the math test covers a variety of topics, don’t let it make you nervous. with the right preparation, you can get enough act math practice under your belt to feel nothing but confidence on test day.

the format of the act math test

the second test (section) of the act, the act math test throws 45 questions at you and gives you 50 minutes to answer them. while that’s more time per question than the act english test gave you, most students will still feel the time crunch. you can use a calculator on the exam, but make sure it’s an approved one!

and what will you be looking at during that hour?

what to study for act math

on the surface, act math only covers six concept areas. however, each of those areas (pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and basic trigonometry) could take an entire semester to master.

so, more specifically, what will you see on the act math test?

• pre-algebra: decimals, fractions, integers, positive and negative numbers, square roots, scientific notation, factors, ratios, proportions, percents, charts and graphs of statistics
• elementary algebra: exponents, evaluating algebraic expressions through substitution, using variables to express relationships, algebraic operations, and factoring quadratic equations
• intermediate algebra: quadratic formula, rational and radical expressions, absolute value equations and inequalities, sequences and series, systems of equations, quadratic inequalities, functions, matrices, roots of polynomials, probability, and complex numbers
• coordinate geometry: evaluating points and lines on a graph, polynomials, circles and other curves, graphing inequalities, slope, parallel and perpendicular lines, distance, midpoints, and conics
• plane geometry: angles and relationships among perpendicular and parallel lines, properties of circles, ellipses, rectangles, triangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, transformations, area, volume, three-dimensional geometry
• basic trigonometry: trigonometric relations in right angles, values and properties of trig functions, graphing trig functions, using trig identities, solving trig equations

whew!

suggested resources for act math practice

first of all, you’ll find act math in the magoosh act study guide on pages 104-202. (i know it looks like a lot, but trust me—it’s fun, and it’s a great way to cover alllll those topics we just looked at.) for more practice and tips for the math test, you can also check out magoosh’s act math page.

finally, it’s really important to keep in mind that, unlike the sat exam, the act does not provide students with any math formulas. with that in mind, we created this math formulas on the act pdf for you to use as a handy-dandy study guide (just be sure to wean yourself off of it well before the test)!

act reading study guide

hold onto your hats, because we’re rapidly switching gears again: this time, from math to reading. i know, it would be awesome if all the english, reading, and writing were together and the math and science were back-to-back…sigh. that’s not the case. enough dreaming! let’s look at the reality.

the format of the act reading test

the time pressure here seems to be a little lighter than on english test—at first. yes, there are only 36 questions to answer in 40 minutes, but keep in mind that those 36 questions are about 4 passages, which can be lengthy and take some time to read.

what to study for act reading

as you start your act reading practice, you’ll soon realize that the genres of the passages that you’ll see (fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science) are less important than the types of questions that accompany those passages. so what are those question types?

• detail: questions that ask you to find a detail in the text.
• main idea: questions that ask you to determine the primary message of a paragraph, section or entire passage.
• comparative relationships: questions that ask you to compare two or more people, viewpoints, events or theories.
• cause-effect relationships and sequence of events: questions that ask you to determine what caused something else or what is the effect of something in the passage.
• inferences/generalizations: questions that require you to synthesize information and boil it down to a more concise form.
• meanings of words: questions that ask you to determine the meaning of a word in context.
• author’s voice, method, or purpose: questions that ask you to draw conclusions about the author’s point of view and method; basically how a passage is developed or its purpose.

while that might not seem like a lot, it can take a lot of reading practice to determine exactly how to identify which types of question you’re working on and how to answer it. but don’t worry! because we can offer…

suggested resources for act reading practice

to learn more about magoosh act study guide for reading, scroll on over to pages 204-220 of the ebook study guide. you can find more practice in the magoosh act reading blog posts, as well as in the “red book” and on the act website.

what is the best thing you can do, outside of practicing and practice testing? read on your own time! read for fun, read for information, read for a higher test score—as long as you’re reading, you’re helping your act reading score.

act science study guide

our fourth and last test on the act is act science, but it is optional. as you practice and work your way through the magoosh act study guide for science, remember that the science test is all about reasoning. while familiarity with basic science terms is necessary, you don’t need to have a nobel prize (or ap test) under your belt to ace this section!

the format of the act science test

the act science test will give you 40 questions to answer in 40 minutes. unlike act reading, you’re going to get a lot of different passages: expect to find 6 to 7 in act science.

the good news is that these passages are shorter and more visual than reading passages (think lots of charts and graphs). so, there’s definitely a big distinction between the science-based act reading passage and the reading passages in the act science test.

what to study for act science

don’t spend your time boning up on tiny details from advanced physics courses (at least, not for the purposes of the act). instead, work on interpreting charts and graphs, reading science articles for non-specialists, and practicing act-specific materials. that way, you’ll be able to recognize and master the following question types:

• detail: questions that ask you to find a specific data point on a graph, table, diagram, etc. and report the answer.
• pattern: questions that ask you to predict a trend or relationship among the given data, generally by finding a point between existing data points or continuing to follow a trend beyond existing data.
• inference: questions that ask you to draw conclusions from the data, sometimes combining information from multiple figures or experiments, and sometimes evaluating how new information would affect the experiment.
• scientific method: questions that ask about how experiments are designed, or how experimenters test and interpret data.
• compare and contrast: questions that only appear on the “conflicting viewpoints” passage and ask you to compare various aspects of opposing hypotheses on a scientific phenomenon, or explain how additional information might affect the various arguments presented.

suggested resources for act science practice

to put those question types in context, take a look at some act science practice passages! to find magoosh’s science study guide, turn on over to pages 221-244. the magoosh blog is also a great place to find tips and tricks for the act science test. the “red book” is also strong in this area.

act writing study guide (essay)

a quick note: the act essay is optional, but a few colleges require it for admission or for scholarships. so check the admissions requirements of the schools you’re applying to.

a lot of students balk at preparing for the act writing test (otherwise known as “the essay”). these students often get stellar grades in their english classes, so you’d think they’d embrace this section. instead, they think that their great english class essays will translate to a great act essay score.

this is not necessarily true! it’s really important to remember that the act essay is unique. what gets you high grades on your essays for school may not get earn high scores on the act.

so what will? let’s take a look at the format of the test first, then see how you can use that format to get your best score on the act writing test.

the format of the act essay

the act writing test provides you with a prompt and gives you 40 minutes to write an essay response. the prompt consists of a debatable topic and three different perspectives on that topic. act asks you to evaluate those perspectives, provide your own, and explain the relationship between your opinion and those provided.

what to study for act writing

if writing english class essays doesn’t prepare you for the act writing test, then what does?

though your prep for this section will necessarily be different than your preparation for the others, there are a few specific skills that can help you score well:

• 5-paragraph essays, particularly how to structure them;
• choosing examples—and then using them well;
• brainstorming and related note-taking;
• proofreading, particularly proofreading your own work.

suggested resources for act writing practice

these might seem like difficult concepts to practice, and they can certainly be tricky to grasp at first if you’re working on your own. lucky for you, we’re here to help! for more info on act writing, check out pages 244 to 257 of the ebook and magoosh’s act writing posts.

act prep study guide resources

want more act prep resources to add to the hundreds of pages of strategies and practice in the magoosh act ebook, and the thousands of posts from our experts on the high school blog?

if you’re looking to flesh out different aspects of your own personal act test study guide, then you probably do. we’ve got you covered:

• free 2022世界杯入门名单 with answers and explanations (pdf download)
• this full-length 2022世界杯入门名单 contains over 200 of magoosh act’s best practice questions. use it as your practice test during any week of the magoosh one month study guide, then watch the free explanation videos for all the questions you missed. it’s the perfect way to learn from your mistakes and increase your score!

• how to take & review your 2022世界杯入门名单
• before anything else, i highly suggest you learn how to use full-length 2022世界杯入门名单s to your advantage while prepping for the act.

• magoosh act mobile apps
• i can’t recommend our free act apps highly enough! both the magoosh act flashcard app and magoosh act lessons app are available for android and iphone. they’re perfect for studying on the go.

• act score calculator
• finally, if you’re taking a practice tests as part of your act study guide (and you definitely, definitely should!) you’ll need our act score calculator, as well as the ultimate guide to act scoring to help you put them in context.

and don’t forget about magoosh act prep! see if it’s right for you by signing up for our seven-day free trial (no credit card info needed).

a final word

in the end, learning how to study for act comes down to learning the test format, the scoring system, and how to practice—and then practicing, practicing, practicing!

do your best to regularly evaluate your work, make sure your practice is consistent, and stay strong. the fact that you’re this invested in your act success is a great sign that you’ll do well.

good luck, act test-takers!

the post act study guide appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

meet the magoosh act ebook

the magoosh act ebook is your complete guide to the act exam. and it’s completely free.

this resource comes from the same magoosh act experts who brought you magoosh act prep and the magoosh high school blog. this free ebook will help you begin your act prep, give you the information and strategies you’ll need as you get closer to your exam, and even help you understand your scores after the test.

perfect for both beginners and advanced students, this act ebook has a little something for everyone.

note: for the latest updates on the format changes on the act, see how to prepare for the act. since the question types and content tested by the act are still the same, this act ebook will continue to serve you well in your act prep!

what you’ll get from this free act ebook

the magoosh act ebook:

• walks you through the format of the act exam
• explains every type of question the act could ask
• spells out proven strategies for each question type
• includes act practice problems and explanations to help you gain experience
• has tons of helpful graphs, images, anecdotes, and nerdy jokes to make your prep more fun

bonus:

the magoosh act ebook isn’t written like a textbook. it isn’t dense or dry, and you won’t need a million post-it notes just to keep track of what’s going on.

in fact, there are no rules—you can use this new resource in whatever way works for you. because it’s a pdf, you can feel free to read it online, save it for later use, or even print out certain sections to read on the go.

here’s the best way to get started:

1. check out the table of contents to see what sounds cool. the table of contents is clickable, so go ahead and navigate straight to that section. see? already better than a textbook.

2. skim through the parts you naturally find most interesting.

3. then, when you’ve gotten a better idea of the ebook’s format, spend more time on the sections you need the most help in. learn the strategies, try some practice problems, and take lots of notes. have questions? leave a comment on this post.

4. when you’re ready for more resources, visit our act study guide. it expands on the ebook and offers additional resources, such as a study calendar, handy prep checklist, and act test-specific study schedules.

get your copy of magoosh’s free act ebook

did i mention that this new act ebook is completely free?

the post act ebook – free pdf download appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

update: starting april 2025 for the digital act and september 2025 for the paper act, the science section is optional. for all the changes, and advice on whether you should take science, see our post on how to prepare for the act, which is updated for the new test. our study plans included science for students who choose to take it, but if you are not taking act science, just skip the science sections in the study schedule!

whether you’re giving yourself a week, a month, or a year to prep for the act exam, it always helps to add some structure to your act study plan. using a study schedule can help you stay motivated and hold you accountable, even on days when you’d rather not study for the act (yes, you’ll probably have many days like this, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great act score!).

with this in mind, we created some act study plans to help you ace your prep! for more information about the act, check out our complete guide to the act! and, remember that no matter which act schedule you stick to, taking free 2022世界杯入门名单s should be part of your prep!

happy studying, magooshers!
 

why it’s important to use a study plan while studying for the act

first thing’s first: you need to study for the act. could you, in theory, take the act without studying? of course, but if you’re aiming for a specific or competitive score (and especially if you only want to sit for the test once), you’ll want to study.

but studying for the act can feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start? which concepts should you spend the most time on? how long should you study for each section? how can you make sure you’ve covered everything you need to know?

this is where an act study plan comes in!

study plans are useful for:

• breaking down a large amount of content into manageable chunks that are easier to study
• staying on task with act prep
• avoiding overwhelm and “cramming”
• ensuring that you cover key concepts that will be on the test
• helping you retain the material, not just memorize it
• familiarizing yourself with the type of questions you’ll be asked on test day

a study plan is like having a road map (or maybe more accurately, a gps navigation system) for getting to your destination. you can get there without it, but the journey will be much more smooth and efficient with one!

3 most popular magoosh act study plans

one-month study schedules

can you really prep thoroughly enough for the act in just one month? the short answer is yes!

our standard one-month daily schedule is best for students who are ready to be pretty diligent over the next 30 days or so. are you worried about getting overwhelmed with studying and want lots of specific help? this study guide will give you a step-by-step plan with daily instructions to improve your act score and keep you focused and motivated!

have you been too busy lately to put in the time for act prep? if you can devote just 20 minutes a day of studying for five consecutive days, our act streaks schedule might be right for you! this one-month schedule is designed to help you study in short, repeated bursts, rather than long, extended hours.

two-month study schedules

our two-month study schedule will give you specific, daily instructions to follow over the next two months. the focus will be getting your act practice up to speed slowly and building up your skills. this study guide is perfect for those who want to take their time studying for the act and start with the basics.

three-month study schedules

you’ve made time over the next 90 days, but you don’t want to waste it navigating endless act material. our three-month study guide will provide a clear path forward for you. good job thinking ahead and getting started now! life does tend to throw unexpected stuff at us, so taking three months to study leaves room for breaks and allows the material to sink in better.

cramming for the act? try our one week plan

if you’re cramming for the act test, you should try this abbreviated one-week study plan. this study schedule comes with three options to choose from:

• 1 week act study schedule for newbies
• 1 week act study schedule for quick act score improvement
• 1 week act study schedule for a last-minute act refresher
• bonus: 1 day act refresher

what do the study plans include?

the plans include day-by-day steps for exactly which act lessons you should study, which act practice questions to try, and when it’s time to take a practice test. all of this preparation will help make sure you’re ready to take the real act!

the plans also include recommended materials (such as our free 2022世界杯入门名单) as well as steps for each stage of your prep. we also have tips for making the most of your act study schedule.

please note that all of our study schedules require magoosh act prep. if you have any questions about purchasing a plan, please email us at help@www.catharsisit.com for more information! there’s also plenty of free act prep materials out there too that you can use to supplement your studying, especially if you’re looking for extra help on particular sections, like the english test.

and be sure to let us know if you need help adapting a study schedule to your individual needs. just leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to help you out.
 

how do i pick the right study plan?

to some extent, which act study plan you pick will be determined by how much time you have to study! but if you’ve got some time and choice in the matter, there are a few factors to consider.

first, you’ll want a realistic sense of how many hours total to study for the act. at magoosh, we’ve found after tons of research with real students, that 30 hours is the average sweet spot for substantial act prep.

with this in mind, ask yourself how many hours you’re willing and able to study for the act per day or week. perhaps a shorter, more intensive study plan makes the most sense for you. on the other hand, if you’ve got a packed schedule with less time to study daily or weekly, you’ll want a study plan that spans a longer amount of time.

also, when you’re determining how many hours a day or week to study, remember to avoid burnout. you will have to juggle act prep on top of other homework, extracurricular activities, and so on. everyone’s target number will be a little different, but make sure to choose a schedule that works for you!

if possible, we recommend using the 3-month study plan to allow yourself a good amount of wiggle room (life curve balls happen!) while also keeping the material fresh in your mind for testing day. also be encouraged to check out these act study strategies for a busy schedule!

the post act study schedules: 3 most popular plans appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

the act has long been a rite of passage for college-bound students, but as of 2025, the act changed significantly, so it’s important that you are referencing the most up-to-date resources for your act prep.

the 2025 changes to the test’s format are some of the most significant adjustments the test has seen in many years, but overall they are a welcome change for many students, as they’ve made the act shorter, more flexible, and less stressful.

below you’ll find everything you need to know about the current act format, timing, scoring—plus a comparison to the sat (which also underwent significant changes in 2024)—to help make sure you know how to prepare for the act to get your best score.

table of contents

• what is the format of the act?
• should i take act science?
• should i take act writing?
• how long is the act?
• is the act digital or on paper?
• how is the act scored?
• what are the changes on the act in 2025?
• how can i use old 2022世界杯入门名单s in my prep?
• how does the 2025 act compare to the digital sat?
• when should i start preparing for the act in 2025?

what is the format of the act?

the act tests 5 subject areas (but only 3 of which are required and 2 of which are optional).

required:

• english – grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.
• math – algebra, geometry, and basic trigonometry.
• reading – comprehension of passages from fiction and nonfiction.

optional:

• science – interpreting data, charts, and experiments (no advanced science knowledge required).
• writing – an essay analyzing different perspectives on a topic.

as of april 2025, the science test is optional on the digital act. as of september 2025, the science test is optional on the paper act. as of 2026, it is optional on school and district testing.

so should i take the act science test?
with the science test now optional and not averaged into your overall score, you may wonder whether or not you should take it. in general, we recommend that students who plan to major in science and/or who believe they can score above the 90th percentile on act science take the science test.

should i take the act writing test?
the act writing test (an essay) has been optional for some time and very few colleges require it, but if you are a strong writer applying for competitive programs or are looking to score scholarships, you likely will want to consider the writing test to enhance your application. (note that it may not be your choice: your high school may require you to take the act essay if it’s using the act to meet state testing standards).

how long is the act?

if you take just the english, math, and reading tests, total act testing time is 2 hours and 5 minutes.

if you take the english, math, reading, and science tests, total act testing time is 2 hours and 40 minutes.

and if you take the english, math, reading, science and writing tests, the total act testing time is 3 hours and 20 minutes.

the number of questions, time per section and time per question on the act breaks down like this:

prior to april 2025, the act was 2 hours 55 minutes without writing, and 3 hours 35 minutes with writing. so if you are looking at older practice exams, here’s the breakdown you’ll see on those act tests:

english: 45 minutes (75 questions)
math: 60 minutes (60 questions)
reading: 35 minutes (40 questions)
science: 35 minutes (40 questions)
writing: 40 minutes (1 essay)

is the act digital or on paper?

unlike the sat, which has moved almost all students over to the digital version of the test, the act says it plans to continue to give students the choice to take the act on the computer or on paper.

note that if you are taking the test in 2025, the science section will be optional on the digital act starting in april 2025 and optional on the paper act starting in october 2025, so choose wisely if you are hoping to avoid the science section.

how is the act scored?

the act is scored on a scale of 1-36 for each section of english, math, reading, and science. your overall composite score is an average of your section scores of english, math and reading.

as of 2025, science is not included in your overall composite score, but is provided as a separate score from 1-36 if you take the science test.

examples:
pre-2025:
english: 26
math: 28
reading: 22
science: 20
composite score: 24

2025 and after:
english: 26
math: 28
reading: 22
science: 20
composite score: 26

as you can see, whether or not science is included in your composite score can impact your score significantly.

act scaled scores from 1-36 correspond to different raw scores (number of questions correct), and the correspondence varies from test to test to account for slight differences in difficulty. each test has a specific conversion between raw scores and scaled scores.

our act score calculator can help you easily calculate your estimated score on act tests both for tests before 2025, and for 2025 and later.

act writing is scored on a scale from 2-12 and is the sum of the scores of two essay graders who each score your essay from 1-6.

there is no penalty for guessing on the act, so make sure you put down an answer for each question.

what are the changes on the act in 2025?

the key takeaway? the act isn’t changing what it’s testing, just how it tests. the best way to prepare is to keep practicing with up-to-date resources that reflect these changes.

key changes:

• act science test is optional as of april 2025 for the digital test and october 2025 for the paper test.
• the overall test is shorter by 44 questions.
• act english test is shorter with 50 questions instead of 75 questions.
• act math test is shorter with 45 questions instead of 60 questions.
• act reading test is shorter with 36 questions instead of 40 questions.
• more time is allowed per question.
• act math test answer choices are reduced to 4 options from 5 options.
• act math test includes fewer advanced topics questions.

what’s staying the same on the act in 2025?

• the act includes the same question types (all multiple choice) and covers the same topics as prior acts.
• the act score scale remains 1-36 for section scores and the composite score.
• the act will still be standardized and present questions in order, without adapting to whether you get a question right or wrong, instead of being an adaptive test like the digital sat.

how to continue to use old 2022世界杯入门名单s for studying:

it’s likely that you’ll find pre-2025 act tests to be more challenging from an endurance perspective: there are more questions and fewer time per question. however, because the topics tested on the act are largely the same, using older practice tests in your prep is certainly fine, and may even be a confidence booster when you move to the more manageable test.

however, older tests are not good for practicing your pacing strategies without modification. the good news is they are easy to modify by just completing the number of questions per section in the new time limits as listed in the chart above.

for example, instead of doing 75 english questions, complete 50 questions in the new time limit and use our act score calculator to convert how many questions you got right to a scaled score equivalent from 1-36.

pro tip: we recommend you skip the first questions in each section of an older act test to adjust to the right number of questions (i.e. do questions 26-75 instead of questions 1-50, since the first questions in an act section tend to be on the easier side.)

how does the 2025 act compare to the digital sat?

the act and sat now look much more similar than they did in the past. still you might find that you prefer one or the other. take both a practice act and sat early in your prep to see which test feels more natural to you.

a few key differences between the tests:

• you still have the option to take the act on paper, whereas this is not an option for the sat.
• the act contains longer reading passages with several questions on each, whereas the current version of the sat includes only very short reading passages with one question per passage.
• the act breaks out reading and english, whereas the sat combines them into one section.
• the act has an optional science section, which allows future stem students to show off.

when should i start preparing for the act in 2025?

the earlier, the better. we recommend starting 3-6 months before your target test date.

start with small, achievable goals: 20-30 minutes of prep a day goes a long way.

make sure you also practice full-length, timed tests to build endurance—but don’t burn yourself out by doing more than one full-length exam a week. every 2-4 weeks is better unless you are very short on time.

whether you’re starting fresh or fine-tuning your strategy, a solid study plan includes:

• review the act format: make sure you understand any changes to the timing, sections, or content.
• focus on content review: brush up on algebra, geometry, reading comprehension, and grammar skills.
• learn act-specific strategies: practice pacing, guess strategically, and stay laser-focused under pressure.
• take full-length practice tests: and make them timed. this is non-negotiable.you can find free official practice tests from the act here.

our free act study schedules provide a step-by-step guide for managing your time throughout your study period and improving your score. you’ve got this!

the post how to prepare for the act (updated for the 2025 changes to the act) appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

act score calculator for the new act

introducing our act score calculator for the new act—an easy tool to help you predict your act scaled score based on your raw score! (for 2025 and beyond!). this calculator is fully up to date for the new version of the act, but if you are working with older practice tests, or took both the old and new version of the act, we have tables to convert your act scores from old to new below!

table of contents

• act scoring before 2025 and after 2025
• how to use the act score calculator
• the act score calculator
• converting old act scores (pre-2025) to new act scores
• act reading score conversion
• act math score conversion
• act english score conversion
• act science score conversion
• resources to improve your act score
• for acts before 2025: raw to scaled score conversion table
• act scoring vocabulary

act scoring before 2025 and after 2025

in 2025, the act significantly changed its format, with fewer questions per section, more time per question, and the removal of one section from your overall composite score. for all the info on these changes, check out our article on how to prepare for the act, which is fully updated for the current version of the test.

in summary, the act is scored on a scale from 1-36. your overall act score is an average of your section scores in english, math and reading (which are also individually scored from 1-36). if you take the optional science section, you’ll receive a separate science score from 1-36, as well as a stem score, which is a combination of your science and math scores. if you take the optional writing test (an essay), you’ll receive an act writing score from 2-12.

how to use the act score calculator for 2025 and beyond

instructions: move the slider to display your raw score (number of correct answers) for each section of the act, and see your estimated scaled score, as well as percentile, calculated on the right. scroll down to see your combined total score and percentile, as well.

remember that raw scores convert to slightly different scaled scores on different act tests, so the output on these score calculators should be treated only as an estimate.

converting old act scores to new act scores

since the act reduced the number of questions on most sections in 2025, you may need a way to convert your scores on the previous test versions to the equivalent on new test versions. the tables below have you covered for each section!

remember, that scoring varies slightly between each act test, so these should be treated as estimates.

act english: old raw score to new raw score to scaled score conversion

act math: old raw score to new raw score to scaled score conversion

act reading: old raw score to new raw score to scaled score conversion

act science: old raw score to new raw score to scaled score conversion

note: the science section has not changed in format, and so we are predicting that the same raw scores will still equate to the same scaled scores as before. however, if this changes (which it could if only strong students are choosing to take the science test) we will update this as data comes out from the act.

resources for improving your act score

free 2022世界杯入门名单s:

• magoosh free practice test for the act
• free official 2022世界杯入门名单s

study schedules:

• one month act study schedule
• two month act study schedule
• three month act study schedule

for acts before 2025: raw act scores and scaled act scores

check out magoosh’s act prep for everything you need to get ready for the act. you’ve got this!

important vocabulary

act raw score: the number of questions you answered correctly in the section. for example: if you answer 35 questions correctly on the act english test, then your raw score for act english is 35.

act scaled score: the score that you get on each section of the act test after your raw score is scaled. your scaled score ranges from 1-36, with 36 being the highest possible score on a section. for example, if you answer 35 questions correctly on the post-2025 act english test, then your scaled score for act english is estimated to be 24 (although this could vary slightly between tests).

act composite score: the average of your scaled scores on english, math, and reading for post-2025 act tests, and the average of your scaled scores on english, math, reading, and science for pre-2025 act tests. the highest possible composite score is 36.

the post act score calculator (updated for the new 2025 act) appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

start improving your act writing score (and everything else) today with magoosh!

act writing: essay percentiles

the act essay is scored from 1-6 in four categories by two graders. this gives you four scores from 2-12. you then receive a final act essay score from 2-12 that is the average of these four scores. this is the score you will be reporting to colleges. for more detail on how the essay is scored, make sure you check out rachel’s article on act essay scores.

here’s the breakdown for act essay scores and percentiles for the 2023-2024 reporting period:

as you can see from this table, the mean, or average, score on the act writing section is 6. it’s a good idea to aim for at least the 75th percentile, so in this case a good act writing score would be an 8 or above. a 9 or above would put you in the 97th percentile, which is great!

of course, a lot depends on the schools to which you apply (this thorough rundown on act scores has more info). generally, the more selective the school, the higher your score should be to be competitive.

if you aspire to ivy league or other highly-selective schools, a 10 is the threshold you should try your best to achieve in order to enhance your application.

if you are ever concerned that your essay score is inaccurate, however, you can ask for your essay to be re-scored. the $58 fee for the re-score will be refunded if you do get a higher score.

takeaways

so what’s the takeaway from all of this? really, a few key points:

• research the schools you plan to apply to, and see where your application might benefit from the act writing test (hint: it could be for a scholarship).
• at the least, shoot for an 8+ overall score for a “good” act writing score.
• a score of 10+ is an ideal score for applications to selective schools.
• if you believe your essay has been mis-scored, you may request a re-score for a fee.
• don’t panic!

act essay grader

if you’re coming to this post after taking your first 2022世界杯入门名单, you might be wondering how the heck you’re supposed to even grade your essay. you’re thinking, “what even is my act essay score?”

to start, let your essay sit for a day or two before grading it (it’s helpful to get some distance). then, follow the official scoring rubric from act, and ask a trusted friend/teacher/parent to do the same. be as objective as possible as you grade—you won’t do yourself any favors by inflating your score!

then, use our handy act essay grading tool to find your score:

act writing test scorer

click the button below to get started:
 
start quiz!

1. what score did you give your essay? 

6

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is nuanced and precise.
• the argument puts the issue in context insightfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are well developed and qualified.
• organization is skillful and unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all skillfully and precisely used.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

 

5

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is precise, though could be more nuanced.
• the argument puts the issue in context thoughtfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are mostly developed.
• organization is productive and mostly unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• language use is serviceable, if not skillful.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

 

4

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is clear.
• the argument puts the issue in context, recognizing implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are clear.
• organization is clear and related to the main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all adequate.
• some errors that impede meaning may be present.

3

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is somewhat clear.
• the issue’s context is limited or tangential.
• ideas and analysis are relevant, but too general or specific.
• organization is basic and mostly coherent.
• language use is basic and unvaried.
• distracting errors that impede meaning may be present.

2

• essays at this level only weakly respond to multiple perspectives.
• the thesis may not be evident and analysis is incomplete, irrelevant, or repetitive.
• development and illustration are weak, inadequate, or illogical, and the argument is unclear.
• some attempt at organization is visible.
• language use is inconsistent and distracting errors that impede meaning are present.

1

• the essay does not respond to the task.
• analysis is unclear, while ideas are undeveloped and unsupported.
• little to no organization is evident, while errors in language usage may be common and often impede understanding.

question 1 of 2

2. what score did you give your designated grader give your essay?

6

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is nuanced and precise.
• the argument puts the issue in context insightfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are well developed and qualified.
• organization is skillful and unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all skillfully and precisely used.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

5

• essays at this level will respond to all three perspectives offered.
• the thesis is precise, though could be more nuanced.
• the argument puts the issue in context thoughtfully, examining implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are mostly developed.
• organization is productive and mostly unified around a main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• language use is serviceable, if not skillful.
• some errors that do not impede meaning may be present.

4

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is clear.
• the argument puts the issue in context, recognizing implications, complexities, tensions, values, and assumptions.
• ideas and analysis are clear.
• organization is clear and related to the main idea; the essay progresses logically and uses transitions.
• word choice, sentence structures, style and register are all adequate.
• some errors that impede meaning may be present.

3

• essays at this level will respond to at least two of the perspectives offered.
• the thesis is somewhat clear.
• the issue’s context is limited or tangential.
• ideas and analysis are relevant, but too general or specific.
• organization is basic and mostly coherent.
• language use is basic and unvaried.
• distracting errors that impede meaning may be present.

2

• essays at this level only weakly respond to multiple perspectives.
• the thesis may not be evident and analysis is incomplete, irrelevant, or repetitive.
• development and illustration are weak, inadequate, or illogical, and the argument is unclear.
• some attempt at organization is visible.
• language use is inconsistent and distracting errors that impede meaning are present.

1

• the essay does not respond to the task.
• analysis is unclear, while ideas are undeveloped and unsupported.
• little to no organization is evident, while errors in language usage may be common and often impede understanding.

question 2 of 2

 loading…

 

the post what is a good act writing score? appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

you know that a good sat or act score can open doors to scholarships, college admissions, and other honors. but if you’re like many students, you might be wondering if taking a long and expensive class or paying for a private tutor are the only ways you can get a high score. thankfully, with the technology that’s available today, quality test prep doesn’t have to be only for those who can afford it. read on to get our list of the best apps for free act and sat exam prep!

what are the best apps for free sat and act prep?

best for memorization: magoosh act and sat flashcards

act flashcards: apple store / google play
sat flashcards: apple store / google play

yeah, these are ours, so we are a little biased, but really, we think they’re great :).

act flashcards from magoosh were designed by experts on the test and updated for the latest content on the act. they cover the essential english, math, and science knowledge students need to know and are a confidence-boosting supplement to practice questions. our sat vocabulary and prep flashcards are similarly designed to cover sat vocabulary words, writing, and math concepts that you need to succeed on the exam.

the apps are built with a smart algorithm that adapts to you; once terms are mastered they are removed from the pool so you can focus on the concepts you still need to learn. your progress is synced across devices so you can switch between phone, ipad, and web for convenient studying wherever you are.

best for overall act and sat prep: khan academy

apple store / google play

khan academy’s slogan is free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere, and this makes it one of the best companies out there for no-cost learning. the khan academy’s official partnership with the college board for the redesigned sat means that it has significantly expanded its resources for sat prep. however, the best use of the khan academy app for act and sat prep is the general math video lessons covering all of the topics on these tests. so whether you need to brush up on ratios, complex numbers, or coordinate geometry, a quick video lesson on the khan academy app may be all you need to set you on the right path.

note: since college board’s study app, daily practice app, is no longer supported, college board recommends students use the khan academy app for comprehensive, free exam preparation.

best for sat and act reading prep: vocab genius

apple store

vocab genius applies the best of cognitive science to help you learn vocab fast; this will help you not only on the act or sat, but in the rest of your studies as well!

best for act and sat math prep: math brain booster

apple store

even though you can use a calculator on both the act and sat, mental math is still an essential skill for the high-scoring student to master. math brain booster improves your attention span, reaction time, and mental sharpness by challenging you to solve different arithmetical tasks within a time limit. it’s fun, streamlined, and very effective as a free exam preparation app.

want more free resources to boost your sat and act prep? check these links out for sat prep games to switch up your studying, a free sat practice test and a free 2022世界杯入门名单 to help you get ready for test day!
 

the post 4 best free apps for sat and act prep appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

update: starting april 2025 for the digital act, the act format has changed to include fewer questions per section, allow more time per question, and make science an optional section. see our updated post on how to prepare for the act for how to modify your 2022世界杯入门名单s for the new format. the question types on the act remain unchanged!

looking for an 2022世界杯入门名单? you’ve come to the right place! whether you prefer practicing online or with a traditional paper test, we’ve got you covered with both an interactive online version and a downloadable pdf. which is the best choice for you? we recommend that you pick the version that matches how you’ll be taking the actual act exam on test day.

paper pdf version: free 2022世界杯入门名单 with answers and explanations

magoosh’s full-length act sample test has been perfected over the years by magoosh’s act experts, who have decades of experience teaching the act exam. practice tests are an essential part of act prep, so this is a great place to start.

to access our practice test pdf (featuring all act sections, including the optional essay, as well as the answers and explanations at the end), just enter your email:

again, on test day, if you’ll be taking the act exam on paper, then we do recommend that you practice the test in that format. why? ultimately, you want your practice to be as close as possible to the real deal so that you don’t run into any surprises at the test center.

but if you’ll be taking the actual exam on a computer, then head to the section below to practice in that format.

online version: take the free 2022世界杯入门名单 on a computer

you can take the entire practice test online, or you can sample individual test sections. either way, follow the link below to head to our 2022世界杯入门名单 start page:

>>>free magoosh 2022世界杯入门名单<<<

our 2022世界杯入门名单 is designed to provide an authentic testing experience that mirrors what you’ll face on exam day. wondering about the time commitment? you’ll tackle 215 questions across english, mathematics, reading, science, and the optional writing section in about 2 hours and 55 minutes (without breaks) or 3 hours and 35 minutes with the optional writing section.

at the end of your online practice exam, you’ll receive estimated scores for each section as well as your composite score. plus, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of your strengths and areas for improvement by question type. you can also review each question and its explanation.

practice test options

pressed for time and can’t commit to the full 3-hour test? no worries! if you have just 35 minutes, you can try out any individual section. below are the options available on our practice test start page:
 

for the most accurate, test-like experience and act practice score estimate, we recommend taking the full test with all its sections. however, completing a single section will still provide valuable insights into your current performance.

table of contents

• what to expect on the 2022世界杯入门名单
• practice test structure and features
• the english section
• the math section
• the reading section
• the science section
• the writing section (optional)
• is the actual act harder than the 2022世界杯入门名单?
• next steps after taking the free 2022世界杯入门名单
• official 2022世界杯入门名单s

what to expect on the 2022世界杯入门名单

our free 2022世界杯入门名单 offers more than mere practice questions; it’s a thorough preparation resource designed to get you ready for the real exam. here’s a detailed overview of what you’ll experience:

practice test structure and features

realistic: our practice test mimics the actual act in terms of format, types of questions, and time limits. you’ll go through the exam just as you would on test day, getting accustomed to the pacing and pressure of the official test.

immediate results: after finishing the online version of our practice test, you’ll receive your scores along with comprehensive explanations for each question. this helps you understand not only the correct answers but also the reasoning behind them, and why other choices are incorrect. if you’re taking the paper version of the practice exam, you’ll first need to manually tally up your correct answers to determine your final score.

easy-to-use platform (online version): a built-in timer keeps you aware of your progress. you can highlight or annotate passages as needed. there’s also an on-screen, basic calculator available during the math section. (though, you can also use your own approved calculator, which we recommend if that’s what you’ll be doing on test day.)

the english section

the english section evaluates your understanding of standard written english, rhetorical skills, and ability to improve the clarity and effectiveness of written text.

question types

• usage and mechanics: focus on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and usage. you’ll be asked to correct grammatical errors and improve sentence clarity.
• rhetorical skills: assess your ability to analyze and improve the organization, style, and tone of passages.

tips for success

• review grammar rules: refresh your knowledge of fundamental grammar and punctuation rules.
• practice editing: regularly practice editing passages to enhance your ability to spot errors and make effective revisions.

the math section

the mathematics section tests your mathematical skills typically acquired in courses up to the beginning of grade 12.

question types

• multiple-choice questions: all questions are multiple-choice, with five answer choices each.

content areas

• pre-algebra: basic operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, and simple probability.
• elementary algebra: operations with algebraic expressions, solving linear equations and inequalities.
• intermediate algebra: quadratic equations, systems of equations, exponents, radicals, and complex numbers.
• coordinate geometry: graphing equations, slope, distance, midpoint, and conic sections.
• plane geometry: properties and relations of plane figures, angles, circles, triangles, and polygons.
• trigonometry: trigonometric functions, identities, and solving trigonometric equations.

tips for success

• understand concepts: strive to understand the underlying mathematical principles.
• use your calculator wisely: familiarize yourself with your calculator’s functions before test day.
• solve practice problems: regular practice helps reinforce learning and identify areas for improvement.

the reading section

the reading section measures your ability to read closely, reason logically about texts using evidence, and integrate information from multiple sources.

about the passages

• long passages: includes four passages, each approximately 750 words in length.
• diverse content: covers topics in prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science.

question types

• key ideas and details: main ideas, supporting details, and summaries.
• craft and structure: understanding word meanings, analyzing text structure, and determining the author’s purpose.
• integration of knowledge and ideas: compare viewpoints, evaluate arguments, or analyze themes.

tips for success

• active reading: annotate key points, summarize paragraphs, and predict questions.
• time management: practice pacing yourself—you have about 8 minutes and 45 seconds per passage.

the science section

the science section assesses your interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.

about the passages

• data representation: graphs, tables, and other schematic forms.
• research summaries: descriptions of experiments.
• conflicting viewpoints: multiple related hypotheses or views that are inconsistent with one another.

question types

• interpretation of data: analyze and interpret scientific data.
• scientific investigation: understand experimental tools, procedures, and design.
• evaluation of models, inferences, and experimental results: judge the validity of scientific information and hypotheses.

tips for success

• familiarize with scientific graphs and tables: practice interpreting data in various formats.
• focus on data and experiments: rely on the information presented rather than prior knowledge.

the writing section (optional)

the writing section measures your skill in writing a unified, coherent essay on a given topic.

you’ll be presented with a prompt that defines an issue and provides three different perspectives. your task is to develop your own perspective, analyze the connections between your perspective and at least one other, and support your ideas with logical reasoning and examples.

tips for success

• plan before you write: spend a few minutes outlining your essay.
• address multiple perspectives: discuss how your viewpoint relates to the provided perspectives.
• use clear and effective language: focus on clarity, coherence, and organization.

is the actual act harder than the 2022世界杯入门名单?

many students wonder if the actual act is tougher than practice exams. our practice test is crafted to closely match the difficulty and style of the official test. however, certain factors can make the real exam feel more challenging:

nervousness on test day: anxiety can affect your performance, leading to mistakes you might not make during practice. it’s important to manage stress effectively.

testing environment: the strict rules and unfamiliar setting of the test center can add to the pressure, potentially impacting your concentration.

time management: the act’s time limits can be a significant challenge, and pacing yourself is essential.

tips to overcome these challenges

recreate exam conditions: practice under conditions similar to the actual test. sit in a quiet place, adhere strictly to timing, and eliminate distractions.

increase stamina: regularly take full-length practice tests to build your endurance and get used to the length of the exam.

stress management techniques: incorporate relaxation methods like deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or positive visualization to help reduce anxiety.

next steps after taking the free 2022世界杯入门名单

well done on completing the practice test! that’s a crucial step in your preparation journey. here’s how to make the most of it:

1. carefully review your performance

identify mistakes: for every question you got wrong, understand why. was it a lack of knowledge, a careless error, or misreading the question?

look for patterns: notice if there are particular topics or question types that consistently give you trouble. this will help you pinpoint areas that need more attention.

2. set clear objectives

focus on weaknesses: direct your study efforts toward the subjects and skills where you need the most improvement.

create a study plan: develop a realistic schedule that includes time for reviewing content, practicing questions, and taking additional practice tests. you can also follow one of magoosh’s act study schedules.

3. continuing practicing

monitor your progress: take more 2022世界杯入门名单s periodically to see how you’re improving.

refine your strategies: use the insights from each practice session to adjust your approach, whether it’s time management, question prioritization, or problem-solving techniques.

official 2022世界杯入门名单s

taking one practice test is great, but you’ll want to take more than one before your exam! we strongly suggest boosting your preparation with official act practice exams as well. a free full-length paper version practice test is available on the official act website for download. within the pdf, you’ll find the answer key for that test at the very end. that will help you figure out your act scores: the composite score (overall score), as well as your sectional scores.

for purchase, you can buy the official act prep guide book. a new version is released pretty much annually, and the latest 2024-2025 book contains 9 practice tests. however, older versions of the book also contain practice tests, so you might be able to find those at a lower price (or even free if your library has a copy). we’ve reviewed some of those past versions here:

• official act prep guide 2021-2022
• the official act prep guide 2016-2017
• real act prep guide, 3rd edition

be aware that the official act materials do not contain the in-depth text and video explanations that magoosh offers for its own questions. still, those are excellent sources of practice.

a final word

your act score has many implications for the college admissions process, which can definitely be intimidating. but taking an 2022世界杯入门名单 is a great first step towards mastering the exam!

for more 2022世界杯入门名单s and practice questions, along with lessons covering all the content and strategies you need to know for the exam, take a look at a magoosh act premium plan. happy studying!

the post free 2022世界杯入门名单 – online or paper pdf, with explanations appeared first on magoosh blog | act.

your act percentile ranking tells you how you did compared to everyone else on the act test. act percentiles are, in some ways, even more important than your actual act score. why? because they provide an easy way to compare your performance on the act to other test-takers overall, providing you with important information for your act prep.

read on for everything you need to know about act score percentiles.

how are act score percentiles calculated?

act percentiles are calculated by comparing one act score to the distribution of scores of all the students who took the act at a given time. on your act score report, the lowest percentile possible is the 1st percentile and the top percentile is the 99th percentile (it’s impossible to score at the 100th percentile because that would mean that your act score is higher than your score, which makes no sense!).

as a standardized test, the act is intentionally designed to get most students scoring at the 50th percentile mark. the following infographic might help you visualize the act score distribution:

act scores and their corresponding percentiles tend to stay the same year to year. so, for example, scoring a 32+ typically means you did better than 97% of test-takers and scoring a 26 typically means that you did better than 82% of test-takers. (note that these scores don’t mean that you scored a 97% or a 82%, respectively, on the test.)
 

how to find your act score percentile

on your act score report, you’ll see your act score breakdown represented by several percentile scores—you’ll not only be able to see your composite percentile, percentiles for each subject area subscore, and percentiles for stem and ela subscores, but you’ll also see these percentiles in terms of your u.s. rank and your state rank.

here’s a snippet from a model act score report:
 

if you haven’t taken the act yet and you’re wondering where your practice test scores fall in the act distribution, you would first need to make sure that your raw score is converted to your scaled score for each subject area (except for the act writing test) as well as the composite score.

then, you can use the below act percentile chart to match all five scores to their corresponding percentiles, based on the most recently-released data. (to score your essay and determine your act writing score percentile, check out this post about what makes a good act writing score.)

act percentiles for composite score and subscores

this act percentiles information is provided by act.org.

*this chart represents the cumulative percentages rather than percentile scores. if any of your scores correspond with 100, you would be at the 99th percentile.

what is a good act percentile?

while it may be useful to know your act percentile as determined by the national or statewide distribution of scores, it’s not necessarily the best tool to determine what a good act percentile might be for you.

you may think that scoring at the 90th percentile nationally at least means that you have a competitive score for any school in the country (and to be fair, that would be the case for the vast majority of colleges and universities).

but for elite schools (where the average act score is around 33), scoring even at the 95th percentile might not be enough, especially if the rest of your application has some flaws. on the flip side, scoring below the 90th percentile mark could still allow you to be a great candidate at top state universities around the country.

this is because for pretty much any school in the u.s., a good act score percentile is anywhere in the middle 50% (25th percentile-75th percentile) of the score distribution of accepted students specifically at the schools you’re interested in —and that differs notably from school to school.

for example, at the prestigious university of chicago, their 25th percentile score of accepted students is 21 while their 75th percentile is 36. meanwhile, at the university of texas-austin, a phenomenal school in its own right, their middle 50% scores range from 27 to 33 (act test scores were not a required component for application to the class of 2025).

while schools don’t release their own act score percentile charts, they do release the score range of their middle 50% of students. you can check out more score ranges of the top 100 u.s. universities in our post about act scores. use this data to help you figure out the middle 50% ranges of your target schools—or better yet, the scores you need to go beyond the 75th percentile in order to maximize your chances of getting in.

how do colleges use act percentiles?

for college admissions offices, your act percentile is probably not as important as your act score. this is because the school’s act score range (as determined by the middle 50% at their school) is the information that admissions officers have handy; so, they don’t actually need to calculate your act percentile to see how your score falls into the middle 50% score range.

that being said, your national act percentile can provide an easy way of determining how you stack up to other students applying. because applicants send in scores from the act and sat, college admissions teams need some way to compare these scores. so for admissions officers who don’t have the act to sat score conversion memorized (a.k.a. most of them!), they are likely to take notice of your percentile rank as well.

how to use act score percentiles to improve your score

if you have plans to retake the act, the act percentiles provide valuable perspective to help you be strategic with your test prep: how much you might need to study and which subject areas take higher priority.

let’s take a look at our model score report once more:
 

with just a cursory look at the scores, you can see that this student is stronger at the stem subjects than the ela subjects. but the percentiles better show the magnitude of difference between these two areas and provide more of a sense of urgency to focus on ela.

although it is certainly fine to be stronger in one subject than another, you don’t want any one subject to drag down your score or percentile too much. colleges would use this information to note that you are weak in certain areas.

looking at this student’s scores alone can also make it seem like they might have to spend roughly the same amount of time studying for reading and english. or that the student might need to spend more time bringing up their math score to be more on par with their science score. when looking at the percentiles, however, you can see how the difference between the student’s performance on english and reading is significant and that they should prioritize studying for reading before other tests.

the state rank also provides some important perspective when it comes to prioritizing what to study for the act retake. if you’re only applying to public schools in your state, for example, your state percentile rank might give you a better sense of your competition than the national rank.

if your state rank is better than your national rank, you may be able to somewhat reduce the pressure to do well on a retake; conversely, if your state rank is worse than your national rank, you’d have to prepare yourself to hit the books.

in either case, you’d still want to dedicate as much time as possible to studying because the higher the act score, the more competitive of an applicant you’ll be.

key takeaway

hopefully, after reading this post, you’ll have a better understanding of act percentiles and the scores you should aim for (if you haven’t taken the act yet). if you have, then hopefully you have a better sense of whether you’re on track with your current act percentile or if you need to aim higher.

if it’s the latter, we have plenty of resources to help you to improve your act score! our blog is full of free resources, such as how to improve your act score by 10 points or how to structure your act study schedule.

for even more structured support and practice, you can check out our magoosh act app, which is guaranteed to increase your score by 4 points.

wherever you may be on your act journey, we at magoosh wish you all the best!

the post act percentiles – how to find act score percentiles appeared first on magoosh blog | act.