ACT Composite Score Calculator
Average your English, Math, Reading and Science section scores to find your ACT composite out of 36.
How it works
composite = round( (English + Math + Reading + Science) ÷ 4 ) · .5 rounds up
The ACT composite is simply the average of the four section scores, each on the 1–36 scale, rounded to the nearest whole number. Because it is a straight average, every section carries equal weight, so a single weak section drags the composite down as much as a strong one lifts it. A .5 average always rounds up, which occasionally nudges a borderline score to the next number.
Worked example
English 27, Math 25, Reading 30 and Science 28 sum to 110. Dividing by four gives 27.5, and because .5 rounds up the composite is 28 out of 36. Had the sum been 109, the average 27.25 would round down to 27.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ACT round 27.5 up or down?
Up. The composite is the four-section average rounded to the nearest whole number, and a value of exactly .5 rounds up. So 27.5 becomes 28, while 27.4 becomes 27.
Is the Writing (essay) score part of the composite?
No. The optional Writing test is reported on its own 2–12 scale and does not affect the 1–36 composite, which is built only from English, Math, Reading and Science.
How does the composite relate to the SAT?
Use the SAT-to-ACT converter to move between the two scales via the official concordance — for example, an ACT 28 lines up with roughly an 1310 SAT.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.