This week we are taking a closer look at the Revised Score Report on the ACT, which will change starting with the next test administration in September 2015.
What’s staying the same?
Students will still receive a score for each of the core sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) out of 36. These four scores are averaged to create a student’s Composite Score out of 36. This Composite Score is the score colleges usually look at as your “ACT Score.”
Additionally, the score report will still show you subscores for various skills in each section. For example, in Math you will still see subscores for Pre/Elementary Algebra, Algebra/Coordinate Geometry, and Plane Geometry/Trig. These subscores are out of 18 and just give you a better idea of what to work on in each section.
What’s changing?
The major changes to the score report are changes to the Writing score, as well as the addition of ELA and STEM indicators. None of these additions will change your Composite Score—they merely look at your test results from a different perspective.
The Writing Score:
Previously, the writing section containing the essay was graded on a 2-12 scale. On the new ACT score report, the essay will be graded on a 36-point scale. The score report will also include the following four subscores (each out of 12 points) that will contribute to your Writing section score.
- Ideas and Analysis
- Development and Support
- Organization
- Language Use
For more information on the revised ACT Writing section, how it’s scored, and what to write, check out our detailed blog post.
English and Language Arts:
The English and Language Arts (ELA) indicator is a combination of your English, Reading and Writing Scores. A student must take all three ELA sections (English, Reading and Writing) to receive this indicator. If you elect to skip the Writing section, you will not receive an ELA score. This indicator did not exist on old ACT score reports.
STEM Score:
The new STEM indicator is a combination of your Math and Science scores. Like the ELA Indicator, the STEM indicator did not exist on old ACT Score Reports.
Other New Scores
The ACT will also include two other new indicators: Understanding Complex Texts and Progress Toward Career Readiness. These scores draw from different parts of the tests to assign you a score based on your overall career and college readiness.
What does this mean for students?
Very little, generally speaking. The Score Report that colleges receive will include these indicators, but schools will continue to look primarily at your Composite Score (with the Writing score, where required). However, you can use these indicators to guide your test prep because they show you where you might need more practice.
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