Special Testing Scoring Keys - How to Score Practice Multiple-Choice Tests - ACT

Sep 22, 2026

Special Testing Scoring Keys provides step-by-step instructions for scoring ACT practice multiple-choice sections and reviewing performance. It explains how to compute raw scores by marking correct answers, counting correct responses by test section, and excluding field-test items shown in gray cells. It then details conversion of raw scores into ACT scale scores for meaningful comparisons across different test forms, including reporting category totals and per-section maximum raw scores.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

How to Score the Practice Multiple-Choice Tests

Raw Scores

Scale Scores

2026 l 2027 Preparing for the ACT® Test What’s Inside y How to Score the Multiple-Choice Tests y Reviewing Your Performance on the Multiple-Choice Tests y Scoring Keys y How to Score the Writing Test [www.actstudent.org](www.actstudent.org) Special Testing Scoring Keys *011STK270* How to Score the Practice Multiple-Choice Tests Follow the instructions below and on the following pages to score your practice multiplechoice tests and review your performance. To calculate your writing score, use Scoring the Practice Writing Test on page 8. Raw Scores The number of questions you answered correctly on each test section is a raw score. Because there are many forms of the ACT, each with different questions, the difficulty level varies between the forms. A raw score of 35 on one form of the mathematics test section, for example, may be about as difficult to earn as a raw score of 37 on another form of that test section. Computing raw scores: To compute your raw scores, check your answers with the scoring information in the scoring keys and conversion table, then do the following: 1. Mark a one (1) in the blank for each question answered correctly. 2. Count the number of correct answers for each of the multiple-choice test sections. 3. Add up the total number correct for each category and test section and capture it as directed beneath its scoring key. Use the scoring key for each test to score your answer document for the sections in the practice test. Mark a “1” in the blank for each question you answered correctly and add up the total number correct for each test. Do not count correct answers for gray cells, as those are for field test items not included in converting raw scores to scale scores. Please note, the placement of these field test questions varies across different test forms, and will NOT remain in the same test item slots each test administration. These numbers are your raw scores on the individual multiple-choice test sections. The highest raw score for a given test section is the number of questions included on that test section: • English: 40 • Mathematics: 41 • Reading: 27 • Science: 34 Note: Raw scores are also provided as part of the Summary Report for each test section. Scale Scores To adjust for the small differences among different forms of the ACT test, raw scores are converted into scale scores. Scale scores appear on reports sent to your school. When your raw scores are converted into scale scores, it becomes possible to compare your scores with those of examinees who took different test forms. For example, a scale score of 26 on the mathematics test section has the same meaning for any form of the ACT. Converting Raw Scores to Scale Scores: Each ACT test section generates a single scale score between 1 and 36. Use the scale score conversion table to convert your raw scores to scale scores for each test section. © 2026 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 12 JA09003 .CJ22969 English Scoring Key | English
Number | Correct
Answer | Correct
(Mark 1) | Reporting
Categories | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | C | | CSE | | 2 | G | | CSE | | 3 | A | | POW | | 4 | F | | POW | | 5 | A | | CSE | | 6 | F | | KLA | | 7 | D | | KLA | | 8 | J | | CSE | | 9 | B | | CSE | | 10 | G | | KLA | | 11 | B | | CSE | | 12 | J | | CSE | | 13 | C | | KLA | | 14 | H | | POW | | 15 | D | | POW | | 16 | J | | CSE | | 17 | D | | KLA | | 18 | H | | POW | | 19 | A | | KLA | | 20 | J | | POW | | 21 | A | | CSE | | 22 | F | | CSE | | 23 | C | | POW | | 24 | H | | POW | | 25 | D | | POW | | 26 | G | | POW | | 27 | D | | CSE | | 28 | F | | CSE | | 29 | A | | CSE | | 30 | G | | POW | | 31 | C | | CSE | | 32 | F | | POW | | 33 | A | | CSE | | 34 | H | | KLA | | 35 | A | | POW | | 36 | G | | POW | | 37 | B | | POW | | 38 | H | | CSE | | 39 | D | | KLA | | 40 | J | | CSE | | 41 | A | Not Scored | —— | | 42 | G | Not

FAQs

How do you calculate raw scores for ACT practice multiple-choice sections?

Check answers against the scoring keys and mark a 1 for each correct question, then count correct answers within each multiple-choice test section and total them as directed under each scoring key.

Why should gray cells not be counted when scoring practice tests?

Gray cells indicate field test items, which are not included when converting raw scores to scale scores, so correct answers there must be excluded.

How are raw scores converted into ACT scale scores?

Because different test forms vary slightly in difficulty, raw scores are converted to a single scale score per section using the scale score conversion table.

Sep 22, 2026

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