Details

Key Takeaway: There is no penalty for guessing on the PreACT or ACT! Leaving a question blank earns zero points, but guessing gives your student a chance to earn points. Effort always counts.

What is Tested?

 

How is the Test Scored? (2-Step Process)

Step 1: Raw Score (points earned)

• A student gets 1 point for every correct answer.
• No points are lost for wrong answers of blank questions.
• The total number of correct answers equals the Raw Score.

Step 2: Scale Score (1 to 36)

• The raw score is converted into a Scale Score ranging from 1 to 36 for each subject test.  (Note: PreACT scales are 1-35)
• The scaling adjusts for variations in difficulty across different test versions, ensuring a score earned in the fall means the same thing as a score in the spring.

Composite Score: 

• The composite score is the average of the English, Math, and Reading scores.

Understanding Your Score Report

• Predicted ACT Score Range: For 9th and 10th graders, the score report provides an estimated 11th-grade ACT range based on their current trajectory.
• Percentile Ranks: Shows the percentage of students in the nation who scored at or below your student's score (e.g., 65th percentile means scoring as high or higher than 65% of test-takers).
• Item-Level Skill Detail: Shows specific skill categories (e.g., Functions in Math or Craft & Structure in Reading) so teachers and students can pinpoint exact topics for improvement.

How to Read the Results:

1. Score Report Overview (score report example)
   • Scores range from 1 to 35. A benchmark score for each subject indicates college readiness. Scores at or above these benchmarks suggest your child is on track for success in first-year college courses.

2. Predicted ACT Score Range (ACT score range example)
   • Located on the score report, this range (e.g., 20–25) represents how your child might score on the official ACT based on their current performance and growth trends.
     • Use this range as a guide to set future goals.

3. Skills Insights (Skills insight example)
   • The results break down each subject into specific skill areas, showing where your child excels and where additional focus might be helpful.

4. Item Analysis (sample image of item analysis)
   • The item analysis breaks down your student’s performance in each section of the test, highlighting the questions they answered correctly, incorrectly, or left blank.
   • Pre-ACT Test Booklet 25-26

5. Career Pathway Suggestions
   • Encourage your child to explore the career suggestions linked to their interests and abilities.
   • Career Clusters - scroll down to the list of the 14 career clusters. Within the link for each cluster you can click the Explore button to learn more about the related skills for each area.

Supporting Your Child:

• Celebrate Strengths: Recognize the areas where your child has performed well.
• Address Growth Areas: Work with your child to set goals for improvement.
• Discuss Plans: Use the results as a starting point for conversations about college and career goals.

If you need assistance interpreting the results or would like more information, please contact your child’s school counselor. We are here to support your family in planning for a bright future.