You are here

The ACT Data and Results

Select a topic to jump to that section:

lock image

About the Data

ACT logo
The ACT assesses students in grade 11. The ACT assesses students' academic readiness for college. The ACT tests five subject areas – English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing. The Composite score is the whole number average of the subject area scores not including Writing. Beginning in 2015-16, an English Language Arts (ELA) score based on the English, Reading and Writing scores and a STEM score based on Mathematics and Science was reported. The highest possible score on the exam is 36. The scores of each subject area are categorized as College Ready or Below College Ready based on benchmark values provided by the ACT. Benchmarks are provided for the Math, Science, STEM, English, Reading, and ELA scores. No ACT benchmarks are provided for the Composite and Writing scores. Wisconsin-specific cut scores were developed based on ACT benchmarks.

ACT Exam Data Availability

calendar stock image

Student Score Reports are available to students approximately 5-8 weeks after testing.  Score reports will be mailed directly to students and available electronically though the student’s MyACT account.

High school and district level report data  can be found on the Success ACT website. Resources for analyzing reports can be found on the Wisconsin ACT website.

State testing data will be released publicly in WISEdash in the Fall. For more information about WISEdash Public or WISEdash for Districts please refer to the ACT FAQ.

Data and Reporting Resources

Student Score Reports

Translated Student Score Reports - Districts and schools may include a copy of the Spanish or Hmong translated Student Score Report (SSR) transcript with the English SSR so families have a better understanding of their student's results. If translated SSR transcripts are needed in languages other than Spanish and Hmong, Districts are responsible for providing those translations and may use the SSR transcript in English to create the translation.
Student Score Report (SSR) Transcript  
Spanish Translation

Hmong Translation

Wisconsin Student Assessment System Resources: ACT

Additional Resources

ACT College Reporting

Student College Reports

Sending scores to colleges
  • Scores are sent to 4 colleges based on the student’s completion of that section of their MyACT account within two days of testing.
  • If students want to send scores to more than four colleges, they can logon to MyACT.org and use their ACT ID (found on their paper score report) to create a web account (unless they have already created one from previous participation in a national ACT test date).
  • More information can be found on ACT Your Scores

Wisconsin ACT Scores and Score Ranges

The ACT has been used as the 11th grade summative assessment for Wisconsin 11th grade students since 2015. In addition to receiving a college-reportable score (used for college admission, scholarships, course placement, NCAA eligibility), the statewide administration of the ACT also provides information about what students know and can do in relation to the Wisconsin State Standards. Each ACT score will fall in one of the four Performance Levels below which define the student’s understanding and ability to apply grade-level knowledge and skills.

Wisconsin Student Assessment Performance Levels

  • Advanced – The student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level and is on-track for future learning.
  • Meeting – The student is meeting the knowledge and skill expectations described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level and is on-track for future learning.
  • Approaching – The student is approaching the knowledge and skill expectations described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level needed to be on-track for future learning.
  • Developing – The student is at the beginning stages of developing the knowledge and skills described in the Wisconsin Academic Standards for their grade level needed to be on-track for future learning

Wisconsin ACT Performance Level Cut Scores and Scale Score Ranges

The Wisconsin ACT Performance Level Cut Scores were established in 2024 through an ACT standard setting process. For more information on the ACT standard setting process, please see the 2024 Wisconsin ACT Standard Setting Handout.

Establishing Wisconsin specific cut scores is necessary to fulfill important accountability reporting requirements. These cut scores, scale scores, and performance levels are Wisconsin specific and do not apply to other states or national ACT testing.

Wisconsin ACT Performance Level Scale Score Ranges

Content Area
Developing
Approaching
Meeting
Advanced
ELA
1-13
14-18
19-25
26-36
Mathematics
1-15
16-18
19-26
27-36
Science
1-16
17-20
21-25
26-36

Wisconsin ACT Performance Level Cut Scores

Content Area
Approaching
Meeting
Advanced
ELA
14
19
26
Mathematics
16
19
27
Science
17
21
26

Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs)

ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks

ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the ACT scores that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75-80% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing courses. These Benchmarks are independent of Wisconsin’s ACT Performance Level Scale Scores that are used for state accountability.
 
Subject
ACT Benchmark
English
18
Mathematics
22
Reading
22
Science
23
STEM
26
ELA
20
 

Cautions

Note that no single test can tell us whether students have learned everything that is important for students to learn. Additional local evidence should be reviewed for a more complete picture of student learning.