Help Center

What scores does the Composite score include?

The Composite score is calculated using the Math, English, and Reading scores. The ELA score includes English, Reading, and Writing (ELA is only reported if the optional Writing test was taken). The STEM score includes Math and Science (STEM is only reported if the optional Science test was taken). The Superscore Composite is calculated using the highest Math, English, and Reading scores across all tests included in the Superscore. For more on the Superscore, see ACT's Superscore FAQ.

NOTE: Tests taken prior to April 1, 2025 also included the Science score. Some tests taken from April 1 to September 1, 2025 included Science in the composite, as indicated by ERMS (English, Reading, Math, Science) vs ERM (English, Reading, Math). As of September 1, 2025 all test scores no longer include Science. See ACT Score Report File Layout & Resources for details.

A student says they've sent their score, but we don't see it in our CRM. Can you help?

The first thing to consider is how long ago the student tested. Score Reports for students who took the ACT^® without writing (aka Multiple Choice) are normally reported as early as two weeks after the test date. See the national test dates here. Score Reports for students who took the ACT with writing will be released only after all their scores are available, normally within 3-8 weeks after the test date. The majority of scores are received within 3-4 weeks. In states and districts that administer the ACT to all students as part of a contracted agreement, test dates will be determined between the state or district and ACT. Scores for these students are normally reported to students 2-8 weeks after testing. Score Reports may take additional time to process and deliver if:
  - answer documents arrive late
  - discrepancies in student matching data are found
  - unpaid student fees occur
Reporting of these records occurs after resolution in the next available Score Report to your organization. 

You can find specific scores using ACT Score Search.

If you need additional assistance, use the Submit a Request button above and provide details on the student including their name and date of birth, or ACT ID. 

ACT Score Search

If you're looking for a specific test score sent to your institution, you can use ACT Score Search within Data Center. This function allows you to search by student name, ACT ID, or date of birth to locate a specific test score sent to your institution. You must have permission to export ACT Scores to use ACT Score Search.

NOTE: if a score sent to your institution has been canceled, you will see the score in a different color in ACT Score Search, with the cancelation date when you hover over the icon in the Actions column. 

The Test Date is sent as MMYYYY. Why isn't the day included? Is it possible to receive the day the test was taken (MMDDYYYY) instead of just the month and year?

ACT does not report a specific test day, only the month and year. This is a long standing ACT policy to protect students who may not complete the test on the same date as others. If you are using a CRM such as Slate, it likely has templates that are configured to import the month and year only, and then convert it to the date format of your choice. Contact your CRM provider for help in setting up the test date in your imports. If you are having difficulty with multiple tests imported with the same date, you may be able to use the Test_Loc (test location) field in the layout to distinguish different tests. See below for more information on multiple tests in the same month.  

I see two ACT Score Reports for the same student with the same test date. How is this possible?

While it's not common, it can happen for two reasons:

1) The same student may test twice in the same month. This happens when a student registers for a national test but also has the opportunity to test as part of a local state/district contracted test. If you look at the results from each record carefully, you'll likely see slight variations in the Score Reports. For instance, you may see that each has a different ACT ID, or that one indicates a State or District test result in the Test Location field (Test_Loc). ​

2) One version might be a Superscore. If a student requests a Superscore to be sent after at least two test administrations, the Score Date used will be from the Highest Full Battery score-- even if that score was already sent once. The second version of the score will include Superscore data making it different from the first. 

Additional Score Reports

After a test administration, the student can request Additional Score Reports (ASR) to be sent to the college or institution of their choice. Once the Additional Score Report is ordered, it is typically delivered within two business days. If the score is more than 3 years old, it is archived, and the process will take up to two weeks. 

If you are missing a Score Report that falls outside of the guidelines above, contact support@encoura.org.

I am a high school teacher, administrator, or counselor and I need access to my students' ACT scores.

For information on school reporting for High Schools and Districts, please reach out to our ACT High School Reporting department at 319-337-1365, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM CT. Alternatively, they can be reached by email at HS.Reporting@act.org.

Support for students and families is available through ACT Customer Care. You can use various contact methods including Phone, Email, and Chat by going to this address: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/contact-act.html

Canceled Scores

You can find canceled scores using ACT Score Search. Canceled scores are shown in ACT Score Search in purple.
In some cases, a score will be cancelled after delivery to your institution. In these cases:

• All users with ACT Score Report permissions in Encoura will receive an email regarding every cancellation for a score sent to their institution.

• The cancelled record will still appear in ACT Score Search but will be unavailable to download.

• Only the score with the specific Test Date (Test_Dte) noted in your cancelation email has been canceled.
  
  NOTE: The canceled score may share a Test Date with another test that is not canceled. You can use ACT Score Search to find all of the scores sent to you and their test dates. Only the specific score listed in the cancelation email and ACT Score Search has been canceled.

Score cancellations occur for a variety of reasons, but in all cases the previously delivered score should be considered invalid. In some cases, your email will indicate that the score is being updated, in which case you will receive a new version of the score within the next 7 days (and sometimes the same day).
 
Here are some examples of score cancellations and how the student is notified: 

• Student Requested Cancellation – Students can request to have a score cancelled. In this case, a letter would be sent to the student from ACT confirming the cancellation. In addition, an email notification will be sent to all Encoura users with ACT Score Report permissions.
• Test Security Cancellation – In this case, a letter would go to both the high school and to the student from ACT. In addition, an email notification will be sent to all Encoura users with ACT Score Report permissions.
• Score Updates – If a score is updated for any reason (typically for State/District tests), a letter would go to the student from ACT. In addition, an email notification will be sent to all Encoura users with ACT Score Report permissions.
• Biodemographic Corrections - If biodemographic information is updated due to a name, address, or other change, the score may be cancelled in order to send new reports with updated student data.  In this case no notifications are sent to the student, but an email notification will be sent to all Encoura users with ACT Score Report permissions.

If a score that is part of a superscore is cancelled or updated, each institution will receive a score cancellation email and a new superscore will be sent.  

Scores missing address information

You may, on occasion, see score records that are missing a mailing address or email address. These are most likely from Illinois State/District testing. The state of Illinois has had harsh restrictions on the data collected which allowed students to test AND send scores without a mailing address or email address. 

Outside of Illinois, you might see older score records, mostly prior to 2025, when paper registrations were still in use. In some cases a student wouldn't provide an email address when completing a paper registration (even though it was marked as required). Today all registrations are electronic and email addresses are validated for all myACT accounts so you shouldn't see these in the future. 

Score Delivery Settings

By default, scores are delivered to your institution every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Encoura Administrators can change this delivery schedule to Daily or Weekly by going to Administration and clicking on Organization Settings. 

We're questioning the information contained in a Score Report, can you help? 

Yes, if you have any question about a score or the information in a Score Report, you can enter the score information on this form and ACT will investigate on your behalf: https://forms.act.org/aap/scores/inquiry/form.html 

How long are scores and files available in Encoura? 

Scores are available for five years from the date they were reported by ACT (not the score date). After five years you will no longer have access to the files in Data Center and any records previously available in ACT Score Search will no longer be available.