1. What do they mean and how can I use them?
ACT ASPIRE RESULTS
What do they mean and how can I use them?

2. About the ACT ASPIRE
The ACT Aspire test is designed to measure a student’s college and career readiness.
There are five different areas that students test in: English, Reading, Writing, Math, Science
Scores are reported for each individual area and also in the broader areas of ELA (English Language Arts) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
Scores are also broken down into sub-scores in each individual area and student’s specific strengths and weaknesses can be more easily identified.
There are other sections of the score report that include the National Percentile Rank, Progress with Text Complexity, Progress Toward Career Readiness, and Improvement Ideas.

3. In the top right hand corner is a small section that reveals the student’s composite score.
Beside that is a prediction of what the student’s ACT Composite might be if they took the test right now. The ACT is on a scale of 1-36.
19 is considered college-ready
Scholarship committees typically highly consider the ACT score when making the awards decisions- scores can vary, but even the lowest amount scholarships at four-year public universities usually require at least a 21.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
This part of the score report is important for college-bound students. Knowing where your ACT score might fall can help you know how much work you need to do to improve that score!

4. The next part of the report breaks scores down into individual areas.
Score Level- Exceeding, Ready, Close, or In Need of Support.
This level is based upon the numerical score, but is referring to where the student is in regards to college and career readiness in that particular subject. If you meet the readiness benchmark, it means that if your progress continues, you have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher in a first-year college course in that area and a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher.
Scale Score- numerical score in the specific subject area. This is calculated based on a formula that considers question complexity.
Predicted ACT Score- the ACT test is broken into
sub-scores as well. This part shows your predicted ACT score
in that particular tested area.

5. The graph:
X-axis is your grade level
Y- axis is the scale score
The orange cone shows your predicted score range for the next year if you continue your pattern of learning and growth.
All of the scores in the green shaded parts are considered at least “Ready”. The dashed lines put a break between “Ready” and “Exceeding”. The numerical “Readiness Benchmark” is shown at the bottom.
If you have been in Arkansas for the past two years, both of your scores will be reported on this graph, showing your progress. The black dot is the score from two years ago and the orange dot is last year’s score.

6. WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Sub-scores are an important thing to consider in regards to the ACT for a few reasons:
They allow you to break down where your strengths and weaknesses are and to work accordingly in your studies. These “strength” areas may also help you determine what you might want to consider as a future career.
In college, the requirement to take remedial courses is based upon ACT sub-scores. Using the predicted sub-score in each area can help you know how to study for the ACT.
College Ready = 19
Even if you have a composite score over 19, if you do not have a 19 in Reading, English, or Math, you may be required to take remedial courses before you can get into coursework that leads to your degree.
To take concurrent courses at AHS, you have to have a 19 or better in certain subjects.
Knowing your current progress and your predicted progress can help you set goals for yourself. If your progress line is flat or downward-sloping, you may want to think about why and how you can change that for this school year.

7. The National Percentile Rank shows you where you rank among your peers across the nation who are in the same grade and took the same test.

8. Another reporting piece for the Aspire includes your ELA scores and your STEM scores.
ELA = English Language Arts
STEM= Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
This information can help you in making decisions toward your future career. When you are
deciding which field to pursue, you should consider the types of training and courses that
you will have to take in order to have that career. Again, these readiness levels are related to your
ability to be successful in college courses in ELA or STEM.
Students who excel in the ELA areas may consider careers in writing, arts, communication,
social services, or law.
Students who excel in the STEM areas may consider careers in medicine, engineering, scientific
research, computers, or technical areas.
If your career interests and your readiness level don’t match up, you now know what you need to
work on to improve your readiness for the career you want to have.

9. This particular indicator is based on the
Reading test. It is measuring how well you
understand the purpose and meaning of
harder texts.
Why this is important: College-level texts are
complex- this is showing whether you are on
your way to ready in regards to your ability to
read and understand college-level texts. If yes,
keep reading! If no, start finding ways to increase
your reading level (like reading more)!
This indicator is linked to the ACT Career Readiness
Certificate, which can be earned on a Bronze, Silver,
or Gold level. Some companies and industries
recognize this certificate as evidence of an employee’s
ability to be successful in the workforce. We currently do not test for this certificate, but there are places across the state that do.

10. At the bottom right is the Scale Score Range for all categories
At the bottom right is the Scale Score Range for all categories. The report takes into account that these scores are based on your performance on a single testing day. This section shows a predicted range of scores that you might attain if you took the test again without any additional learning.

11. A bar graph shows the percent correct in each strand
ON THE BACK
A bar graph shows the percent correct in each strand
Each subtest is broken into smaller strands that are tested within that subtest.
The black bar shows the ACT readiness range- where a student who is “Ready” or “Exceeding” would perform in each strand.
The number of correct answers and the number of questions asked in each strand is shown as well as the percentage correct.

12. The “Improvement Ideas” section breaks down what each of the strands means.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
This is where you can get a real idea of where you can work toward improvement. This section gives you specific ideas about what to work on to improve your college and career readiness in the various areas.

13. REMEMBER
The ACT Aspire is from the same company that creates the ACT Test.
The ACT Test is the benchmark that colleges use to determine admission and scholarships.
This is true for four-year universities, but also for two-year schools and certificate programs.
This is also true for concurrent credit courses taught here on our campus through ATU or at UAFS through WATC.
The other benchmark that colleges use is your GPA. That is where they get an idea of your work ethic and determination.
These Aspire results can be used to set goals and to determine areas that need work before you take the ACT. Please take advantage of that opportunity- it can mean big bucks later!
Your scores on Interim tests can be an indicator of your summative performance. You don’t have to wait until next year to take advantage of the opportunity- use your Interim scores to set goals and move forward!

14. SO NOW WHAT?
Now that you’ve seen where you are and where you need to improve, make plans to make it happen!
Here are some options
Take an ACT Prep class here at AHS. We offer it as a semester course for credit for juniors and seniors.
Participate in our PACT (Preparing for the ACT Program) when it is offered. This program typically takes place after school for a few weeks leading up to the ACT. Pay attention for more information on when it will be offered this year.
Work on your own to improve with ACT Online Prep websites or ACT Question of the day.
- is a great FREE resource
- There is an entire list of ACT Prep resources you can pick up in the Counseling Center.