Why is it critical to break down an official ACT score report by reporting category?

Without examining specific reporting categories (such as Production of Writing or Number & Quantity), you cannot see your actual conceptual weaknesses. Looking purely at composite or section scores is like throwing darts at a hidden board; a category breakdown reveals the exact targets you need to drill.

What should my child do if they score in the 24–27 range but miss easier foundational questions?

The 24–27 band guide strictly covers the advanced standards that are new to this scoring level, assuming lower-level concepts are mastered. If your child has underlying conceptual gaps, they should work through the 20–23 score band strategies first to build a secure foundation before tackling these harder standards.

What are the Integrating Essential Skills (IES) and Modeling (MDL) categories on the ACT Math test?

Parents often mistake IES and MDL for isolated question types, but they are actually score overlays. IES evaluates how well a student handles foundational, lower-grade math woven into advanced problems, while MDL tracks real-world problem modeling. You raise both scores simultaneously by mastering core topic standards and practicing word-problem translation.

Does my child need advanced science knowledge to score a 27 on the ACT Science section?

No, advanced high school biology, chemistry, or physics knowledge is not required. The ACT Science section primarily evaluates data literacy. To secure a score in the 24–27 range, students must be trained to seamlessly map variables, compare multi-chart trends, identify graph axes, and call out structural inconsistencies across complex data presentations.

How to Get a 24, 25, 26, or 27 on the ACT®

Read time: 5 min · Last updated: June 21, 2026

How do I get a 24? How do I get a 25? How do I get a 26? How do I get a 27?

First, you need an official score. Here's how to pull one – so make sure you do that first. You need to break it down by reporting category. Otherwise, if you don't, you won't know the actual sections you're weak on, and you're throwing darts at a board without being able to see the target. Not a very good method, but it's the one most people use, because access to this kind of knowledge hasn't been translated for people before I built this website.

So get your official score by following that guide, then check out these articles. This page assumes your son or daughter has a section score in the 24–27 range. That could mean math is sitting at 24–27 while other sections are higher or lower – work this page for whichever section falls in this band.

A note on what's here: this page covers only the standards that are new at the 24–27 level. The skills below 24 are assumed mastered. If they're not, start with the 20–23 band first, because everything here builds on that foundation. The next step is to see which actual ranges within that score are lowest. If it's algebra, study algebra below. If geometry, study geometry.

English

The printed English reporting categories are Production of Writing (POW), Knowledge of Language (KLA), and Conventions of Standard English (CSE). The ACT's underlying TOD and ORG standards roll up into POW; KLA into KLA; and SST, USG, and PUN into CSE.

Production of Writing

TOD 501 - Determine relevance of material in terms of the focus of the paragraph. Study this skill
TOD 502 - Identify the purpose of a word, phrase, or sentence when the purpose is fairly straightforward (e.g., identifying traits, giving reasons, explaining motivations). Study this skill
TOD 503 - Determine whether an essay has met a specified goal. Study this skill
TOD 504 - Use a word, phrase, or sentence to accomplish a fairly straightforward purpose (e.g., sharpening an essay's focus, illustrating a given statement). Study this skill
ORG 501 - Determine the need for transition words or phrases to establish subtle logical relationships within and between sentences (e.g., therefore, however, in addition). Study this skill
ORG 502 - Provide a fairly straightforward introduction or conclusion to or transition within a paragraph or essay (e.g., supporting or emphasizing an essay's main idea). Study this skill
ORG 503 - Rearrange the sentences in a fairly straightforward paragraph for the sake of logic. Study this skill
ORG 504 - Determine the best place to divide a paragraph to meet a particular rhetorical goal. Study this skill
ORG 505 - Rearrange the paragraphs in an essay for the sake of logic. Study this skill

Knowledge of Language

KLA 501 - Revise vague, clumsy, and confusing writing. Study this skill
KLA 502 - Delete redundant and wordy material when the meaning of the entire sentence must be considered. Study this skill
KLA 503 - Revise expressions that deviate in subtle ways from the style and tone of the essay. Study this skill
KLA 504 - Determine the need for conjunctions to create logical links between clauses. Study this skill
KLA 505 - Use the word or phrase most appropriate in terms of the content of the sentence when the vocabulary is uncommon. Study this skill

Conventions of Standard English

SST 501 - Recognize and correct disturbances in sentence structure (e.g., faulty placement of phrases, faulty coordination and subordination of clauses, lack of parallelism within a simple series of phrases). Study this skill
SST 502 - Maintain consistent and logical verb tense and pronoun person on the basis of the preceding clause or sentence. Study this skill
USG 501 - Form simple and compound verb tenses, both regular and irregular, including forming verbs by using have rather than of (e.g., would have gone, not would of gone). Study this skill
USG 502 - Ensure pronoun-antecedent agreement when the pronoun and antecedent occur in separate clauses or sentences. Study this skill
USG 503 - Recognize and correct vague and ambiguous pronouns. Study this skill
PUN 501 - Delete commas in long or involved sentences when an incorrect understanding of the sentence suggests a pause that should be punctuated (e.g., between the elements of a compound subject or compound verb joined by and). Study this skill
PUN 502 - Recognize and correct inappropriate uses of colons and semicolons. Study this skill
PUN 503 - Use punctuation to set off complex parenthetical elements. Study this skill
PUN 504 - Use apostrophes to form simple possessive nouns. Study this skill

Math

The printed Math reporting categories are Preparing for Higher Math (PHM) – itself split into Number & Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics & Probability – plus Integrating Essential Skills (IES) and Modeling (MDL).

One thing parents get confused about: IES and MDL are not separate question types. The ACT scores them as overlays. IES re-scores the easier, lower-grade-level content woven through every question; MDL re-scores any question that asks the student to produce, interpret, or evaluate a model. A single question can count toward a content category and IES and MDL at once. So there's no "IES page" or "MDL page" to study – you raise both by mastering the content standards below and by drilling word-problem translation. Where a standard is modeling-heavy, I've marked it (MDL).

Number & Quantity

N 501 - Order fractions. Study this skill
N 502 - Find and use the least common multiple. Study this skill
N 503 - Work with numerical factors. Study this skill
N 504 - Exhibit some knowledge of the complex numbers. Study this skill
N 505 - Add and subtract matrices that have integer entries. Study this skill

Algebra

AF 501 (MDL) - Solve multistep arithmetic problems that involve planning or converting common derived units of measure (e.g., feet per second to miles per hour). Study this skill
AF 502 (MDL) - Build functions and write expressions, equations, or inequalities with a single variable for common pre-algebra settings (e.g., rate and distance problems and problems that can be solved by using proportions). Study this skill
AF 503 - Match linear equations with their graphs in the coordinate plane. Study this skill
A 501 - Recognize that when numerical quantities are reported in real-world contexts, the numbers are often rounded. Study this skill
A 502 (MDL) - Solve real-world problems by using first-degree equations. Study this skill
A 503 - Solve first-degree inequalities when the method does not involve reversing the inequality sign. Study this skill
A 504 - Match compound inequalities with their graphs on the number line (e.g., −10.5 < x ≤ 20.3). Study this skill
A 505 - Add, subtract, and multiply polynomials. Study this skill
A 506 - Identify solutions to simple quadratic equations. Study this skill
A 507 - Solve quadratic equations in the form (x + a)(x + b) = 0, where a and b are numbers or variables. Study this skill
A 508 - Factor simple quadratics (e.g., the difference of squares and perfect square trinomials). Study this skill
A 509 - Work with squares and square roots of numbers. Study this skill
A 510 - Work with cubes and cube roots of numbers. Study this skill
A 511 - Work with scientific notation. Study this skill
A 512 - Work problems involving positive integer exponents. Study this skill
A 513 - Determine when an expression is undefined. Study this skill
A 514 - Determine the slope of a line from an equation. Study this skill

Functions

F 501 - Evaluate polynomial functions, expressed in function notation, at integer values. Study this skill
F 502 - Find the next term in a sequence described recursively. Study this skill
F 503 (MDL) - Build functions and use quantitative information to identify graphs for relations that are proportional or linear. Study this skill
F 504 (MDL) - Attend to the difference between a function modeling a situation and the reality of the situation. Study this skill
F 505 - Understand the concept of a function as having a well-defined output value at each valid input value. Study this skill
F 506 - Understand the concept of domain and range in terms of valid input and output, and in terms of function graphs. Study this skill
F 507 - Interpret statements that use function notation in terms of their context. Study this skill
F 508 - Find the domain of polynomial functions and rational functions. Study this skill
F 509 - Find the range of polynomial functions. Study this skill
F 510 - Find where a rational function's graph has a vertical asymptote. Study this skill
F 511 - Use function notation for simple functions of two variables. Study this skill

Geometry

G 501 - Use several angle properties to find an unknown angle measure. Study this skill
G 502 - Count the number of lines of symmetry of a geometric figure. Study this skill
G 503 - Use symmetry of isosceles triangles to find unknown side lengths or angle measures. Study this skill
G 504 - Recognize that real-world measurements are typically imprecise and that an appropriate level of precision is related to the measuring device and procedure. Study this skill
G 505 - Compute the perimeter of simple composite geometric figures with unknown side lengths. Study this skill
G 506 - Compute the area of triangles and rectangles when one or more additional simple steps are required. Study this skill
G 507 - Compute the area and circumference of circles after identifying necessary information. Study this skill
G 508 - Given the length of two sides of a right triangle, find the third when the lengths are Pythagorean triples. Study this skill
G 509 - Express the sine, cosine, and tangent of an angle in a right triangle as a ratio of given side lengths. Study this skill
G 510 - Determine the slope of a line from points or a graph. Study this skill
G 511 - Find the midpoint of a line segment. Study this skill
G 512 - Find the coordinates of a point rotated 180° around a given center point. Study this skill

Statistics & Probability

S 501 - Calculate the average given the frequency counts of all the data values. Study this skill
S 502 - Manipulate data from tables and charts. Study this skill
S 503 - Compute straightforward probabilities for common situations. Study this skill
S 504 - Use Venn diagrams in counting. Study this skill
S 505 - Recognize that when data summaries are reported in the real world, results are often rounded and must be interpreted as having appropriate precision. Study this skill
S 506 (MDL) - Recognize that when a statistical model is used, model values typically differ from actual values. Study this skill

Reading

The printed Reading reporting categories are Key Ideas & Details (KID), Craft & Structure (CS), and Integration of Knowledge & Ideas (IKI). The ACT's CLR, IDT, and REL standards roll up into KID; WME, TST, and PPV into CS; and ARG and SYN into IKI.

Key Ideas & Details

CLR 501 - Locate and interpret minor or subtly stated details in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
CLR 502 - Locate important details in more challenging passages. Study this skill
CLR 503 - Draw subtle logical conclusions in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
CLR 504 - Draw logical conclusions in more challenging passages. Study this skill
CLR 505 - Paraphrase virtually any statement as it is used in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
CLR 506 - Paraphrase some statements as they are used in more challenging passages. Study this skill
IDT 501 - Infer a central idea or theme in somewhat challenging passages or their paragraphs. Study this skill
IDT 502 - Identify a clear central idea or theme in more challenging passages or their paragraphs. Study this skill
IDT 503 - Summarize key supporting ideas and details in more challenging passages. Study this skill
REL 501 - Order sequences of events in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
REL 502 - Understand implied or subtly stated comparative relationships in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
REL 503 - Identify clear comparative relationships in more challenging passages. Study this skill
REL 504 - Understand implied or subtly stated cause-effect relationships in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
REL 505 - Identify clear cause-effect relationships in more challenging passages. Study this skill

Craft & Structure

WME 501 - Analyze how the choice of a specific word or phrase shapes meaning or tone in somewhat challenging passages when the effect is subtle. Study this skill
WME 502 - Analyze how the choice of a specific word or phrase shapes meaning or tone in more challenging passages. Study this skill
WME 503 - Interpret virtually any word or phrase as it is used in somewhat challenging passages, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings. Study this skill
WME 504 - Interpret most words and phrases as they are used in more challenging passages, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings. Study this skill
TST 501 - Analyze how one or more sentences in somewhat challenging passages relate to the whole passage when the function is subtle. Study this skill
TST 502 - Analyze how one or more sentences in more challenging passages relate to the whole passage. Study this skill
TST 503 - Infer the function of paragraphs in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
TST 504 - Identify a clear function of paragraphs in more challenging passages. Study this skill
TST 505 - Analyze the overall structure of more challenging passages. Study this skill
PPV 501 - Infer a purpose in somewhat challenging passages and how that purpose shapes content and style. Study this skill
PPV 502 - Identify a clear purpose of more challenging passages and how that purpose shapes content and style. Study this skill
PPV 503 - Understand point of view in more challenging passages. Study this skill

Integration of Knowledge & Ideas

ARG 501 - Analyze how one or more sentences in more challenging passages offer reasons for or support a claim. Study this skill
ARG 502 - Infer a central claim in somewhat challenging passages. Study this skill
ARG 503 - Identify a clear central claim in more challenging passages. Study this skill
SYN 501 - Draw logical conclusions using information from two informational texts. Study this skill

Science

The printed Science reporting categories are Interpretation of Data (IOD), Scientific Investigation (SIN), and Evaluation of Models, Inferences & Experimental Results (EMI).

Interpretation of Data

IOD 501 - Compare or combine data from two or more simple data presentations (e.g., categorize data from a table using a scale from another table). Study this skill
IOD 502 - Compare or combine data from a complex data presentation. Study this skill
IOD 503 - Determine how the values of variables change as the value of another variable changes in a complex data presentation. Study this skill
IOD 504 - Determine and/or use a simple (e.g., linear) mathematical relationship that exists between data. Study this skill
IOD 505 - Analyze presented information when given new, simple information. Study this skill

Scientific Investigation

SIN 501 - Understand a complex experimental design. Study this skill
SIN 502 - Predict the results of an additional trial or measurement in an experiment. Study this skill
SIN 503 - Determine the experimental conditions that would produce specified results. Study this skill

Evaluation of Models, Inferences & Experimental Results

EMI 501 - Determine which simple hypothesis, prediction, or conclusion is, or is not, consistent with two or more data presentations, models, and/or pieces of information in text. Study this skill
EMI 502 - Determine whether presented information, or new information, supports or contradicts a simple hypothesis or conclusion, and why. Study this skill
EMI 503 - Identify the strengths and weaknesses of models. Study this skill
EMI 504 - Determine which models are supported or weakened by new information. Study this skill
EMI 505 - Determine which experimental results or models support or contradict a hypothesis, prediction, or conclusion. Study this skill

Once This Band Is Consistent

When your son or daughter is reliably scoring in the 24–27 range, the next layer of new standards lives on the next page. Move on to how to get a 28–32.