Review Of How Your GPA Is Calculated

NCAA considers the grade point average of your core courses. These include 4 years of English, 3 years of math at Algebra I level or higher, 2 years of natural or physical science (one lab if offered at any high school attended), 1 year of additional English, math or natural/physical science, 2 years of social science, and 4 years of foreign language, philosophy or comparative religion. Check out your own high school to see which of its courses qualify as NCAA core courses.

This means your core course GPA might be a little different than the one reported on your transcript, which is an average of all the courses you have taken at high school. GPAs are calculated on a 4.0 scale. The chart below shows how letter and percentage grades translate to this 4.0 scale.

Letter Grade	Grade Point	Percentage
A	4	94-100%
A-	3.7	90-93%
B+	3.3	87-89%
B	3	83-86%
B-	2.7	80-82%
C+	2.3	77-79%
C	2	73-76%
C-	1.7	70-72%
D+	1.3	67-69%
D	1	60-66%
F	0	0-59%

Since NCAA compares your GPA and ACT score, let’s review how the ACT is scored. With this understanding, you’ll be able to determine exactly what ACT scores you need and how to achieve them.

Review Of How the ACT Is Scored

For a detailed explanation of how the ACT is scored, check out our article here. The gist is that the ACT has four sections: math, science, English, and reading. Each of these sections is scored on a scale from 1 to 36, and these four section scores are averaged together to get your composite score, also out of 36. However, your composite score doesn’t really matter for NCAA.

Instead, NCAA adds your section scores together into a “sum score.” So your sum score must be at least 4 and at most 144 (36 x 4).

Before you get a scaled score from 1 to 36, each section receives a “raw score.” Your raw score is simply the number of questions you answer correctly in each section. The chart below shows how raw scores are converted into scaled scores.

Why is this important? Because once you know your target score, you can figure out what raw score you need. In other words, you can determine how many correct answers you need and how many questions you can essentially ignore. Note that the ACT does not deduct any points for wrong answers, so you should still fill in answers to those questions you’ve skipped. You might get lucky and add a point or more to your raw score!

How NCAA Considers Your ACT Scores

As we said above, NCAA adds your section scores from math, science, English, and reading into a sum score. For example, if you got a scaled score of 20 in all four sections, then your sum score would be 80 (20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 80).

If you take the ACT more than once, NCAA will take your best section scores from any dates. NCAA will mix and match your highest section scores so you get your highest possible sum score.

Now let’s move on to the really important part – how NCAA compares your GPA with your ACT score.

NCAA Eligibility – The Sliding Scale

NCAA uses a sliding scale that compares your GPA and ACT scores. If you have a higher GPA, you can meet the eligibility requirements with lower ACT scores. Conversely, if you have a lower GPA, you have to make up the difference with higher ACT scores.

With a 2.8 GPA, for example, you need an NCAA ACT requirements score of 57. If you scored around the same in each section, this might be around 15 (out of 36) in each section. You could score a little higher in some and lower in others.

These charts show the sliding scale to qualify for Division I and Division II teams. While you can qualify with a 2.0 GPA currently, you will need at least a 2.3 GPA starting August 1, 2016. After that date, students with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.3 may qualify for “Academic Redshirt” – they will get athletic aid and practice but cannot compete.

Division I		Division II
Core Course GPA	ACT Sum	Core Course GPA	ACT Sum
3.550 & above	37	3.300 & above	37
3.525	38	3.275	38
3.5	39	3.25	39
3.475	40	3.225	40
3.45	41	3.2	41
3.425	41	3.175	41
3.4	42	3.15	42
3.375	42	3.125	42
3.35	43	3.1	43
3.325	44	3.075	44
3.3	44	3.05	44
3.275	45	3.025	45
3.25	46	3	46
3.225	46	2.975	46
3.2	47	2.95	47
3.175	47	2.925	47
3.15	48	2.9	48
3.125	49	2.875	49
3.1	49	2.85	49
3.075	50	2.825	50
3.05	50	2.8	50
3.025	51	2.775	51
3	52	2.75	52
2.975	52	2.725	52
2.95	53	2.7	53
2.925	53	2.675	53
2.9	54	2.65	54
2.875	55	2.625	55
2.85	56	2.6	56
2.825	56	2.575	56
2.8	57	2.55	57
2.775	58	2.525	58
2.75	59	2.5	59
2.725	59	2.475	60
2.7	60	2.45	61
2.675	61	2.425	61
2.65	62	2.4	62
2.625	63	2.375	63
2.6	64	2.35	64
2.575	65	2.325	65
2.55	66	2.3	66
2.525	67	2.275	67
2.5	68	2.25	68
2.475	69	2.225	69
2.45	70	2.2	70 & above
2.425	70
2.4	71
2.375	72
2.35	73
2.325	74
2.3	75
2.275	76
2.25	77
2.225	78
2.2	79
2.175	80
2.15	80
2.125	81
2.1	82
2.075	83
2.05	84
2.025	85
2	86

Once you know your GPA and what you need to qualify, how can you get these scores? Read on for our important tips and strategies.

How To Hit Your Target ACT Scores

Play To Your Strengths

Since NCAA adds together all your section scores, all sections of the ACT are important and require test prep. However, since there is no minimum per section, you can achieve your target sum score with any combination of section scores. Put it another way, you can play to your strengths. What subjects are you stronger in? Which subjects are not your forte? If you love English but feel like math messes with your head, to give one example, you can aim for a higher target score in the English and reading sections than in the math sections.

While you definitely need to prep for all sections, you can define different target scores for English, reading, math, and science depending on your strengths and what you can realistically achieve with the time you have to prep.

Devise a Strategy

Once you have your target scores defined, take a look at the raw score chart we presented above. How many questions do you need to get right? If you need an 18 in English, for example, you need to answer 17 – 19 questions correct (aim for at least 19). This is less than ⅓ of all the English questions!

As you’re taking the test, don’t waste time on the really hard questions. Seek out questions you can confidently answer. At the same time, don’t leave any questions blank. As we mentioned above, there is no point penalty for wrong answers, so you might as well guess. If you skip any questions, leave a little time at the end of each section to fill in the rest on your bubble sheet.

You may also be able to improve your scores by taking the ACT more than once. Check out the ACT test dates here – start early to make sure you have enough test dates.

Get Training

As with the rigorous hours you put in for your sport, you need to step up to some serious training for the ACT. Doing well on the ACT is not about just showing up and being smart – it’s all about how prepared you are. Studying will help you get better, just as practices allow you to improve as an athlete. This isn’t a metaphor – it’s how any skill is developed. And believing that you can grow and get better is a big part of clearing the way for growth to happen. As you know during exhausting practices and games, a huge part of performing is winning this mental game.

These values of dedication, effort, discipline, and internal motivation will help you on the ACT and carry you through your career as a student-athlete in college. Figure out your strengths, drill your weaknesses, and keep up your drive and hunger to achieve your goals.

Find Time

Finding time for test prep is easier said than done, especially with your packed schedule of school, homework, practices, games, and social life. Create a schedule and set aside specific time for ACT studying to ensure that you make time.

As you take practice tests, time yourself the way the real test will be timed. This will help you get used to the pacing of the questions in a short amount of time, as well as understand your own stamina and what you need to do to keep up your focus and energy levels.

Use the Right Materials

You wouldn’t train for baseball with a wiffle ball, just as you shouldn’t train for the ACT with sub-par materials. High quality test prep questions are a must for preparing you for the test and breaking down the skills and content you need to master within each section. Check out our free E-Book for important tips about the ACT.

ACT Questions of the Day are also an easy and convenient way to add some extra test prep to your day. They can be accessed online or on your phone. By starting months ahead of your test, ACT QOTD will get you familiar with a variety of questions and help you figure out which kinds of question need extra attention.

To Sum Up…

By being aware of NCAA ACT and GPA requirements well ahead of your application deadlines, you will have enough time to train for the ACT, take the test several times, and ensure that you meet the NCAA eligibility criteria.

As an athlete, you know well that training and practice makes all the difference. By applying those same skills of self-discipline and internal motivation to your ACT prep, you will be able to take your career as a student-athlete to the next level at the college of your choice!