The Mastery College Prep Assessment (MCPA) Student Report shows how a student performed on the Mastery College Prep Assessment, including projected ACT scores, college readiness comparisons, and achievement levels across Math, Science, English, and Reading. Educators, students, and families can use the report to see how prepared a student is for college-level coursework and where they may benefit from additional practice before taking the ACT.
The Student Information and Report Overview section provides basic information about the student [1], school [2], and school year [3], and explains what the Mastery College Prep Assessment is and why it is given [4].
- Mastery College Prep Assessment (MCPA): A practice test designed to mirror the ACT® in format and rigor. It gives students an estimate of their projected ACT scores and college readiness, along with strengths and areas for improvement in each subject.
- Results are most meaningful when considered alongside grades, coursework, and overall school progress — not as a stand-alone measure.
College & Career Readiness
The College & Career Readiness section shows the student’s projected ACT scores on the 1–36 scale and compares them with ACT College Readiness Benchmarks for each subject, plus two combined areas: STEM (Science and Math) and ELA (English and Reading).•
- Proj ACTScore [1]: The student’s projected score for each subject. It is calculated by scaling the student’s raw percent-correct score to the 1–36 range used by the ACT® through a statistical equating process, giving an estimate of how the student would likely perform on the ACT if they took it today.
- Target ACT Score [2]: The ACT College Readiness Benchmark for that subject — the score associated with roughly a 50% chance of earning a B or higher, or about a 75% chance of earning a C or higher, in the corresponding credit-bearing first-year college course (see Section 5.6 of the ACT Technical Manual). Note: The Composite has a. distinct target score (see below).
- College/Career Ready [3]: Shows “Yes” when the Proj ACT Score meets or exceeds the Target ACT Score for that subject, and “No” when it does not.
- STEM and ELA [4]: STEM is the average of the Math and Science scores. ELA is the average of the Reading and English scores. Because the MCPA does not score a Writing component, this ELA score is provided as an additional combined measure rather than an ACT®-equivalent ELA score, which the ACT® only reports when the optional Writing test is taken.
- Composite [5]: In line with ACT® methodology, the Composite score is the average of the English, Math, and Reading scores (Science was removed from this calculation in 2025). The Composite target score corresponds to the “Gold” level of the ACT®’s Progress Toward Career Readiness (WorkKeys NCRC) indicator, succeeding at the workplace rather than on college courses.
- Overall Results [6]: This box summarizes the student’s Composite score and states how many of the four core subjects (English, Math, Reading, Science) met the ACT® College Readiness Benchmark.
Achievement Levels
The Achievement Levels section explains what the student’s scores mean in terms of academic skill by translating each score into one of seven achievement levels, based on the score ranges defined in the ACT® College and Career Readiness Standards.
- AchievementLevel [1]: A category, from Level 1 (Emerging) through Level 7 (Distinguished), that describes the knowledge and skills a student has demonstrated for a given score range:
- Level 1 – Emerging (1–12)
- Level 2 – Foundational (13–15)
- Level 3 – Developing (16–19)
- Level 4 – Approaching (20–23)
- Level 5 – Proficient (24–27)
- Level 6 – Advanced (28–32)
- Level 7 – Distinguished (33–36)
- Composite [2], STEM [2], and ELA [3] Achievement Level: Each of these boxes translates the corresponding score into its level number, using the score ranges above, along with a short narrative description of what the student can do at that level.
- Subject Achievement Levels correspond closely to knowledge/skill descriptions for the specific score ranges in the ACT Standards.
- A higher achievement level does not mean a subject is “easier” — it means the student is ready to apply their knowledge and skills to more complex tasks.
Math
Within the STEM area, Math results are broken down by ACT® reporting category and by item type. Each row shows the achievement level (1–7) the student reached for that category, not a raw score.
- Integrating Essential Skills: Applying foundational math skills typically learned before grade 8.
- Preparing for Higher Math: The largest reporting category, made up of five strands — Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics & Probability.
- Modeling: Using mathematical models to represent and solve real-world problems.
- Item Types: Shows performance by question format — Diagram, Story, and Demonstrate. Students and math teachers should pay special attention to item type performance, focusing practice on the most challenging formats.
Science
Within the STEM area, Science results are broken down by ACT® reporting category, passage type, and content area.
- Interpretation of Data: Reading and interpreting data presented in tables, graphs, and diagrams.
- Scientific Investigation: Understanding experimental tools, procedures, and design.
- Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results: Judging the validity of scientific information, models, and conclusions.
- Passage Types: Shows performance by the kind of scientific passage — Data Representation, Research Summaries, and Conflicting Viewpoints.
- Content: Shows performance by subject-matter area — Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth/Space Science — highlighting content areas where the student may benefit from more exposure, regardless of which reporting category or passage type it came from.
English
Within the ELA area, English results are broken down by ACT® reporting category.
- Conventions of Standard English: Covers Punctuation, Grammar & Usage, and Sentence Structure.
- Knowledge of Language: Covers Word Choice, Style & Tone.
- Production of Writing: Covers Organization, Unity, and Cohesion, and Topic Development.
Note: The MCPA supports an optional writing section, but it must be scored manually by educators and is not included in this report’s scoring.
Reading
Within the ELA area, Reading results are broken down by ACT® reporting category and passage genre.
- Reporting categories: Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas.
- PassageGenres: Shows performance by the type of passage read — Social Studies, Natural Science, Prose Fiction, and Humanities. Students and educators should pay attention to genre-specific performance and plan additional practice with more challenging genres.
