• Growth to Standards Model
• Conditional Score Averages Model
• Projection Model
• Student Growth Percentile Model
• Value-Added Interpretations
• ACT Publications

Conditional Score Averages Model

Growth can be described in a normative fashion by considering the average of test score 2, for each value of test score 1. These averages are known as conditional score averages. If students exceed the conditional score average, they performed better on test 2 than their peers with the same score on test 1. The conditional score averages are useful for predicting scores in a future grade and for measuring student growth relative to peers with the same prior test scores.

Below, we provide conditional score averages for numerous pairs of assessments. Find the assessment pair and select the growth period you are interested in to download the conditional score averages, as well as 50% score prediction intervals.

How to Apply the Conditional Score Averages

• Example demonstrating the Conditional Score Average model (Excel)

In this example, 124 students took the ACT Explore assessment in 9th grade and then took the ACT Plan assessment in 10th grade, 12 months later. Students’ predicted ACT Plan scores are determined by their ACT Explore score in the same subject area using the Conditional Score Average model.

Predicted ACT Plan scores can be compared to actual ACT Plan scores to obtain residual scores that measure growth relative to peers. The predicted values and residual scores are highlighted in the spreadsheet.

The worksheet named “Conditional Score Averages” is obtained from the ACT Explore/ACT Plan/Grade 9 to grade 10 (10–14 months) row in the table above.