Superscoring
Many in college admission talk about reading applications holistically and supportively; one way they can do this is by “superscoring” standardized tests. This means that if you take the SAT more than once, the admission office will take the highest section score across test administrations and assign you a new, higher total score.
For the ACT, this process generally takes the form of taking your highest test scores across test administrations, but may not result in a new Composite score because colleges use test scores individually. ACT has introduced its Superscoring report as of April 2021 as a convenient way for students to send their best scores. See our complete guide to the report.
In practice, this means that it’s almost always advisable to plan to take the test more than once. Multiple sittings mean multiple opportunities to maximize each section score, which can increase your superscore. You can take the test a second or third time knowing that if you have a worse day in Math but a great day in Reading and Writing, the lower math score won’t be held against you. You can still get the benefit of that great Reading and Writing score.
Score Choice
The College Board and ACT have adopted policies, generally referred to as “Score Choice,” designed to give students some control over how SAT and ACT scores are reported. Colleges, however, have the final say over what scores applicants should submit and how those scores will be used. Many of the schools listed have temporary test optional policies that may change in 2025. Students should carefully review the score-reporting policy of each college to which they plan to apply.
- Require all scores: These colleges explicitly require applicants to submit all test scores.
- Recommend all scores: These colleges recommend but do not require that applicants send all test scores. These schools’ admission offices will create superscores for applicants, and counselors do not want students to inadvertently neglect to send a high section score.
- Accept score choice: These colleges will accept whichever scores an applicant elects to submit.
In the table below, you will find the superscore and score choice policies of many popular colleges. We are working to build out this database to include the 400+ popular colleges whose ACT and SAT score ranges and testing policies we also track (excluding those with Test Free policies). We also track score ranges and policies for merit scholarships here.
Please note: the below policies are for general admission only. Students seeking scholarships or entry to specific programs may be met with a different set of requirements. Schools also reserve the right to change their policies; be sure to check official sites before applying.
School | Superscore SAT | Superscore ACT | Score Choice |
---|---|---|---|
Abilene Christian University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Adelphi University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Agnes Scott College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Albion College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Allegheny College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
American University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Amherst College | Yes | Yes | Recommends All Scores |
Appalachian State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Arizona State University—Tempe | No | No | Score choice OK |
Auburn University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Augustana College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Austin College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Babson College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Baldwin Wallace University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Bard College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Barnard College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Bates College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Baylor University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Beloit College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Bennington College | Yes | Yes* | Score choice OK |
Bentley University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Berea College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Berry College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Binghamton University—SUNY | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Biola University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Birmingham-Southern College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Boston College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Boston University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Bowdoin College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Bradley University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Brandeis University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Brigham Young University—Provo | No | No | Score choice OK |
Brown University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Bryn Mawr College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Bucknell University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Butler University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
California Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes* | Score choice OK |
California Lutheran University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Carleton College | Yes | No | Requires All Scores |
Carnegie Mellon University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Carroll College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Case Western Reserve University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Centre College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Chapman University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Christopher Newport University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Claremont McKenna College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Clark University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Clarkson University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Clemson University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Coe College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Colby College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Colgate University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
College of Charleston | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
College of New Jersey | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
College of St. Benedict | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
College of the Holy Cross | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
College of William and Mary | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
College of Wooster | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Colorado College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Colorado School of Mines | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Colorado State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Columbia University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Concordia College—Moorhead | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Connecticut College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Cooper Union | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Cornell College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Cornell University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Creighton University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
CUNY—Baruch College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Dartmouth College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Davidson College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Denison University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
DePaul University | No | No | Score choice OK |
DePauw University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Dickinson College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Drake University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Drew University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Drexel University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Drury University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Duke University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Duquesne University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Earlham College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Elmhurst College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Elon University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Emerson College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Emory University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Fairfield University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Florida Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Florida State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Fordham University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Franklin and Marshall College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Furman University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Gallaudet University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
George Mason University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
George Washington University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Georgetown University | Yes | No | Requires All Scores |
Georgia Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Gettysburg College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Gonzaga University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Goshen College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Goucher College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Grinnell College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hamilton College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hampden-Sydney College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hampton University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Hanover College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Harvard University | Yes* | No | Score choice OK |
Harvey Mudd College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Haverford College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hendrix College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
High Point University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hillsdale College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hofstra University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hollins University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Hope College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Howard University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Illinois Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Illinois Wesleyan University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Indiana University—Bloomington | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Iowa State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Ithaca College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
James Madison University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
John Brown University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Johns Hopkins University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Kalamazoo College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Kenyon College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Knox College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Lafayette College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Lake Forest College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Lawrence University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Lehigh University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Lewis & Clark College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Lipscomb University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Louisiana State University—Baton Rouge | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Loyola Marymount University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Loyola University Chicago | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Loyola University Maryland | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Luther College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Macalester College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Marist College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Marquette University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Recommends All Scores |
Mercer University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Miami University—Oxford | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Michigan State University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Michigan Technological University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Middlebury College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Millsaps College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Milwaukee School of Engineering | No | No | Score choice OK |
Mississippi State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Missouri University of Science & Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Morehouse College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Mount Holyoke College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Muhlenberg College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
New College of Florida | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
New Jersey Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
New School | No | No | Score choice OK |
New York University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
North Carolina State University—Raleigh | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Northeastern University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Northwestern University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Oberlin College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Occidental College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Ohio State University—Columbus | No | No | Score choice OK |
Ohio University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Ohio Wesleyan University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Oklahoma State University | No | Yes | Score choice OK |
Oregon State University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Pacific Lutheran University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Pennsylvania State University—University Park | No | No | Score choice OK |
Pepperdine University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Pitzer College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Point Loma Nazarene University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Pomona College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Pratt Institute | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Presbyterian College (SC) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Princeton University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Providence College | Yes | Yes* | Score choice OK |
Purdue University—West Lafayette | Yes* | Yes* | Score choice OK |
Queens University of Charlotte | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Quinnipiac University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Randolph-Macon College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Reed College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Rhode Island School of Design | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Rhodes College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Rice University | Yes | Yes | Recommends All Scores |
Ripon College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Rochester Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Rollins College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—Newark | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Saint Louis University | No | No | Score choice OK |
Samford University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Santa Clara University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Sarah Lawrence College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Scripps College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Seattle University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Seton Hall University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Sewanee—University of the South | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Siena College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Simmons College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Skidmore College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Smith College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Soka University of America | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Southern Methodist University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Southwestern University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Spelman College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. John Fisher College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. John's College Annapolis | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. John's University (NY) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. Lawrence University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. Mary's College (IN) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. Mary's College of California | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. Mary's College of Maryland | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
St. Michael's College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
St. Olaf College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Stanford University | Yes | Yes* | Score choice OK |
Stetson University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Stevens Institute of Technology | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Stonehill College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Stony Brook University—SUNY | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
SUNY—Geneseo | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Susquehanna University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Swarthmore College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Syracuse University | Yes | Yes | Requires All Scores |
Taylor University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Temple University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Texas A&M University—College Station | No | No | Score choice OK |
Texas Christian University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Texas Lutheran University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
The Citadel | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Thomas Aquinas College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Transylvania University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Trinity College (Hartford) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Trinity University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Truman State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Tufts University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Tulane University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Union College (Schenectady, NY) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
United States Air Force Academy | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
United States Coast Guard Academy | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
United States Military Academy | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
United States Naval Academy | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University at Albany—SUNY | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University at Buffalo—SUNY | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
University of Alabama | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Arizona | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Arkansas—Fayetteville | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Chicago | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Cincinnati | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Colorado—Boulder | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Connecticut | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Dallas | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
University of Dayton | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Delaware | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Denver | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Florida | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Georgia | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Hawaii at Manoa | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Illinois—Chicago | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign | Yes* | Yes* | Score choice OK |
University of Iowa | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Kansas | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Kentucky | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of La Verne | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Mary Washington | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Maryland—College Park | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Massachusetts—Amherst | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Miami | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Mississippi | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Missouri | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Nebraska—Lincoln | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of New Hampshire | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of North Carolina—Wilmington | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Notre Dame | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Oklahoma | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Oregon | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Pennsylvania | Yes | Yes | Recommends All Scores |
University of Pittsburgh | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
University of Portland | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Puget Sound | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Redlands | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Richmond | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Rochester | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of San Diego | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
University of San Francisco | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of South Carolina | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of South Florida | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Southern California | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of St. Thomas (MN) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Tennessee | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Texas—Austin | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Texas—Dallas | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
University of the Pacific | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Tulsa | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Utah | No | No | Score choice OK |
University of Vermont | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Virginia | Yes | Yes* | Score choice OK |
University of Washington | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
University of Wisconsin—Madison | No | No | Score choice OK |
Ursinus College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Valparaiso University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Vanderbilt University | Yes | Yes | Recommends All Scores |
Vassar College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Villanova University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Virginia Military Institute | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Wabash College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Wake Forest University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Washington and Jefferson College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Washington and Lee University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Washington College | Yes | No | Score choice OK |
Washington University in St. Louis | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Wellesley College | No | No | Score choice OK |
Wesleyan University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Western Michigan University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Westmont College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Wheaton College (IL) | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Whitman College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Whittier College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Willamette University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Williams College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Wofford College | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Xavier University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Yale University | Yes | Yes | Score choice OK |
Yeshiva University | Yes* | Yes* | Score choice OK |
* Weak Superscoring: These school fall somewhere between “highest composite” and true superscoring. For instance, University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign’s policy states, “If you took either test more than once, we’ll use your highest sub-scores in our evaluation. However, we don’t use your highest sub-scores from different test sittings to create a super-score.” We find this to be almost a distinction without a difference, especially since some colleges do the same thing behind the scenes but label it “superscoring.”
Post a comment or send an email to guide@compassprep.com with questions or recommended changes.
Hello, if a college like CMU requires all SAT and ACT scores does that mean they also require all subject scores?
Aurora,
This is a point of confusion because College Board’s score reporting tool only tells students whether or not a school participates in Score Choice. We have found that almost all colleges make an exception for Subject Tests. In other words, just because you need to submit all SAT scores does not automatically mean that you must submit all Subject Test scores. It is best to check with individual colleges. My understanding is that CMU no longer requires to submit all Subject Test scores and that you can choose which ones to send. Again, I would check with the university.
A&M requires all scores, please do not mislead others
Hi Erin,
Thank you for the note. We’ve updated our resources.
Cornell doesn’t require all scores anymore. They allow score choice for SAT+Subject Tests. All ACT Scores do have to be submitted though.
https://admissions.cornell.edu/standardized-testing-requirements
Updated. Thank you, M.
I am still unclear about Georgetown testing requirements. If the student took both SAT & ACT, do they have to submit all scores, from all sittings , from both? In other words, does Georgetown require entire student testing history (both SAT & ACT if student took both)?
Jo,
Georgetown requires a student’s full testing history — every SAT, Subject Test, and ACT taken.
How can I tell how competitive I am if I studied for the SAT and took it for the first time *without* doing a superscore-focused approach? I am a junior and just got my December scores for my first-ever SAT (740/750) but even though i thought it was pretty good and even though puts me in the top 2% of all sat takers it hardly even squeaks into the top 25% of many schools and that seems odd.
Is there any normal “fidge factor” where I can find out how competitive I am without having done superscoring?
Hi Erik,
Congrats on the 1490 on your first attempt! The question of how competitive you are is a complicated one. When admission officers look at your application, they’ll most likely be looking at a range of factors, test scores being only one of them. High school GPA, letters of recommendation, extra-curricular activities will all play a part. You’re right to point out, however, that those scores are often in the mid-range of Freshman classes at the most selective universities. Check out https://www.compassprep.com/great-to-good-the-diluted-value-of-high-test-scores/ on the increase of high-scoring students.
My advice would be that if you think you could improve your scores, it’s worth taking the exam again. Even if only one score goes up, many schools superscore.
Hi there,
My son took SAT in October and got 1480 (EBRW: 700 (Reading: 33, Writing: 37), Math: 780) and retook it in December and got 1510 (EBRW: 710 (Reading: 31, Writing: 40), Math: 800). I am a little confused about superscoring. I understand that superscoring schools use the highest EBRW score. But do they superscore reading and writing sections also? If so, should we send both October and December scores because Reading score was higher in October and Writing score was higher in December? Or if they superscore only EBRW, should we send only December score?
Thank you very much for your help!
John,
Superscoring is done with the EBRW and Math scores. I don’t see any reason to send the October score.
I would like to ask if I could use superscore on the printed score report, because the college I want to apply to require the printed ones instead of the online score report. I took physics, math2 and bio on my first SAT subject test and did math2 and physics once more, and increase my physics score but my math2 score decreases. I would like to swap just my physics score but keep the math and bio score from my first attempt. Is this possible to do for the printed score report?
Hi there,
Superscoring is done by college admission folks for either the SAT or ACT. For subject tests, you can simply elect to only send your highest scores—each test is considered individually. Best of luck with your applications!
Does the university of maryland require all ACT scores be sent?
Dwight,
Maryland does not require all ACT scores. However, they use the highest subscores, so there is also no disadvantage to sending your scores.
Stanford does not offer score choice, please update
Hi Max,
Stanford has updated its policies. From their website:
“How to report your test scores:
We recommend that you simply self-report your highest scores in the testing section of the application. You can also have official scores sent to Stanford, but this is not required for us to review your application.
If your most recent test results arrive after you submit your application, you can self-report these scores by sending your student score report(s) as an email attachment to credentials@stanford.edu.
If you are offered admission and choose to enroll, official scores will be required. In order for test scores to be considered official, they must be sent directly from the College Board or the ACT.*
*Please note: Stanford reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if an applicant’s self-reported test scores do not align with those in the official score report.”
https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/freshman/testing.html
So does this mean that Stanford’s policies for the SAT and ACT are the same? In the table it is listed that they do not superscore the ACT, but are you allowed to select which test date scores are sent? Thank you.
Annie,
While Stanford does not superscore the ACT (i.e. does not combine section scores into a new Composite score), it does allow you to decide which scores to send: “If you would like to have official scores sent, it is fine to use the College Board’s Score Choice option or the equivalent offered by the ACT.” Stanford does superscore the SAT.
UC Berkeley is really confusing….. The generic UC page states
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/examination-requirement/index.html
Report ACT and/or SAT scores on your admissions application, then request that an official copy of the scores be sent to us from the testing agency. You can have your official score report sent to one UC campus, and all campuses you apply to will receive it.
In the College Board’s Score Choice module, we ENCOURAGE (emphasis mine) you to send all official scores to UC. We will use the highest scores from a single administration. There is no disadvantage to submitting all scores. A higher sub-score from another test date may be used to meet university or campus graduation requirements after admission (dependent on the campus).
For the ACT with Writing test, we will focus on the highest combined score from the same test administration.
elsewhere this…. https://admissions.berkeley.edu/documentation
Report ACT and/or SAT scores on your admissions application, then request that an official copy of the scores be sent to us from the testing agency. You can have your official score report sent to one UC campus, and all campuses you apply to will receive it.
In the College Board’s Score Choice module, ensure that all scores are sent to UC. We REQUIRE (emphasis mine) all scores and will use the highest scores from a single administration.
1) The College Board is just the SAT, right?
2) Either way the information is contradictory
…. thoughts (specifically concerned about the ACT and what they’re actually asking for)
Karen,
You would think that the largest university system in the country would know how to set consistent policies. As you found out, the UC’s don’t always meet that expectation. Keep in mind that Score Choice is a student’t choice; it is never the university’s choice. College Board will warn you when a policy is that a school does not “recognize” Score Choice, but the decision is ultimately yours. Things are simpler for the ACT because there is no such thing as Score Choice — you send scores for each test. Berkeley does not require all ACT scores. Any submitted ACT must be ACT w/Writing. The UC’s do not superscore, but will take your best combined score from a test administration.
Will a subject area test be included in superscoring? For example if my child takes the math subject area and scores higher than she did on the math subtest of the SAT, will the subject area test be used for super scoring?
Thank you!
Hi Lisa,
SAT Subject Tests are not factored into superscores. Schools will either superscore sections of the SAT OR sections of the ACT. Each Subject Test score is considered separately.
Hey,
I scored a 28 the first time I took the ACT- 36 math, 21 science, 24 reading and 31 english… but did it a month later and got 32 composite- 33 math, 34 english, 31 reading, 28 science… should i submit both or just the 32- I am concerned about the 36 in math.
Stanley,
Congratulations on the improvement! I would recommend against sending your 28, as the difference — especially in reading and science — is quite large. Even superscored, you would remain at a 32. It’s a shame that schools won’t see your 36, but I think you’re better off with that sacrifice.
Hi there.
My son scored
1410= 680R + 730M (Aug 2018)
1500= 730R + 770M (Mar 2019)
If he take 3rd time, does SAT or ACT works better? If he goes for ACT, how does super score work?
His essay is 7/6/7. What does mean?
He is aiming UCLA or CMU, UW for Computer Science
Thank you!!!!
Amak,
I would recommend sticking with the SAT, since he has seen nice improvement. He could always take a practice ACT to see how he is performing. His 7/6/7 is quite strong. Each area is scored out of 8 points, but it’s very difficult to get an 8. I estimate that his Essay scores put him in the 99th percentile.
Superscoring does not apply across the SAT and ACT, so he wouldn’t get any benefit. Right now the only scores that matter are from his March 2019 SAT.
If I wish to superscore my SAT am I required to send all scores from each SAT I took? Or just the two I wish to superscore from?
Also, I have taken the SAT three times without studying and my superscore is a 1430 (730 R/W, 700 M). Do you think it is possible, after studying throughout the summer, to get this up to a 1500 in August?
Can you explain the essay score to me as well? I got an 8/6/8. Thank you
Hi Anna,
If the school allows Score Choice you can decide to send only the two test dates that you want. Superscoring is something the admission office does with your scores.
We have seen students raise their score by 70 points over a summer. Best of luck if you decide to go that route!
To learn more about the essay score – check out our Guide to College Admission Testing, a free PDF, downloadable at compassprep.com/guide
Hi Art,
My daughter has taken the SAT 2x – 800m/690r on first, and 700m/770r on second. I’m thrilled that she has a 1570 superscore, but a little concerned that her math dropped so much. (Also, she’s taking math 2 subject test this summer and I’m pretty confident she can score over 750, in case that matters.)Any reason to be concerned about the drop in math? She’ll obviously be sending both of these scores.
Thanks!
Sandy
Sandy,
Colleges that superscore really do superscore, so I wouldn’t be concerned by the Math drop. One of the reasons schools choose to superscore is for exactly this case — they want to judge a student based on her best performance.
I am obligated to point out that not all colleges superscore. Since you are on our superscoring page, my guess is that you already knew that!
Thanks so much!
I have taken the ACT twice. 1st time: 30: E30 M34 R27 S30. 2nd time: 31: E27 M33 R31 S32. So superscore is 31.75. Should I send both or just the 31 because the two tests are so inconsistent? Everyone seems to have a different opinion. Thanks in advance.
Isabella,
I’m not surprised that people have different opinions on this one, and I’m not going to insist that mine is right. If a college superscores, then I would send both scores. Superscoring wouldn’t matter if we were always consistent! Having a superscored 32 seems better than having a 31. Your Math and Science scores are similar. You had a good day on English on a day that you struggled with the Reading and vice versa. That’s nothing an admission officer hasn’t seen before. If a college doesn’t explicitly superscore the ACT, I’m not as certain. In some cases they will only look at the higher Composite. In other cases, they’ll evaluate all of your subscores. I think I’d still send both scores. You proved that you can do 30+ in all areas.
Hello
My daughter (10th grade) took math subject on Aug. 24 and get 780 on math level 2.
Since she got solid 800 from the practicing tests published my College board and another popular preparation book (harder one) and she finished all questions strong, she is considering to submit score verification and even re-take the test. Our questions are:
1. Does it make sense to go for score verification?
2. Is 780 good enough for UC? Should she re-take the test?
3. If she re-take the subject tests, will she need to submit all subject scores for UC? or she can pick the best one.
4. Another hypothetical question: if my daughter takes math level 1 in the future but the college (for example UC, Cal tech, etc.) does not require level 1 score, does she sill need to submit math level 1 score? Or she is allowed not to submit level 1.
Thank you.
SD
SD,
I’m sure your daughter is frustrated at having just missed out on an 800, but her 780 is a great score.
1) It’s extremely unlikely that this would result in a change.
2) Yes, it would be at the high end of UC scores (keep in mind that UC does not require Subject Tests, although some programs recommend them).
3) She can pick her best scores.
4) I’d strongly advise against taking Math Level 1. For most programs, a 780 Math 2 is going to be better than even an 800 Math 1. As to your hypothetical, Georgetown is about the only remaining college that expects students to submit all Subject Test scores.
Hi. I just want to ask questions about sending SAT scores. If I take the SAT four times and the university that I plan to apply allows superscore, is it okay if I only send two of them or do I need to send all four SAT scores?
Kaylee,
Yes, unless the college is one of the few that does not allow Score Choice, you can choose to send any or all of your scores.
Hi, so how this superscore being fair to student who took SAT once and got perfect score?
Anton,
I think most students would be OK with any downsides of a perfect score.
Hello Mr. Sawyer!! Quick question. My senior is hoping to send out scores in next week to her colleges which all allow super scores. Her first SAT she scored 720 EBWR and 700 Math. (essay 6,5,6) Second test was 710 and 740 for score choice of 1460. So some schools say send all (University of South Carolina) so we will send all and some say only send higher scores. BUT – some schools say they RECOMMEND sending all scores “so you can be considered for all available enrollment related opportunities.” Her scores are so similar that I don’t think it really matters – but her essay scores are “ehh” and I would rather not send them. (she got a 5 on her AP English Language and I would rather the schools see that. Would it be wise to score choice for schools like Clemson, Chapel Hill that allow score choosing but recommend sending them all??? Thank you!!!!
Kim,
First, you are right to think that it doesn’t really matter in your daughter’s case. I don’t know of a school that would choose not to admit your daughter based on her essay scores (which are better than “ehh”). On the other hand, raising her superscore by 10 points won’t be the tip factor, either.
Schools are not always great about communicating their policies. Colleges that recommend all scores typically do so because “we superscore, why would you not want to send us everything?” They’ve also seen students who forget to send scores or don’t even choose the ones that benefit them most. There is no penalty for not submitting all scores and, in fact, colleges are not made aware of Score Choice decisions.
I would submit all scores. It’s easy, and you don’t have to think about it. There are enough other things to worry about during this process.
Hello
My son took SAT in March 2019 and got 1480 (EBRW: 680 (Reading: 33, Writing: 35), Math: 800) and retook it in August 2019 and got a lower score 1450 (EBRW: 680 (Reading: 34, Writing: 34), Math: 770). He’s applying to a college that has score choice policy but ENCOURAGES students to send all scores. I have a couple of questions:
1- Since his second score is lower than the first one, I really don’t want him to send all scores; I honestly don’t see the benefit of doing so. I feel that the term ‘ENCOURAGE’ is not as strong as ‘RECOMMEND’ which I know equates to ‘REQUIRE’. What would you recommend?
2- In the common application, there’s a section where you list out all the SAT tests that you’ve taken. If he lists both dates but submits only one score, would that be a problem with the admission?
Thank you for your help.
Vic,
Your son does not need to send his lower score to the college or list the score on the Common App. The Common App is only for all of the scores you would like to self-report. There is no requirement.
Dear Mr. Sawyer:
Thank you very much for your quick response. I really appreciated it.
Best regards.
Hi, I recently got a 36 on the ACT which is comparatively better than the 1540 I got on the SAT (770 on each section). For the colleges that use score choice, would it be better just to send my ACT score?
Niko,
I don’t see any reason to submit the SAT results. Congratulations on your ACT score!
Hi, I recently got my SAT scores, and it turned out I have 680 R&W and 310 on the math section. I felt really bad after I wrote the writing section(I guessed I ate something wrong that morning, and I didn’t answer most of the questions). Luckily I have a 640 R&W and 800 math score from last year. Do you think I should explain to them why my math score dropped so much?
Krasco,
I’m sorry to hear that you got sick. That sure is an unusual score. I don’t face that often. I’d be a little concerned about submitting the second test. It only helps by raising your superscore by 40 points. If you are a senior and have taken your last SAT, I would explain the drop. I would imagine that, with an 800, you also have strong math grades to show that the 310 was just an anomaly.
My daughter is going to apply for Princeton University. It allows score choice but “encourage” to send all scores. She got 35 on ACT so she will send this score. For SAT, she took 3 times. Scores are 1500, 1480 and 1460. Would it be ok just to send the 1500 score for SAT? Thanks.
Betty,
There is no reason to send anything other than the 1500. In fact, I’m not sure that you should even bother with that score. The 35 on the ACT is the stronger score. I doubt that the 1500 will hurt your daughter’s chances, but I want to point out that it is not necessary.
Thank you for your prompt advice. My daughter is going to apply for 8 colleges on Common App. Some of the colleges require applicants to self-report all scores, although Common App only provides space for the highest score of each test type. I’m confused. Does she need to self-report her 1500 SAT score as well in order to meet the testing requirements of all colleges on one portal? Also, if she chooses to use score choice feature for Princeton, will it put her in a disadvantage position? Thanks
Betty,
I’m not a Common App expert, but I believe that you have two options (other than just reporting everything to everyone). First, there is no requirement to self-report on the Common App. You can choose to only send official reports to colleges. Second, you can edit the testing section of the Common App as you submit each application. Just because the Common App provides a space for the highest test scores in each area does not mean that you must fill them out. You should follow the policies set by the individual colleges. You are not at a disadvantage using Score Choice at Princeton.
Thank you! This is helpful.