Superscoring and Score Choice Policies

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.

Students in the class of 2025 are in the unique position of potentially having scores from both the old paper version of the test and the new digital adaptive version. The vast majority of schools that have stated a superscoring policy across paper and digital tests have said that they will superscore. This includes Amherst, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Emory, Georgia Tech, Harvard, Northwestern, Notre Dame, University of Chicago, University of Florida system, University of Georgia, University of Michigan, University of Mississippi, UPenn, and Vanderbilt.

Only Princeton has said that they will not superscore between the paper and digital test. But they will superscore digital tests.

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.

197 Comments

Al says:

November 15, 2019 at 8:09 am

Hi!, if a school superscores ACT, can you choose two dates of three to send for them to superscore, even if the third date has the highest score on one section? My child scored low on math on the third date that I’d rather the school not see, even though the science was the highest by 1 point?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  November 15, 2019 at 8:23 am
  
  Al,
  Except in the few cases where colleges require all scores (e.g. Yale and Georgetown), you can choose to send whichever scores you want.
  
Al says:

November 18, 2019 at 7:53 pm

My son took the ACT three times. His highest composite score was 33 (English 34, Math 36, Reading 29, Science 32). But in another sitting he increased his science score to 33, though his other section scores were lower (composite was 31). Should he just submit the scores from the sitting where he got 33, or should he also include the other one to indicate the 1-point gain in science?

He is applying to Cal Poly SLO as a top choice. (I’m not even sure if they consider science)

Second question…
On his SAT he got 800 math/700 English. Should he submit both SAT and ACT scores, or just one?

Thanks!

— Al

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  November 19, 2019 at 1:34 pm
  
  Al,
  My understanding is that Cal Poly SLO only uses Math and English and superscores both SAT and ACT (and takes the highest when comparing SAT and ACT). Admission officers at Cal Poly only use the highest scores, so there is no negative to over-submitting. I would submit his 33 and his 1500.
  
Daniel says:

December 10, 2019 at 5:29 am

I have a very urgent question!

If I got 400 for Reading, 300 for Writing, and 700 for math on one day,
and I get 300 for Reading, 400 for Writing, and 800 for math on another day,

can this be superscored to 400 Reading 400 Writing and 800 Math?
(They are not my scores – just theoretically)
Thank you!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  December 10, 2019 at 1:31 pm
  
  Daniel,
  In all of the cases I can think of, colleges superscore ERW rather than separately superscoring Reading and Writing. If you got a 30 on Reading and a 40 on Writing, that would be a 700. If you reversed the scores, you would still have a 700 ERW. The superscore would be 700 ERW and 800 Math.
  
  - Daniel Kim says:
    
    December 10, 2019 at 9:58 pm
    
    thank you SO MUCH!
    
Sara says:

March 8, 2021 at 8:48 pm

For UC colleges that have a score choice policy of all scores, does that mean students need to also self report all their scores as well as send official score reports later on? And this only applies for SAT not ACT right? How are score choice policies changing for UC colleges for Fall 2020 admission?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  March 8, 2021 at 9:29 pm
  
  Sara,
  The UC system is not using SAT/ACT scores for applicants for Fall 2021 admission. Neither self-reported nor officially reported scores will be used by any of the campuses. For the fall of 2022, things have not been finalized yet. Most — and possibly all — of the campuses will remain test free. Any remaining campuses will be test optional. In either case, there is no longer a requirement to report all scores. It’s best to consult with individual campuses on their latest policies.
  
Sam says:

March 8, 2021 at 8:55 pm

If you choose to self-report the lower score of two exam scores due to certain unique circumstances, do you have to explain to colleges why you are choosing to do self-report the lower one? Or do we have to self report all our scores?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  March 8, 2021 at 9:36 pm
  
  Sam,
  There is no requirement for students to offer an explanation. Policies have changed rapidly because of testing availability during the pandemic, so most of the “all scores” requirements have dropped away. Some colleges have not yet finalized policies for Fall 2022.
  
Heidi says:

April 30, 2021 at 11:37 am

I just noticed that Clemson has changed its policy regarding superscoring on the ACT, effective September 2020. Please see

- Margaux Erilane says:
  
  May 3, 2021 at 10:01 pm
  
  Hi Heidi,
  
  Thanks for letting us know! We have updated the table.
  
Bea says:

November 3, 2021 at 9:09 pm

My child has never taken a full-length practice test (no PSAT either), but has worked through a lot of problems. Is it a bad idea if she want to try the SAT without taking a full-length practice test? She is willing to retake it in January if she doesn’t get the score she wants. Thanks!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  November 5, 2021 at 7:57 pm
  
  Bea,
  I am assuming that your student is currently a junior. We usually recommend against this strategy. Taking an SAT early and without preparation rarely results in a student’s best performance. While it’s true that most schools allow Score Choice or superscore, be aware that some colleges require a student to submit all scores. Further, a poor result can undermine a student’s confidence. A practice exam can be a safe learning environment.
  
AJ says:

January 3, 2022 at 4:23 pm

Can I use my PSAT reading score when superscoring or do I only use my real SAT scores?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  January 6, 2022 at 1:21 am
  
  AJ,
  No, superscoring for college applications is only done using the SAT or ACT. There have been a few colleges that have accepted PSAT scores in lieu of SAT scores because of the pandemic, but even they don’t allow for superscoring PSAT and SAT scores.
  
TP says:

July 30, 2022 at 7:14 am

Can you pls clarify how the act is superscore. Is it the average or the highest of each section from multiple tests. Thank you.

- Margaux Erilane says:
  
  August 1, 2022 at 8:29 am
  
  Hi TP,
  
  To calculate your ACT superscore, take the highest individual subsection scores across all dates and then average them.
  
Steve says:

September 4, 2022 at 6:36 pm

Hello, my daughter has taken the ACT twice. First time scores were Composite=29, Math=27, Science=27, English=35, Reading=25, and Writing=8. The second time she took it her scores improved in almost all categories to Composite=31, Math=29, Science=31, English=35, Reading = 30, but she elected to not re-take the Writing (she was just aiming for a higher composite score to meet the minimum required for a higher level of in-state tuition grant/scholarship at Arizona State University). Test scores are not required at the schools she is applying to (Arizona State, University of Arizona, and Milwaukee School of Engineering). However she is also applying to the honors college for both ASU and U. of Arizona, and will be applying for many of the university offered scholarships at each of the 3 schools so we imagine that sending in her ACT results would only help her in those areas and not hurt. If she sends only her 2nd test date scores because they were almost all higher, they will not see her Writing score, but if she sends her superscore, they will see the Writing score but my understanding is that they will also see that it was taken on a different date and see all the lower scores from the first test. Which score (superscore or just the 2nd test date) results should she send to each school (ASU, UA and MSOE)? Thanks for your advice!!

- Margaux Erilane says:
  
  September 7, 2022 at 9:42 am
  
  Hi Steve,
  
  Congratulations to your daughter – those are some significant improvements between sittings! Students should always double check the specific requirements for any scholarships they’re applying for, but since none of the schools you mentioned use the ACT Writing score, I imagine your daughter can feel confident sending only the second sitting. Good luck!
  
Karren says:

November 16, 2022 at 8:23 am

Hi:

My daughter’s first ACT is 34,28,26,31(total 30), and second one is 28,31,18,19(total 24). Her superscore is 31, but she is afraid that by sending the superscore, the school will see her low scores. Do you suggest her report the first ACT or her superscore?

Thank you.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  November 16, 2022 at 8:05 pm
  
  Karren,
  While there is no way to guarantee that a college will not see all of your daughter’s scores, I tend to take them at their word when they say that they superscore. In some cases, the computer systems strip out the lower scores before an admission officer even sees them. I would recommend looking closely at each college’s policy. Some say that they superscore — create a new composite score — but that they will also look at the all of the scores. In those cases, I would only submit your daughter’s first test.
  
Alice says:

November 14, 2023 at 12:07 pm

Is it still accurate that Carnegie Mellon “requires all SAT or ACT” scores? I cannot find any language on their website (https://www.cmu.edu/admission/admission/standardized-testing) to support this. They have extended their test-optional policy through Fall 2024, but if a student chooses to submit scores, do they have to submit all of them?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  November 15, 2023 at 6:13 pm
  
  Alice,
  When schools when test optional and also shifted toward self-reported scores, the emphasis on the full “testing transcript” declined. You are correct. I no longer see CMU mentioning that requirement, so I interpret that as allowing score choice.
  
  - John says:
    
    December 18, 2023 at 1:57 pm
    
    CMU admissions web site and their Apply 2024 instructions conflict, so I contacted them. They confirmed that they no longer have the previous requirement of sending all scores, that self-reporting/superscoring via Common App is acceptable, and that their instruction guide on how to apply (Page 3 – “5. If you choose to have your scores considered, you’re required to submit all official results of either the SAT or the ACT.”) is wrong/outdated.
    
    - Margaux Erilane says:
      
      December 18, 2023 at 2:02 pm
      
      Thanks for contacting CMU directly and getting confirmation, John!
      
Bob says:

November 22, 2023 at 12:50 pm

Princeton’s web site says “ Princeton will consider the highest individual section results across all sittings of the SAT and the highest composite score for the ACT.” Your quote attributed to them cannot be located by Google. Can you post a link to their “distinct difference” policy?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  November 22, 2023 at 2:05 pm
  
  Bob,
  That is a quote in response to a direct question to Princeton. Most colleges still list their policies for the class of 2024. Few have specifically updated their guidance on superscoring across paper SAT and digital SAT. It is likely to boil down to whether or not a college gives more weight to the fact that scores are not changing or to the fact that the test did, literally, change. We hope to see most schools accept superscoring, but it is too early to say with certainty.
  
Bob says:

January 13, 2024 at 2:50 pm

Syracuse also does not require all scores. Confirmed by multiple people, myself included, with Syracuse admissions.

“We do not require all scores to be sent. Students should send the scores they want us to consider and superscore”.
– Associate Director of Admissions.
1/10/24.

- Margaux Erilane says:
  
  January 16, 2024 at 9:22 am
  
  Thanks for contacting Syracuse directly! The information in the table was based on their website “If you are considering the Score Choice option for the SAT, please be aware that all of your test scores will be required.”
  
  https://www.syracuse.edu/admissions/undergraduate/apply/what-we-look-for/
  
Beth Shak says:

April 20, 2024 at 6:00 pm

Also requiring all scores: Carleton and MIT.

MIT: Students should report official full sittings (including future sittings) of the SAT, ACT, or English proficiency exams on the application. For each examination, required subscores are indicated with an asterisk. They should not list practice results or enter a superscore as a single sitting. Students should self-report scores from all exams taken, and MIT will consider the super-score in our review process.
https://mitadmissions.org/help/faq/how-we-consider-test-scores-superscore/

Carleton: If you decide to submit test scores, Carleton requires the full results of the SAT or the ACT.
https://www.carleton.edu/admissions/apply/steps/criteria/#:~:text=We're%20not%20looking%20for,specific%20GPA%20or%20test%20score.

- Margaux Erilane says:
  
  April 22, 2024 at 1:06 pm
  
  Hi Beth,
  
  Because MIT uses the word “should” we have them listed as “recommends all scores” not requires. But thank you for the note about Carleton! We have updated the table.

Superscoring and Score Choice Policies

Superscoring

Score Choice

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