Superscoring ACT and SAT and Score Choice

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 instance, if you scored a 650 EBRW and 670 Math (Total 1320) in March and a 700 EBRW and 650 Math (Total 1350) in May, your superscore would be 700 + 670 = 1370. 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.

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, Subject Test, and ACT scores are reported. Colleges, however, have the final say over what scores applicants should submit and how those scores will be used. 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. Often these 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 360 popular colleges whose ACT Writing and SAT Essay policies, SAT Subject Test policies, and estimated new SAT score ranges we also track.

School	Superscore SAT	Superscore ACT	Score Choice
Abilene Christian University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	No	Score choice OK
Amherst College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Appalachian State University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Arizona State University—Tempe	No	No	Score choice OK
Auburn University	No	No	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	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
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	Recommends all
Binghamton University—SUNY	Yes	No	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	Recommends all
Bowdoin College	Yes*	Yes	Score choice OK
Bradley University	No	No	Score choice OK
Brandeis University	Yes	No	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	No	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
California Polytechnic State University—San Luis Obispo	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
California State Polytechnic University--Pomona	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
California State University--Fresno	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
California State University--Fullerton	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
California State University--Long Beach	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
California State University--Los Angeles	Yes	Yes	Score Choice OK
California State University--Monterey Bay	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
California State University--Northridge	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Carleton College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Carnegie Mellon University	Yes	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
Carroll College	No	No	Recommends all
Case Western Reserve University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Centre College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Chapman University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Christopher Newport University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Claremont McKenna College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Clark University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Clarkson University	No	No	Score choice OK
Clemson University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Coe College	No	No	Score choice OK
Colby College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Colgate University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
College of Charleston	Yes	No	Recommends all
College of New Jersey	Yes	No	Score choice OK
College of St. Benedict	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
College of the Holy Cross	Yes	No	Score choice OK
College of William and Mary	Yes	No	Score choice OK
College of Wooster	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Colorado College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Colorado School of Mines	No	No	Score choice OK
Colorado State University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	Recommends all
Cornell College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Cornell University	Yes*	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
Creighton University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
CUNY—Baruch College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Dartmouth College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Davidson College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	No	No	Score choice OK
Drew University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Drexel University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Drury University	No	No	Score choice OK
Duke University	Yes*	Yes*	Score choice OK
Duquesne University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Earlham College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Elmhurst College	No	No	Score choice OK
Elon University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Emerson College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Emory University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Fairfield University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Florida Institute of Technology	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Florida State University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Fordham University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Franklin and Marshall College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Furman University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Gallaudet University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
George Mason University	Yes	No	Recommends all
George Washington University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Georgetown University	Yes	No	Requires all scores
Georgia Institute of Technology	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Gettysburg College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Gonzaga University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Goshen College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Goucher College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Grinnell College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Gustavus Adolphus College	No	No	Score choice OK
Hamilton College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Hampden-Sydney College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	Recommends all
Haverford College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	Recommends all
Hollins University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Hope College	No	No	Score choice OK
Howard University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Humboldt State University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Illinois Institute of Technology	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Illinois Wesleyan University	No	No	Score choice OK
Indiana University—Bloomington	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Iowa State University	No	No	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	Recommends all
Kalamazoo College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Kenyon College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Knox College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Lafayette College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Lake Forest College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	No	No	Score choice OK
Loyola Marymount University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Loyola University Chicago	No	No	Score choice OK
Loyola University Maryland	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Loyola University New Orleans	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Luther College	Yes	No	Recommends all
Macalester College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Marist College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Marquette University	No	No	Score choice OK
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Mercer University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Miami University—Oxford	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Michigan State University	No	No	Score choice OK
Michigan Technological University	No	No	Score choice OK
Middlebury College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Mills College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Millsaps College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Milwaukee School of Engineering	No	No	Recommends all
Mississippi State University	No	No	Score choice OK
Missouri University of Science & Technology	No	No	Score choice OK
Morehouse College	Yes	Contact college	Score choice OK
Mount Holyoke College	No	No	Score choice OK
Muhlenberg College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
New College of Florida	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
New Jersey Institute of Technology	Yes	No	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	Recommends all
Northeastern University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Northwestern University	Yes	No	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	Recommends all
Ohio Wesleyan University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Oklahoma State University	No	No	Recommends all
Oregon State University	No	No	Recommends all
Pacific Lutheran University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Pennsylvania State University—University Park	No	No	Recommends all
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	Recommends all
Pratt Institute	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Presbyterian College (SC)	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Princeton University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Providence College	Yes	No	Recommends all
Purdue University—West Lafayette	Yes	Yes*	Score choice OK
Queens University of Charlotte	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Quinnipiac University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Randolph-Macon College	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Reed College	Yes	No	Recommends all
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	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
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
San Diego State University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
San Francisco State University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
San Jose State University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Santa Clara University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Sarah Lawrence College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Scripps College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Seattle University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Seton Hall University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Sewanee—University of the South	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Siena College	Yes	No	Recommends all
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	Requires all SAT or ACT
Southern Methodist University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Southwestern University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Spelman College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
St. John Fisher College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
St. John's College Annapolis	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	Recommends all
St. Mary's College of Maryland	Yes	No	Recommends all
St. Michael's College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
St. Olaf College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Stanford University	Yes	No**	Requires all scores
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	Recommends all
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
SUNY—Geneseo	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Susquehanna University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Swarthmore College	Yes	Yes*	Score choice OK
Syracuse University	Yes	Yes	Requires all scores
Taylor University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Temple University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Texas A&M University—College Station	No	No	Score choice OK
Texas Christian University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Texas Lutheran University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
The Catholic University of America	Yes	No	Score choice OK
The Citadel	Yes	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
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	No	No	Score choice OK
Tufts University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Tulane University	Yes	No	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	No	Score choice OK
University at Buffalo—SUNY	Yes	No	Score choice OK
University of Alabama	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Arizona	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Arkansas—Fayetteville	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of California—Berkeley	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Davis	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Irvine	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Los Angeles	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Merced	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Riverside	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—San Diego	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Santa Barbara	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of California—Santa Cruz	No	No	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of Chicago	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Cincinnati	No	No	Recommends all
University of Colorado—Boulder	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Connecticut	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Dallas	Yes	No	Recommends all
University of Dayton	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Delaware	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Denver	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Florida	Yes	No	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	Recommends all
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	Requires all SAT or ACT
University of Michigan—Ann Arbor	Yes*	Yes*	Score choice OK
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities	No	No	Recommends all
University of Mississippi	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Missouri	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Nebraska—Lincoln	No	No	Score choice OK
University of New Hampshire	Yes	No	Recommends all
University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of North Carolina—Wilmington	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Notre Dame	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Oklahoma	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Oregon	Yes	No	Score choice OK
University of Pennsylvania	Yes	Yes	Score Choice OK
University of Pittsburgh	Yes	No	Recommends all
University of Portland	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Puget Sound	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Redlands	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Richmond	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Rochester	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of San Diego	Yes	No	Recommends all
University of San Francisco	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of South Carolina	Yes	No	Requires all scores
University of South Florida	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Southern California	Yes	No	Score choice OK
University of St. Thomas (MN)	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Tennessee	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Texas—Austin	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Texas—Dallas	No	No	Score choice OK
University of the Pacific	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Tulsa	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
University of Utah	No	No	Score choice OK
University of Vermont	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
University of Virginia	Yes*	Yes*	Score choice OK
University of Washington	Yes	Yes	Requires all scores
University of Wisconsin—Madison	No	No	Recommends all
Ursinus College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Valparaiso University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Vanderbilt University	Yes	No	Recommends all
Vassar College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Villanova University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Virginia Commonwealth University	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Virginia Military Institute	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
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	Recommends all
Washington College	Yes	No	Score choice OK
Washington State University	Yes	Yes	Recommends all
Washington University in St. Louis	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Wellesley College	No	No	Score choice OK
Wesleyan 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	No	Score choice OK
Willamette University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Williams College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Wofford College	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	No	No	Score choice OK
Xavier University	Yes	Yes	Score choice OK
Yale University	Yes	Yes	Requires all SAT or ACT
Yeshiva University	Yes**	Yes**	Score choice OK

* Weak Superscoring—This school falls somewhere between “highest composite” and true superscoring. For instance, Cornell, Duke, and NYU look at the highest subscores even though they do not build a new composite 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.”

**Stanford does not superscore ACT; however the website states, “For the ACT, we will review all subscores and will focus on the highest Composite and the highest English and writing scores from all test sittings.”

Post a comment or send an email to guide@compassprep.com with questions or recommended changes.

Updated 8/13/18

109 Comments

Vijay A says:

September 20, 2016 at 12:22 pm

Ash, this is wonderful data, thank you. It seems unfair that some universities superscore SAT but not ACT. What’s the logic? My son has a 33 English, 34 Math, 28 Reading and 30 Science for a superscore composite of 31 over two sittings but his highest composite is 30. He’s aiming for some of the schools that don’t superscore or do true superscore and is trying to improve his superscore composite to 32 but afraid he may not get that composite score in one sitting. What would your advice be for him?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  September 20, 2016 at 1:04 pm
  
  Vijay,
  The practice of not superscoring the ACT has historical roots having to do with score reporting and a false sense that the Composite was somehow indivisible. That practice is slowly dying off — at least 50% of top colleges now superscore the ACT (and not all colleges superscore the SAT). The number one thing to consider is not superscore vs not superscore, since your son’s scores are similar (30 vs 31). More important is deciding what sort of scores he’ll need — and can reasonably obtain — for his target colleges. Some students are thrilled with a 30/31 and are done with testing. At the most competitive colleges, a 33 or 34 is more likely to put him in the mix.
  
Ethan W says:

November 8, 2016 at 3:15 pm

I heard that Clemson is now superscoring the ACT. Do you know if this is true

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  November 10, 2016 at 9:39 am
  
  Hi Ethan. Your question prompted me to reach out to the university. According to one of their admission counselors, they do not superscore the ACT. They take the highest composite score from one sitting.
  
William Ma says:

November 21, 2016 at 5:12 pm

Hi, Ash, Thank you for your sharing. It is really helpful for my son’s application. I have two questions. Where can I find the superscore info on CSU website? I can’t find the ACT superscore info for CSU. My son took two ACT tests with score 32 on the first time and 34 on the second. But his math is dropped to 34 on the second test from 36 on the first one. He wants to apply for computer science major. My second question is there is any benefit to send both to UC (University of California). Thank you very much. William

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  November 22, 2016 at 1:05 pm
  
  Hi William,
  Those are strong scores! Our research into schools is done through a combination of searching out statements and contacting admission offices directly. I just spoke to the admissions office at Cal Poly, Slo (one of the more competitive CSUs) and the admission officer I spoke with confirmed that they will be superscoring the ACT. As for the UCs, they do not superscore but they do require that you send all scores. I can’t promise they would pay attention to that 36 Math on the 32 composite score, but it can’t hurt to send it! Good luck!
  
Ashwin Inala says:

December 24, 2016 at 8:23 pm

Hello Ash,

This was super helpful! Can you elaborate on the difference between “Requires all scores” like Georgetown and “Requires all SAT or ACT scores” like Rice?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  December 26, 2016 at 11:09 pm
  
  Ashwin,
  I think I can answer this one for you. Georgetown wants all of your SAT and ACT scores — period. Rice is saying, in contrast, “If you are going to send SAT scores, you need to send all SAT scores. If you are going to send ACT scores, you need to send all ACT scores.” If you took both tests and performed poorly on the ACT, there is no obligation to report it to Rice. Georgetown would want to weigh the ACT score along with your SAT score(s).
  
Ken says:

December 27, 2016 at 7:54 am

Stonehill College superscores the SAT, but does not superscore the ACT. I have confirmed that with the Director of Admissions.

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  December 27, 2016 at 12:00 pm
  
  Hi Ken,
  
  Your note prompted me to check in with their admission office. According to the office, they are still superscoring the ACT. Thank you for your note!
  
Hariram says:

January 9, 2017 at 7:05 am

Hi,
I am an student from Nepal. I took SAT twice.
My October SAT score is CR-560 M-740 Total-1300 Essay-5,4,5
My December SAT score is CR-600 M-770 Total-1370 Essay-0,0,0
I have sent both of my scores to University of Mississippi, Olemiss.
Which of my score will be considered for scholarship decision?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  January 9, 2017 at 12:47 pm
  
  Hariram,
  Ole Miss has a wide range of scholarship programs. It is best to contact the university directly given how specific your question is. Different criteria are sometimes used for scholarships than for admission, and international students often face yet another set of standards.
  
Jennifer says:

January 20, 2017 at 10:51 am

I heard a rumor that if a school does super score the ACT, it will only do so if the student does the optional reading portion on both tests or does not do the reading on both tests, but they won’t super score one test with the reading and one without. Does that make sense to you? Is it a myth?

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  January 23, 2017 at 5:59 pm
  
  Hi Jennifer,
  Great question! While the ACT does have a reading test, it’s not the optional section; the Reading test is the third portion of every test and it is required. I suppose you could technically sit through it and not answer anything and hope that superscoring means it’ll be ignored, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend it.
  
  So I think you’re asking about the optional essay test at the end. Three things to note: (1) schools who superscore are trying to read your application supportively, so throwing out a test because you didn’t take the optional essay test would undermine their aim, (2) relatively few schools require or recommend the ACT essay, and (3) a superscore doesn’t include the optional writing score because the composite score is always only made up of English, Math, Reading, and Science.
  
  Of the 360 schools that we track, only 8 require the ACT and superscore: Claremont McKenna College, United States Military Academy, Soka University of America, Westmont College, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Olin College of Engineering, and United States Coast Guard Academy. If any school was going to refuse to superscore an ACT with the optional Writing test with one without, it would likely be one of these. But we haven’t run across this policy in our research.
  
  So I would say it’s 99% a myth, but to be certain, you should always check in with the specific universities to which you’re applying!
  
Diana says:

February 23, 2017 at 7:27 am

Good morning! Enjoy reading your blog and all the data you and Art share, thank you!

Few questions…

First, our son is a junior and has sat for both SAT and ACT, earning the following scores:

January SAT
RW-670 M-730 Total-1400 Essay-6,5,6
Reading 34, Writing & Language 33, Math 36.5, Science 36 , History 32

October SAT
RW-690 M-680 Total-1370 Essay-7,6,7
Reading 35, Writing & Language 34, Math 34, Science 31, History 36

October ACT composite score 33
English 35, Math 32, Reading 34, Science 32, Writing 9

Which test would you recommend he submit when applying later this year… ACT or SAT? If the latter, which sitting?

Second, his October PSAT/NMSQT score was 1460 (RW-750 and M-710) with SI of 221. If he were to make the cutoff for semifinalist in California, do you recommend he take the SAT again or are his scores enough to confirm his PSAT? Third time may be a charm???

With gratitude,

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  March 1, 2017 at 3:46 pm
  
  Diana,
  Thank you. For some students, the strategy varies from college to college because of differing policies. The good news in your son’s case is that his October ACT score trumps his SAT scores and even his superscored SAT score. I think he should keep it simple and submit the ACT. There are a few schools that expect students to send all test scores — SAT and ACT. If he abides strictly be these policies, again, the choice is simple — he’ll be submitting everything.
  
  It looks like his SAT scores will fall just short of confirming level, which was at a 209 SAT Selection Index last year. He may want to reserve a date in the fall for a retake (Oct/Nov/Dec are all acceptable) once he finds out his status.
  
  - Ed B says:
    
    September 12, 2018 at 8:26 pm
    
    I do not believe that Yale requires ALL scores but, rather, requires all scores from whichever test you submit (eg. all ACT or all SAT)
    
    - Art Sawyer says:
      
      September 13, 2018 at 11:47 am
      
      Thanks for catching that, Ed. I know better. I’ve deleted Yale from the comment above to avoid any confusion.
      
Vinit says:

February 25, 2017 at 11:17 am

Hi Jennifer,

My son took both SAT and ACT. He scored 33 composite score on ACT (35 Math, 33 Sci, 30 Eng, 33 Reading). In SAT he scored 1460 (790 Math and 670 reading). We are not sure which one he should attempt second time – ACT or SAT? Also, can you elaborate on “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”.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  March 1, 2017 at 5:34 pm
  
  Vinit,
  Your son’s scores fall into what we at Compass consider the “judgment call” range. His ACT score is a little stronger based on a pure concordance, but it is not a runaway winner. Nothing leaps out at me as a great indicator of which test he should repeat. His Math scores are almost topped out on both exams. His writing/reading scores are his weakest area on both tests — a bit weaker on the SAT. I would recommend focusing on the ACT. It’s a higher starting point, and there is not an obvious case for the SAT.
  
  Yes, this is a fine point. Let’s say a student has scores of 30E, 31M, 29R, 30S, 30 Composite and 32E, 29M, 31R, 32S, 31 Composite. A school that adheres to full superscoring would combine those scores into 32E, 31M, 31R, and 32S. The Composite for those scores would be recalculated as 32. A school that uses “superscoring lite” uses the same combination of of tests scores — 32E, 31M, 31R, and 32S — but it does not say “that’s a 32 Composite.” Is there much of a difference? No, not in the vast majority of cases.
  
Margaret says:

April 18, 2017 at 11:51 am

Does Michigan superscore? According to this doc by the SAT (https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/professionals/sat-score-use-practices-participating-institutions.pdf) they take the highest section (version 2) – but I do see “No” under superscore on your list? Thanks!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  April 19, 2017 at 5:59 pm
  
  Margaret,
  It seems like College Board would know something like this, but one reason we compile our list is that it’s information is often wrong. Here is a direct quote from Michigan’s FAQ: “The University of Michigan does not superscore an applicant’s test results.” If you read their interpretation, you can see why simple labels are sometimes inadequate. In effect, they say “we will use your best score from a sitting, but we are going to consider all of them, but really only if they are better.” This starts to blend into what we sometimes call superscore-lite. The most important thing from students’ perspective is that additional scores will never hurt them.
  
Shelly says:

April 25, 2017 at 1:16 pm

If a college “requires all scores,” does that only apply to SAT/ACT scores, or does it also apply to Subject Test Scores? I’m thinking if it’s one of the four schools that actually requires subject tests, and it’s a school that requires all scores (i.e. Harvey Mudd) , it probably means all SAT/ACT and Subject Test scores. But if it’s a school that “requires all scores” like Georgetown, which only “recommends” subject tests (even though we all know they are essentially required there!), can I safely assume that the student must send all SAT/ACT scores, but the student may choose which subject test scores to send? Thanks!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  April 25, 2017 at 2:50 pm
  
  Shelly,
  Your rule of thumb is a good one, although Georgetown is an exception that proves the rule. “Georgetown requires that you submit scores from all test sittings of the SAT, ACT, and SAT II Subject Tests.” I think Georgetown takes glee in being the exception. My colleague verified with Harvey Mudd that a) they expect all Subject Test scores and b) they only consider the highest scores (Math 2 being required). That b) is true at many colleges when it comes to Subject Tests. College Board doesn’t help matters by not distinguishing between the SAT and Subject Tests when it comes to Score Choice. For example, students submitting scores to Yale will be told that Yale requires “All scores.” In fact, Yale recognizes Score Choice for Subject Tests. Ultimately, the student is in control of his or her scores.
  
P's parent says:

May 5, 2017 at 3:04 pm

First of all your blog is really helpful for a parent like me(first generation going to college in USA)
My son is a Junior in High School. He took the SAT twice and the 2nd time he got 1500, 800 in Math and a 700 in English (on a 1600 scale) with an essay score of 7/7/7. She took ACT once and got only 30.
Also, his cumulative GPA is 3.91 (with 6 AP classes and 7 Honors) and 21 credits. He is planning take 3 more AP classes in senior year.
He is an active participant in First Robotics club and team Captain this year. He is also part of Science, Model UN and Chem club.
He is passionate about Electronics/Robotics. Also, he has built RC planes from scratch and also works with Arduino.
He is very interested in programming and has learned 5 programming languages (C++, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS) in the last couple years.
I was wondering whether you can answer below question:
1) Is he eligible to get any Merit Scholarship?
2) He is interested in applying to MIT for Aeronautical Engineering. Do you think his overall performance have any scope to get into this college?
3) Does he need both SAT and ACT scores to get into MIT or just SAT is enough?
4) Do you recommend that he takes the SAT again or is his scores enough?
Waiting for your valuable opinion?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  May 7, 2017 at 9:42 pm
  
  P’s Parent,
  1) Is he eligible to get any Merit Scholarship?
  If you are referring to National Merit, he must first qualify based on his PSAT score. See our NMSF post about the scores he would need. If you mean merit scholarships, in general, things are far too complicated to answer simply. His grades and test scores would make him eligible at many colleges. Keep in mind, though, that at many of the most competitive colleges, financial aid is determined by need rather than by academics (the idea is to use finite resources to help students who might otherwise not be able to attend). You will need to research individual colleges.
  2) He is interested in applying to MIT for Aeronautical Engineering. Do you think his overall performance have any scope to get into this college?
  MIT is one of the most selective institutions in the country. Even among highly qualified students such as your son, the chances of admission are long. Your son seems to be within a GPA (as long as the 3.91 is unweighted) and score range for MIT, but so are thousands of other students. MIT is one of the few colleges still requiring Subject Tests. As an engineering applicant, I would recommend Math 2 and physics or chemistry. If he can excel at more that 2, that’s great, as well. MIT has a wonderful admission office that will be happy to give you more information.
  3) Does he need both SAT and ACT scores to get into MIT or just SAT is enough?
  He does not need the ACT, but he will need Subject Tests (I got ahead of myself on the last answer).
  4) Do you recommend that he takes the SAT again or is his scores enough?
  This is a hard one to answer. Despite how well he did on the SAT, a 1500 would probably put him at the low end of the range when compared to admitted students at MIT. Raising his score could be useful. Since MIT superscores, he won’t “lose” his 800M even if he does poorer on a retest. In order of importance: Subject Test (because they are absolutely required) and SAT retest (because it could help him).
  
  While I’ve focused my answers on MIT, the important thing is for him to consider a wide range of colleges. MIT turns away many excellent applicants. He should be able to find a number of great aeronautical engineering programs to which he can apply.
  
Annika says:

July 12, 2017 at 7:31 am

Hi Ash,
I looked at CMU’s website and they say that they require applicants to send all test results of the SAT and ACT. However, in your database I saw that you put Score Choice was OK for CMU.

Thanks,
Annika

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  July 12, 2017 at 9:47 am
  
  Thanks for the note, Annika! You are totally correct and we’ve changed our table to reflect that Carnegie Mellon requires all of either your SAT or ACT scores.
  
Mary says:

July 13, 2017 at 3:46 am

Hi, my son had an ACT test when he was 8th greader, he got 35 out of 36. In high school, he has PSAT, SAT , and two SAT subjects all perfect scores, and eight AP with five. In this case, I am thinking not to summit his old ACT store, but his consoler thinks he can still submit it since 35 is still a good score and it was done when he is in 8th grande. What you recommend?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  July 14, 2017 at 7:03 pm
  
  I’m siding with mom on this one. The ACT adds no new information for an admission department, and they are unlikely to consider the fact that he got the 35 in 8th grade. His testing portfolio is, quite literally, perfect.
  
Garrett Wood says:

July 25, 2017 at 11:09 am

Hello,

This is a great article! One question – if a college’s website doesn’t specifically state whether or not it super-scores the SAT or ACT, how do you determine whether you should put “yes” or “no” on this chart? I am a recent employee of Mississippi State University’s Office of Admissions, and we have never super-scored either test. Before I commented, I checked with a former co-worker in that office who is still working there to see if anything has changed since I left a few months ago, and they confirmed that MSU still does not super-score either test.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  July 25, 2017 at 12:44 pm
  
  Garrett,
  Thank you for sharing your knowledge. We based our note on MSU’s pathways to admission. One of the paths to admission is meeting the NCAA standards for Division I athletes. Because the NCAA superscores, this would seem to allow students to qualify under the NCAA standards using superscored SATs or ACTs. I believe — please correct me — that this MSU pathway is applicable to all students and not just to athletes. Of course the NCAA standards also include certain requirements about core classes used to calculate GPA, but this post is only meant to reflect the testing requirements.
  
  We’re happy to clean this up if you and your former colleagues feel that it is misleading.
  
TheRock says:

July 27, 2017 at 11:49 pm

Do I look like a slacker if I only took the ACT once and got a composite score – 33 ? Is that good enough for Ivy League that don’t require writing ?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 1, 2017 at 3:28 pm
  
  Rock,
  Colleges would never hold one-and-done testing against you. If you got the score you wanted, you should be grateful that you can focus on other things. The second part of your question is hard to answer. Plenty of students get into top colleges with a 33. On the other hand, students with higher scores get admitted at a higher rate. Repeat testing depends on a number of factors. Two of the biggest are your motivation level and your confidence that you can improve.
  
- MBradley says:
  
  August 29, 2017 at 4:45 am
  
  Rock,
  For what it’s worth, my son got a 33 on the ACT, had great grades and did not get into any Ivys. He also took it once and was told that that was high enough but it wasn’t. Best of luck!
  
Paul says:

August 4, 2017 at 10:06 am

Daughter has PSAT 1400 690 Verbal 710 Math SAT 1380 700 Verbal 680 Math ACT 32 English, 29 Math, 34 Reading, 32 Science and 32 Composite.

She is planning on taking ACT again to see if she can get the Math up from the 29 and maybe pick up a composite point

However in light of super scoring I think she should also retake the SAT’s for the chance to get those scores up as well. Thoughts on this.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 10, 2017 at 12:51 pm
  
  Paul,
  This is a personal decision, because being prepared for both tests can put a burden on the student — one that some students are happy to bear. Your daughter’s ACT Composite is a good deal better than her current SAT scores. She would need to raise her SAT score by at least 100 points to match her 32. Compass’ advice is generally to focus on one test at a time, as this increases the odds of lifting that score.
  
Pranav says:

August 14, 2017 at 6:23 pm

Do colleges superscore the new SAT essay? I took the new SAT 3 times with all essays and got a 7/7/7 on my highest, and 6/6/6 lowest. Which would they consider, especially since I am superscoring my SAT scores? I am unsure how the essays would work.

Also, does score choice apply for subject tests too? If a college does score choice, I am only required to send my higher subject test score while if they do not score choice, I am required to send both? Is this how it works?

Thank you!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 18, 2017 at 5:07 pm
  
  Pranav,
  Superscoring colleges will generally superscore the essay, as well, so your 7/7/7 would be used.
  
  Not only does Score Choice apply to Subject Tests, even most colleges that consider themselves “non-Score Choice” allow an exception for Subject Tests. This is confusing, because College Board’s website will warn you that a college expects all scores (in other words, their site is not smart enough to distinguish between choice for the SAT and choice for the Subject Tests). You should check individual college policies, but in almost all cases you are allowed to submit your highest scores.
  
David says:

August 20, 2017 at 7:36 pm

Does University of California—Irvine really accept score choice? I am a little confuesd since it seems that all other UC colleges require all SAT or ACT.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 23, 2017 at 1:16 pm
  
  This is a good example of where our fact checkers ran into the obstacle of believing the campus admission office. 😉 The UCs have a uniform policy against Score Choice. The thing to keep in mind is that Score Choice is completely irrelevant for the UCs. They will only consider a student’s highest combined scores and best Subject Tests (which are not required). Withholding scores provides no benefits. We will update the UC policies.
  
Lisa says:

September 5, 2017 at 5:14 am

Hi! If on the ACT my son got a 34 composite with a breakdown of 35E, 31M, 35R and 33S then took it again with a 33 composite with a breakdown of 34E, 33M, 30R and 34S, does it look bad if her composite went down a point even though 2 individual scores went up? We are not sure if we should send the second test to schools that superscore. If we sent both, how do they see it visually? Do they see 34, 33 or do their systems automatically superscore so all they see are the highest individual sections? In other words – we are worried about them seeing that 30R in his 2nd test.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  September 5, 2017 at 4:21 pm
  
  Lisa,
  Your son is in an interesting situation. Normally I would advise to simply send both scores. Some superscoring colleges only show the highest subscores to admission officers, while others show the original scores and the superscore. However, the intention of superscoring colleges is to view test scores in a supportive manner, and I think that you can trust colleges to do this. The small twist in your son’s case is that his superscored composite would be no higher than his first composite. He achieved a 33.5 (rounded to a 34) on his first test and has a 34.25 (rounded to 34) when superscored. So colleges focusing on the composite will see no difference. It’s best to assume that colleges will see all of his subscores. I would still come down on the side of sending both scores.
  
Diane says:

September 30, 2017 at 3:31 pm

My daughter took the ACT twice
30 composite 31 composite
Eng 30 Eng 32
Math 29 Math 30
Reading 34 Reading 32
Science 26 Science 31

Question should we send both scores to Super score or just the 31 composite since it has the most consistent scores?

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  October 2, 2017 at 9:38 am
  
  Hi Diane,
  
  That’s a good question! I would say that if a school superscores, it’s definitely worth sending both scores because her superscored composite would be a 32. If a school superscores, the admission counselors really only look at those highest sections—I’ve never heard anyone talk about score consistency as an issue that would sway them.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Ash
  
Lisa says:

September 30, 2017 at 7:04 pm

Hi, thank you for all the information which is not readily provided anywhere else. What happens to the essay with the College Board’s SAT Score Choice? It does not appear that one can be selected with score choice to send to the colleges.

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  October 2, 2017 at 9:33 am
  
  Hi Lisa,
  
  My understanding is that you cannot select a separate essay score to send to colleges, so the test date(s) that you do decide to send will include the essay score if it was taken at the time.
  
  Good luck with applications!
  
  Ash
  
Kim says:

October 3, 2017 at 4:51 pm

Thank you for this excellent blog! My question involves which of my daughter’s scores to send — ACT or SAT or both? (She is applying to some selective schools.) If we should send ACTs, which should we send? Her scores are as follows:
June 2017 – 34 composite: 33 Math, 34 Science, 35 English, 35 Reading, 8 Writing
June 2016 – 33 composite, 33 Math, 27 Science, 36 English, 34 Reading, 19 Writing
Is it worth it to send both scores to achieve a superscored 35?
We would send all her SAT scores, considering that she did significantly better in one area each time. Are we correct that all scores are sent if we do not select score choice?
Aug. 2017: EBRW: 770, Math 690, Essay 4/6/6
Jan. 2017: EBRW: 720, Math 770, Essay 5/5/5
June 3, 2017: Subject test – History, 800; Math 2, 770; Biology-M, 760
Thank you!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  October 9, 2017 at 2:11 pm
  
  Kim,
  Let me pick off the easiest parts first. Yes, ACT and SAT have different reporting policies. For the ACT, you send (and pay for!) each score report separately. College Board will send all scores unless you specifically opt out via Score Choice. I would definitely send all of your daughter’s Subject Test scores.
  
  There is not a universal answer as to which scores are best to send, as policies vary widely — require all scores; require all SAT or ACT; superscore SAT only; superscore SAT and ACT; and probably a few more. Her June 2017 ACT is the best single-day performance and is as good or better than even her superscored SAT. My recommendation would be to send the June 2017 ACT. Should she send June 2016? The fact that she did better in one subject (by 1 point) would usually not be enough to offset concern about her lower Science score. As you point out, though, she happens to be just on the cusp of a superscored 35. I would only send the 2016 results in cases where all scores are required or where a college is explicit that they superscore and consider a student’s best results.
  
DC says:

October 12, 2017 at 12:00 pm

My daughter got a 31 composite on her second ACT, superscored with the first ACT she took she has a 32. However, her composite on the first test was a 29. On the first ACT she got a 36 in English, on the second a 34, but her math and science went up significantly on the second test to account for the increase to 31. For schools that do not super score she will send the 31 composite, but should she also send the first composite of 29 since it shows the perfect score in English?

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  October 12, 2017 at 12:36 pm
  
  Hi DC,
  
  First of all, congratulations to your daughter on that perfect English score! Well done! Most schools view scores supportively, and even those who don’t superscore may look at the subscores from both tests. Sending both tests allows the admissions counselors to say that she’s clearly capable of a 36 in English AND those higher math and science scores. I’d probably send both unless you were really worried about them seeing a lower math or science score. Good luck!
  
David says:

October 17, 2017 at 9:00 pm

I just wonder if colleges could find out whether applicants had followed their score policy. I mean, for these colleges requiring all scores, if applicants didn’t send all SAT scores, do they have anyway to find out? I understand it’s a matter of honesty, but I am still curious.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  October 18, 2017 at 6:52 pm
  
  David,
  Your curiosity is shared by many. In short, it’s an honor system just as it is with much of an application. There is no “official” route for colleges to know whether or not a student submits all scores, and I have never heard of any college trying to find out as a matter of policy. However, as with most honor systems, violations still do come to light (and consciences are always there). Although it is a declining practice, some schools record test scores on a student’s transcript, for example.
  
Jeanne says:

October 19, 2017 at 1:44 pm

Hi,
I am applying to MIT. I know that they superstore, but I want to know if they will take into account my low scores. I have a 35 ACT from a single test date, which includes a 36 in science. But that date does not include the 36 in English that I scored on an earlier test. The problem is that my 36 in English also includes a 31 in science and a 33 composite. For MIT, is it worth sending the earlier score to boost my English from a 33 to a 36? It will not change my superscored composite enough to matter. I am hoping to major in business, not STEM, but MIT doesn’t consider majors for admissions. Thank you.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  October 20, 2017 at 11:08 am
  
  Jeanne,
  MIT tends to have student-friendly policies (and a great admission department). I would take take their word on their superscoring policy, which is that they consider your highest score in each section. I would submit the lower composite score in addition to your 35.
  
Libby says:

October 25, 2017 at 9:38 am

Hello,
Thank you so much for all the time and energy that goes into creating this list. Much appreciated!

I have a question about University of Washington. Your list says that UW requires all scores. However the UW website states “Scores from SAT or ACT are required for admission and must come directly from the testing agency.” I combed through the UW website but was not able to find where they say they require all scores (SAT and ACT). Did I miss something? Thank you.

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  October 25, 2017 at 3:25 pm
  
  Dear Libby,
  
  Sometimes schools don’t publicize on their websites what their policies are quite as clearly as we might like! In this case, an admissions counselor from University of Washington reached out to us with the following information on Sept 15, 2017:
  
  Just wanted to let you know that the University of Washington has updated its policy last academic year and we now superscore both the SAT and ACT, but still require students to send all scores from both tests.
  
  I think it’s probably worth sending all of your scores!
  
  Hope this helps!
  
Alex says:

November 22, 2017 at 3:39 am

If you took the SAT once and the ACT once, and are applying to UCs, could you just send the SAT or do you have to send both the SAT and ACT? Thanks.

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  November 22, 2017 at 9:59 am
  
  Hi Alex,
  
  The UCs require you to send all of your SAT OR your ACT scores. So you do not have to send both. Best of luck with your applications!
  
  Ash
  
Brian Zubatch says:

February 10, 2018 at 10:12 am

When colleges recommend all scores, is there a negative to only sending the best composite score?

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  February 12, 2018 at 7:54 am
  
  Hi Brian,
  
  Most schools that recommend sending all scores also superscore. The general idea is that because they’re only looking at your highest scores, they want to make sure they have all of them so that you don’t miss sending something that would help you. There’s no real downside, however, to doing that work for them and only sending your best.
  
Uma says:

February 20, 2018 at 6:07 am

Hello,
My daughter is a Junior and has taken SAT twice in 2017 (Nov- 1400 & Dec- 1450) . She is planning to apply to selective colleges. Would it look bad if she took a SAT 3rd time since most selective colleges are looking for ALL Scores or should she switch to ACT instead? Please advise.

Nov. 2017: EBRW: 670, Math 730 Essay 4/6/6
Dec 2017: EBRW: 650, Math 800, Essay 7/8/5
Aug, 2017: Subject test – Math 2, 800

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  February 20, 2018 at 6:00 pm
  
  Uma,
  It’s quite common for students to take the SAT 3 times, and your daughter should not have that as a concern. Many selective colleges allow for Score Choice. Even the ones that don’t won’t be bothered by a third score.
  
  Your daughter’s EBRW score is currently holding her back. I’d recommend that she try a practice ACT. It’s likely that her results will approximate those on the SAT — and we know that she can’t best the 800M — but sometimes students are surprised. Unless the ACT seems to be a strength, I’d advise your daughter to stick with the SAT.
  
Tina says:

February 23, 2018 at 4:49 pm

This is a fantastic compilation and the best one I’ve found on the Internet! One follow up question – do you know if schools generally use superscored test scores for scholarship consideration (merit aid)? I’ve googled a few colleges’ scholarship pages, but really can’t find this information easily on their websites. My daughter’s 2 sittings of the ACT has a fantastic superscore (35), but I realize that this is for *admission* and not necessarily used for scholarship consideration.

Thank you!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  February 27, 2018 at 2:12 pm
  
  Tina,
  It varies a good deal and, as you’ve found, colleges don’t always make it clear. As a generalization, fewer colleges superscore for merit scholarships than for admission, and I know of no college that does not superscore for admission but does superscore for scholarships. Despite that generalization, many *do* still superscore for merit aid.
  
ACT Dad says:

February 26, 2018 at 10:44 am

What a very helpful website! Your articles are very thorough and informative. I have a question about Georgetown. My daughter took the Feb ACT and scored a 36. Her school requires all Juniors to take the SAT next month. She had not planned to prep for this test. Is it correct that she will be required to report the SAT to Georgetown, even though her preference would be not to take it all? She is planning to apply there. Thanks for your help!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  February 27, 2018 at 4:26 pm
  
  ACT Dad,
  Yes, Georgetown’s policy is that all scores be reported. I have to admit that I’d consider conscientious objector status from your daughter’s school SAT day. I understand that schools want to ensure that all students are college-ready, but sometimes blanket policies simply don’t make sense. It is flu season.
  
Joanne says:

March 7, 2018 at 3:01 pm

Hi and Thanks for all this great information. Question: How often do you update the list of each college or university’s policy regarding superscoring? Your article at the top is from 2016. Thanks!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  April 9, 2018 at 4:07 pm
  
  Joanne,
  Typically colleges update policies for the upcoming year in the spring or summer. We try to keep the table current — even when we neglect to update the date of the post!
  
John says:

April 15, 2018 at 5:26 am

Hi Art,
As a huge fan of your blog, here is a question that I could not find anywhere. My child plans to take two SAT subject tests on the same date. When sending scores to colleges after test scores are released, does he have to submit both scores since they are taken on the same date? Can he just pick one subject score to send?

Thank you so much in advance!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  April 16, 2018 at 10:57 am
  
  John,
  That’s nice to hear, and thank you for lobbing an easy one my way. Your son can choose exactly which Subject Tests to send — even when they are taken on the same day.
  
Beth says:

April 23, 2018 at 2:05 pm

Hello!

Just wanted to add that I just checked in with the University of Washington re: score choice, since I no longer see the “all scores” requirement on their website. I was told by Admissions that they do not require (but they do recommend) that a student send all scores because they want to be able to superscore. Again, a situation relevant only if one accepts the premise that a student is unable to assess his own scores properly.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  May 25, 2018 at 12:47 pm
  
  Thank you, Beth.
  
Jill says:

April 28, 2018 at 9:25 am

Love this blog! So much information! Do schools consider the English and Math sections of the ACT to be more important than the Science and Reading sections? I realize there is no “right” answer to this with limited information, but if a student has a strong composite “32” and scored higher in English and Math than Reading and Science, do schools consider that?

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  April 30, 2018 at 11:37 am
  
  Hi Jill,
  
  Most schools look at the Composite score and may look at individual test scores like science and reading. However, I’ve never heard of a school’s admission office weighing the English and math score more heavily than the other scores. I will say that it is quite common for a student to have lower science and reading scores. Hope this helps!
  
Cay says:

April 30, 2018 at 7:00 pm

Great blog! Thanks for all the detail. My son has taken the ACT twice, and sadly his composite score went down quite a bit from the first to second try, with 3 out of 4 subscores dropping. After lots of prep too, go figure.

1st Try: composite score 31 – Eng 32, Math 31, Reading 28, Science 34
2nd try: Comp score 29 – Eng 26, Math 31, Reading 29, Science 29

My question is: will this drop disadvantage him in any way? Will colleges look down on scores that ago down? Should he try to take it again to get them up again? We were hoping to move on to all the other fun college application requirements. ;0)
And – should he send both scores for those that “recommend all” – if you superscore and add the 29 in reading to the first score, it does bring the superstcore composite to a 31.5, which I believe would round to a 32. But the other scores all drop. Wondering what to do here. Thanks!

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  May 1, 2018 at 9:29 am
  
  Hi Cay,
  
  Thanks for the positive feedback. The answer to your question is…it depends! Each school is different but many do superscore. In that case, your son would indeed have a 32 composite. If a school is recommending you send all scores, then it probably will superscore. In which case, I would send both scores. Admission folks generally don’t care in what order the highest test score occurred and won’t penalize you for a “drop.” They’re looking to read your scores supportively.
  
  If a school doesn’t superscore, it makes sense to employ score choice and only send the first try.
  
  Whether you should call this complete or keep testing really depends upon the schools to which you’re applying. Does the 31 or 32 superscore fall at the higher end of their mid-range of scores? Or are you looking at schools that really expect > 32?
  
  Hope this helps and best of luck on your application journey!
  
  - Cay says:
    
    September 26, 2018 at 9:04 am
    
    Hi again!
    My son went back and took the ACT for a 3rd time. He really pulled his reading score up, so for schools that superscore, he’s great. However, if a school is “Score Choice OK,” I’m not sure how to proceed. It’s clear that we should drop the second test, but the first and last tests have the same composite score, with very different individual scores (see below). Science and English are much better on Test 1 but Reading is much better on Test 3.
    
    For Score Choice schools, does that mean we have to pick only one test, or can we send Test #1 & 3? If not, which is better to send? (FYI he is applying to Industrial Design programs)
    
    Composite: 31. 29. 31
    Math: 31. 31. 31
    Science: 34. 29. 31
    English: 32. 26. 28
    Reading: 28. 29. 33
    
    One more detail: many of his schools do super score the ACT but “recommend all” when sending. Since, test #2 did not have any high scores (except writing), can we just leave it out and send #1 & #3 tests only?
    
    Thanks! Cay
    
    - Art Sawyer says:
      
      September 26, 2018 at 5:52 pm
      
      Cay,
      Unless a school specifically requires ALL scores, you can select the most favorable scores. I agree that there is no reason to send #2, and you can send more than one test. When a superscoring school says that they “recommend all,” they usually mean: “Since we superscore, there is no reason not to send us everything. We’ve seen too many students not send us the right scores.” Most students still prefer to do the selecting themselves. You’ve done the math correctly(!), and you can just send #1 and #3.
      
      - Cay says:
        
        September 29, 2018 at 9:08 am
        
        Thanks, Art. For Score Choice schools who do not superscore, would you recommend we send Test #1 or #3? For example, Ohio State or University of Oregon. Or can we send both?
        And, for schools not on this list, I assume we’d have to reach out specifically to the school to find out their test policy?
        Thanks again! Cay
      - Art Sawyer says:
        
        October 1, 2018 at 6:51 pm
        
        Cay,
        I would still send both scores. Admission officers tend to read scores supportively. Even if they don’t superscore, they can still see your son’s best performances. It’s not a risky decision in this case because the composite scores are the same. Yes, it is always best to confirm testing policies, even when they are on the list!
Lisa says:

May 17, 2018 at 8:11 am

My student will be applying to many highly selective schools including Ivys, Duke, GTown, Vanderbilt. She took the SAT once and got a 1510 (and 22/24 on essay). She also took the ACT twice. First time composite 30 (english 32, math 28, reading 33, science 26) and second time composite 33 (english 35, math 33, reading 30 and science 33). She is hoping to major in Economics and qualified to apply for the Hispanic National Recognition Program.

My question: Is it worth sending in both ACT scores to get a Superscore of 34? But that means that the low math (28) and science (26) will be seen. Should she send in the 33 composite ACT with the 1510 SAT? Or maybe just the 1510 SAT only?

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  May 25, 2018 at 2:43 pm
  
  Lisa,
  Your daughter’s 1510 and her 33 are roughly comparable. Given that the SAT is combined with a strong essay, that might be the easiest option. It does not have to be an all-or-nothing decision. She may want to consider the individual school policies. In some cases, schools do not superscore the ACT at all. At some, the schools will only consider a student’s best section scores (so the 26 and 28 will be ignored). At some superscoring schools, a new composite will be computed (34 in your daughter’s case), but the section scores will all be considered. Except in the case of “best section scores only,” I’d be leery of sending the 30. The only area in which she did better was the Reading, and her Math and Science are markedly lower. There doesn’t seem to be enough of an upside.
  
Andy says:

May 31, 2018 at 9:45 am

Hi there,
For Stanford, you indicate that they require all SAT results.
However, they only recommend 2 subject tests and indicate that they should be self reported on the application.
Does this mean that all subject tests should be self reported…including situations where more than 2 subjects have been taken, and/or where subject tests have been taken more than once?
Or should just the best two subject results be self reported?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  June 1, 2018 at 3:14 pm
  
  Andy,
  Stanford requires all SAT results, but not all Subject Test results. You should self-report only the scores that best support your application.
  
  - Andy says:
    
    June 2, 2018 at 7:53 am
    
    Thanks Art,
    I wasn’t clear if SAT 2 Subject tests fell under the heading of “all SAT results”. That’s good news that they don’t.
    
    - Andy says:
      
      July 27, 2018 at 2:11 pm
      
      Hi, Art,
      SAT subject scores were Math2 800 and Chemistry 770.
      Together with a SAT of 1520 (790 Math, 730 EBRW), would this be competitive for Stanford; MIT and Harvard….or should retakes be considered to improve any element?
      Regards
      
      Andy
      
      - Art Sawyer says:
        
        August 15, 2018 at 2:55 pm
        
        Andy,
        That’s a difficult question to answer. Among those scores, only the 730 EBRW would be at the low end of the 25-75th range for enrolled students at the most competitive schools. Whether retaking the SAT is worth it is a question you have to answer given your own standards and willingness. There is room for improvement if you do decide to retest.
Elena says:

June 27, 2018 at 8:44 am

Art,
I have similar questions to the ones you have answered above.
Which of my son’s scores to send? He is applying to some selective schools and very selective merit scholarships. Should we send both of his ACTs to schools with “soft” superscoring? Should we send his SAT score at all (we will be sending SAT subject tests scores, so there is no additional fees to include SAT)? Should we send his History subject test score? Would it make sense to retake SAT in attempt to improve his composite score?

Here his scores:

October 2017 ACT– 35 composite: 36 Math, 36 Science, 36 English, 32 Reading, 10 Writing
June 2018 ACT – 34 composite, 35 Math, 31 Science, 36 English, 35 Reading, 11 Writing

April 2018 SAT-1540: 790 Math, EBRW 750, 23 Essay
Junior PSAT 1490 with SI 224, so most likely NMSF

Subject test scores: Math 2 800, Biology M 750, US History 730 and English Literature pending

Thank you so much for your wonderful blog,

Mark says:

July 5, 2018 at 1:19 pm

Hi Art,

Question regarding the weighting of Essay score on ACT. My daughter took ACT for the first time and scored 33 Composite (36 English, 35 Reading, 32 Math, 29 Science), about which she was pleased. However, she just got her essay score (8), which was lower than every practice test, typically a 10. We were all relieved to be “one and done,” but is the writing score going to hurt her score presentation significantly enough to justify repeating the entire exam process?

FYI she is looking at some selective colleges (Tufts, Amherst, Brown) …

cheers
Mark

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 7, 2018 at 5:50 pm
  
  Mark,
  I would not recommend retaking because of the Writing score. The essay plays little to no role, and your daughter’s score is not really outside of the norm — even at the most selective colleges. If current trends continue, future classes of students may not have to worry about the essay at all!
  
Jeanne N. says:

July 5, 2018 at 4:45 pm

I appreciate your willingness to answer all of these personal questions. I have one to add to the pile.

Son is applying to several elite schools as well as a number of what he calls “safety” schools. His test scores are pretty good, I think, but they could be better. Wondering if you think there’s merit to retaking the SAT (1490 = 710 ER/780 Math) or the ACT (34 composite = 36Eng, 31 Math (forgot to take his calculator), 34 Reading, 34 Science, 33 STEM). We’re waiting on SAT subject test results but expect Math 2 to be 800.

He’s applying for engineering programs, not at the tech schools (MIT, Cal Poly, RPI) but at other elite and state universities with engineering schools.

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thank you!

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 7, 2018 at 5:58 pm
  
  Jeanne,
  Now I feel guilty for letting these questions pile up and taking a month to get back to you! I would consider retaking for two reasons: (1) engineering programs can be highly competitive and (2) superscoring. It would seem, for example, like the ACT Math would be an easy win for your son on a retake. Not every college superscores, of course, but he would not be any worse off. I try to remain aware of the big commitment it is for a senior to take a test again while also applying to college. I think it might be a positive thing in your son’s case.
  
Heidi says:

July 6, 2018 at 6:23 am

Hello, our daughter scored a 32 on the ACT and really wants ND. She is number one in her class, 4.35 WGPA, has the highest number of service hours in her class (so far) NHS, SADD president and has been in choral ensemble and drama for 4 years. What do you think her chances are?? One young lady was accepted on a 30 from the class last year and the other young lady was waitlisted with a 31 and a legacy. Any information at all would be greatly appreciate.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  August 7, 2018 at 6:08 pm
  
  Heidi,
  My expertise is in testing and test preparation rather than admissions, but I feel confident saying that the young woman accepted with the 30 obviously had an excellent application. For ND’s most recent class, they report 25th-75th percentile scores as 33-35. The examples you cite show that scores — and even scores+GPA — do not determine admission on their own.
  
Jacob Ribotsky says:

July 19, 2018 at 10:01 am

Hi. I took the SAT 3 times. I scored a 1430, a 1410, and a 1500. my highest ERW was a 730, and my highest math was a 770. However, my highest reading was a 400, and my highest grammar was a 390 (on my second test). I botched the grammar on the third time (-5). I was wondering if Cornell, which you put under as a “fake superscorer” will look at my grammar from my second test, reading from my third, and math from my third, giving me a composite of 1560. Or, do you simply mean ERW and math when you subsections. I really hope they will take my best grammar, math, and reading, for it boosts me expotentially!

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  July 25, 2018 at 10:32 am
  
  Hi Jacob,
  
  When we say superscore for the SAT – we mean highest sections score – ERW and Math. They do not separately look at your Reading and Writing & Language scores. Cornell would take your highest ERW and highest Math only.
  
Jacob Ribotsky says:

July 19, 2018 at 10:17 am

Also, if I am planing on applying to Cornell’s LIR school, shoul I retest. I set out to get a 34 equivalent, and given the new concordance tables, I have obtianed my goal. However, I am not at the 75th percentile at Cornell, but rather slightly above the 50th. Should I retest?

- Ash Kramer says:
  
  July 25, 2018 at 10:36 am
  
  Hi Jacob,
  
  Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether retesting is likely to result in a score that would get you above the 75th percentile. Consider how much time you have to prepare and take practice tests to track improvement.
  
  Hope this helps and best of luck with your applications!
  
Sam says:

September 16, 2018 at 2:47 pm

Hi im a senior getting ready college applications and was wondering how the process of super scoring works. Do colleges value a raw score over a super scored sat score (for example, would a student with a raw score of 1390 be weighted more than a super scored score of 1390 or 1400). Also are the super scores completed by the colleges you want to apply to or do you have to do that yourself.

Another thing, if your score varies drastically between the 2 sats you want to superscore, does this look bad. For example, a 750 in M and 600 in E one the first SAT, but a 590 in M and a 720 in E on the second.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  September 16, 2018 at 11:48 pm
  
  Sam,
  There aren’t universal answers to your questions, because not all colleges follow the same protocol. The colleges will handle the superscoring — you just need to send the applicable test dates. The only caveat is when you are self-reporting scores on the application. You’ll just want to follow any school-specific directions. On the Common App, you’d be providing scores by test date and, again, the college will handle superscoring.
  
  Consider why many colleges have opted for superscoring — it allows them to view students in a positive light. In the example you gave, an admission officer can see that the student is capable of achieving 750 in M and 720 in ERW. That said, even superscoring colleges sometimes consider subscores, too. How the scores are viewed in those cases is too dependent on the college and the admission officer for any firm rule.
  
Cheryl says:

September 18, 2018 at 8:54 am

I am trying to apply to Rose-Hulman and am wondering if they superscore or not since it’s not on the list.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  September 18, 2018 at 1:40 pm
  
  Cheryl,
  Rose-Hulman is not one of the college Compass surveys, but a couple of lists that I trust indicate that it superscores both ACT and SAT.
  
Jo says:

September 22, 2018 at 1:19 pm

My daughter (Senior) took the ACT 1X – 34 composite score (36 Reading, 35 English, 34 Science, 30 Math). She is pursuing a liberal arts major and NOT a math/science related major. She wants to apply to some highly competitive colleges (possibly Ivy or Northwestern, Wash U, Georgetown, UCLA, Berkeley). For those category of colleges, does she need to be concerned with lower math score & try and retake? Or will 30 math in big picture not be an issue given composite score, intended major, and all other application components considered?

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  September 27, 2018 at 5:53 pm
  
  Jo,
  Many students have a weakest subject. Yes, Math is lower than her 34 Composite, but Reading and English are higher! Given her interests, I don’t think the 30 poses a problem. The only reason to retest would be if she felt that she could improve enough in E/S/M to boost her composite or her superscore to 35 or 36. She is already at about the 75th percentile among enrolled students at those schools, so restesting is probably not necessary.
  
Elena says:

September 26, 2018 at 11:43 am

My son is applying to very selective colleges for political science, international affairs and possibly business programs. Which scores should we send?. Should we send both of his ACTs to schools with “lite” superscoring? Should we send his SAT score at all (we will be sending SAT subject tests scores, so there is no additional fees to include SAT)? Should we send his History subject test score? Would it make sense to retake SAT in an attempt to improve his composite score?

Here his scores:

October 2017 ACT– 35 composite: 36 Math, 36 Science, 36 English, 32 Reading, 10 Writing
June 2018 ACT – 34 composite, 35 Math, 31 Science, 36 English, 35 Reading, 11 Writing

April 2018 SAT-1540: 790 Math, EBRW 750, 23 Essay
Junior PSAT 1490 with SI 224 –NMSF

Subject test scores: Math 2 800, Biology M 750, US History 730 and Spanish pending

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  September 27, 2018 at 6:30 pm
  
  Elena,
  I would go ahead and send his SAT scores along with his Subject Test scores simply because there is no reason not to. His 1540 is concordant with his ACT of 35, so it is not showing any weakness. Both Math and ERW are strong, and his Essay score is great.
  
  “Lite” schools typically take the best Composite scores and the best subject scores. The only difference from full superscoring is that they do not calculate a new Composite. Obviously your son’s October ACT is going to be sent. What would April add? His Reading is a 35 rather than a 32. I’d rate the Writing difference as inconsequential. I would send both test dates to these schools.
  
  I don’t like to discourage really motivated students. If your son wants to go for an even higher score, great! But I wouldn’t encourage it, either. I think the better plan is to focus on his applications and his schoolwork. He has an excellent testing portfolio.
  
Anisha says:

October 4, 2018 at 6:31 pm

Hi, Im currently a senior preparing for college apps. I got a 32 on my act and a 1380 (690 in M and R) on my sat. I’m taking the sat again hoping to super score my sat. If I am able to bring my super score to around a 1400-1420, should I send both scores or just my act. And if I do not receive a better score and can’t super score, should I only send my act score of 32, or both the 32 and the 1380.
Im planning on applying to Virginia tech, uva, George mason, and VCU.

- Art Sawyer says:
  
  October 9, 2018 at 12:17 pm
  
  Anisha,
  A 32 ACT is concordant with an SAT score range of 1420-1440. I would stick with your ACT — no need to worry about superscoring — unless your superscored SAT is 1450 or higher.

Superscoring ACT and SAT and Score Choice

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