Superscoring sounds like a crazy buzzer-beater in college basketball or something, but it is actually a technique you can use when strategizing your application to colleges and universities. In short, superscoring allows you to use only your best scores from different areas of the ACT or SAT, which also brings your best test results to light.

In reality, so few things in life offer this extraordinary opportunity. In most areas of life, we do not get the luxury of a superscore. For example, you cannot take out the best inning from one baseball game and use that to determine the outcome. A job interview does not let you keep your best answer from three different days of interviews. Your driver’s test does not allow you to average multiple tries, where only the best parts count. Most of the time, life asks you to perform well all at once, in a single moment. That is why superscoring on the ACT and SAT is unique — it allows colleges to see your best work across multiple attempts, instead of considering your performance in one sitting. 

Read on to learn more about what you need to know about superscoring, including our expert opinion at the end of the article!

What is Superscoring?

What is a superscore, exactly? And what is a superscore ACT and SAT? 

Superscoring involves gathering up your best scores and submitting them to colleges. Alternatively, colleges themselves could also take your scores and figure out which ones are best. Not all schools superscore, and all schools tackle superscoring differently. For example, some schools may superscore the SAT but not the ACT. Many top colleges and universities allow superscoring.

It is important to check with the colleges and universities on your list to learn more about how they superscore. You can learn a lot about how colleges and universities handle it by checking their admissions websites.

Learn more: How to Apply to College and How to Avoid College Application Mistakes

How Does Superscoring Work?

Now that we have answered “What is a SAT superscore?” — how does it work, exactly? Here is a brief rundown:

• ACT superscore: Your ACT superscore is usually the average of your best section scores. 
• SAT superscore: Your SAT superscore is usually the sum of your best section scores from all your SAT tests. 

The College Board provides Score Choice™, which allows students to choose the scores or sets of scores they want to send to a college. In other words, they can control which score reports will be sent to each college, including by test date.

Starting in April 2025, students who take the online ACT test will have their ACT superscored using a method that includes only English, math, and reading. If you do not take the online test, this change will occur in September 2025. It will automatically show you the highest scores for each subject and the test date. If you take the science score, it would calculate your STEM score (along with math) but is not part of the ACT superscore.

In other words, it will be automatic soon, and all you have to do is log in to your account to see your superscores. Sign in to your MyACT account. 

Learn more: How to Narrow Down Your College List and Tips to Ace Your College Interview

Example of Superscoring the ACT

How might superscoring work if you take the ACT? Let’s say you take the ACT for the first time and receive the following scores: 

Then, let’s say you take the ACT a second time and receive the following scores: 

In this case, the school would “count” your best scores, no matter the date of your test. Therefore, your superscoring scores might look like the following (however, note that every school is different, and superscoring methods may vary): 

What is a good ACT superscore? Ultimately, a good ACT superscore boosts your individual scores, no matter your composite. It cannot hurt you unless you end up with the same exact scores twice — or three times.

Example of Superscoring the SAT

What is a superscore SAT example? Similar to above, let’s take a look at the SAT and consider how superscoring might benefit you during the college search. 

Let’s say you take the SAT for the first time and receive the following scores:

Now, let’s say you take it again and receive a new set of scores: 

Your SAT superscore might look like the following:

Superscoring can make a huge difference in helping you gain admission to a college or university, and it can also help you achieve a brand-new echelon in merit-based scholarships or awards.

How Does Superscoring Help Students?

Superscoring might help you in many different ways — even more than you might think! Here are a few major benefits of superscoring. You might:

• Achieve more merit aid from colleges and universities.
• Receive more money in outside scholarships — some outside scholarships require you to submit your scores.
• Get to take standardized tests fewer times. For example, if you get great ACT scores through superscoring by taking the tests twice, you might not have to take the ACT a third time. (A huge win, right?)
• Tailor your preparation for future testing in one certain area, rather than studying for the entire test again (exhausting!).

Just like touring a great college, there is really no downside to superscoring — no negatives whatsoever! The only downside is if you were to apply to certain colleges or universities that do not allow superscoring! (Read more in the next paragraph to learn more.)

Learn more about the high school to college transition.

Which Colleges Superscore the ACT and SAT?

Many, many colleges accept superscores. The College Board publishes a comprehensive list of schools that accept superscores. The College Board keeps track of each college’s superscoring policies, so you can see which schools do and which schools don’t. It’s a long list!

So, which colleges superscore ACT and SAT — to colleges, that is? 

You can feel confident in the top Ivy League schools — Princeton, MIT, Yale, Stanford, and Harvard — superscoring. However, it is a good idea to check into the most up-to-date information you can about their superscoring policies from year to year. Just because your older sister benefited from superscoring one year doesn’t mean you’ll benefit from it, too. The admissions office at any school on your list will also offer a plethora of information about their superscoring policy, so do not hesitate to contact them to get answers via phone or email.

Every school will have published statements on their websites about superscoring policies. If you read them thoroughly, you’ll learn a lot: Some schools only superscore the ACT, not the SAT. Some superscore a mix, some look at both but use the best test score of one test. So, should you pick your schools based on the ability to superscore or not? 

Not at all. You should choose the schools based on your interests and academic match to the school. Superscoring is just an added bonus if your school offers it — just be aware that there are many colleges that accept ACT superscore and SAT superscore. 

Learn more: How to Develop a List of Extracurricular Activities for Students

Why Colleges Like Superscoring

It is also important to understand that colleges and universities benefit from superscoring because they can showcase higher standardized test scores of their applicants and matriculants. Superscoring pushes up the scores of their middle 50th percentile of scores, which they can proudly display on their websites and on their brochures. It is a technique just like choosing to allow students to apply Early Action vs. Early Decision.

What Other Score-Use Policies Are Available?

Do other score policies come from colleges? 

You bet. They may incorporate a few alternatives, including the following:

• Single highest test date: Some schools will only accept your single highest score, regardless whether it is your most recent. If you are applying to a school that does this, you will want to send scores from all test dates as you receive them so they can analyze your highest score.
• Review all scores: Colleges might require students to submit scores from every test date. Remember that colleges will likely take your highest section score into consideration and/or note improvements. 
• Test optional policies: Many, many colleges offer test optional policies. We recommend taking the SAT or ACT test, however, we have worked with students in the past who have taken advantage of test optional opportunities.

Again, check into your college’s policies regarding standardized testing to learn more about their comprehensive options.

Our Expert Take on Superscoring

Your superscore is like the best of three runs in Olympic snowboarding — colleges take your best section scores from different test dates and combine them into one stronger score. To sum up, we really love superscoring because it showcases the good work you did over multiple testing periods and combines your strongest section scores from multiple test dates to create the highest possible outcome. 

This gives colleges a clearer picture of your academic potential and can help strengthen your application for admission and merit-based scholarships. However, it’s important to evaluate how each college or university will evaluate your SAT and ACT scores, and we can help you get a sense of how each college or university handles superscoring.

Reach out to Campus to Career Crossroads for expert guidance on how to handle everything from superscoring to choosing AP courses to summer programs to picking a major.

FAQs

Still have questions about superscoring or the ACT or SAT in general? Still wondering, “What colleges take superscore ACT?” Read on for more information.

How Many Times Should You Take the ACT or SAT?

It is always a good idea to take a standardized test more than once, because it can help the college see how you have challenged yourself to increase your score. Having more than one test in the hopper can also give you a chance to superscore, potentially boosting your overall application. Colleges always encourage students to retake the ACT or SAT, so it is not looked at unfavorably during the college decision.

Does superscoring the ACT look bad?

No, superscoring the ACT doesn’t look bad. In fact, it is extremely common to superscore. Many schools automatically superscore their applicants’ standardized tests, whether the applicants realize it or not. Dig into the schools’ exact processes to learn more. Feel free to call or email your admissions counselor for more information about superscoring at that particular school.

Do all applicants to colleges superscore their ACTs and SATs?

No, not all applicants to colleges and universities superscore, because not all colleges and universities allow superscoring. In many cases, more competitive colleges allow for superscoring because it boosts their overall applicant profile. Therefore, it is a win-win situation for both the college and the student.