Navigating the ACT Superscore: A Roadmap to Colleges That Count

If you're knee-deep in the college application process or just dipping your toes into the vast ocean of standardized testing, you've likely encountered the ACT exam. Today, we're going to embark the students on a journey to demystify the concept of superscoring, explore some colleges that swear by it, and sprinkle in a few tips for navigating this terrain like a seasoned explorer.

What is the ACT Exam?

The ACT, or American College Testing, is a standardized test designed to assess high school students' readiness for college. It consists of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, with an optional Writing (essay) section. The scores from each section are averaged to provide a composite score, which ranges from 1 to 36. The ACT Exam fees in India is $42.50 (without writing section) and $58.50 (with writing section).

The Scoop on ACT Scoring and Superscoring

So, how does scoring work on this academic adventure? Each section of the ACT is scored individually, and the average of these scores gives the students a composite score. However, here's where the plot thickens: some colleges engage in superscoring. So, what is superscore?

Superscore is like the superhero version of score reporting. Instead of looking at your composite score, superscoring colleges cherry-pick your highest scores from each section across multiple test dates, creating a composite score that might be higher than any individual test day.

Colleges That Sing the Superscore Symphony

Now let's talk about the colleges that have jumped on the superscoring bandwagon. Spoiler alert: there are quite a few! Some of the notable ACT Superscoring colleges include big names like MIT, North Carolina State University, Stanford, and many more. If a college policy states, "Contact the college for information," this means the policy isn't available on the college’s website (though multiple sources have confirmed that this college does superscore the ACT). If you're interested in applying to this type of school, contact it directly.

School	Official ACT Superscoring Policy	Website
Albion College	Contact the school for information	Albion Admissions
Amherst College	For candidates who have taken the SAT and/or ACT on multiple occasions, the college will consider the best score achieved in each section. When sending official score reports, applicants have the freedom to exercise the SAT Score Choice option and the ACT option.	Amherst Admissions
Auburn University at Montgomery:	The students have to submit all of their scores for every SAT or ACT attempt to AUM, and the college will select the highest score from each section to calculate their SuperScore average.	AUM Admissions
Austin College	Austin College welcomes both ACT and SAT scores, and as part of the college policy, they engage in "super scoring." This means that they consider the highest subscores from various test dates and amalgamate them to create a comprehensive "super score." The focus is on recognizing a student's peak potential in each sub-section, valuing not only their overall score from a single test session but also acknowledging their best achievements across multiple attempts.	Austin College Admissions
Babson College	For students who have taken the SAT or ACT multiple times, Babson College employs a superscoring policy, where the college considers the best individual section scores when reviewing their applications.	Babson Admissions
Baylor University	Contact the school for information	Baylor Admissions
Bates	The submission of standardized tests is optional for all students applying to Bates. Bates College does "superscore" both the SAT and ACT.	Bates Admissions
Beloit College	Beloit College follows a test-optional policy for both admission and the evaluation of merit scholarships. If the college believes that students' test scores accurately showcase their abilities and wishes for us to take them into account, please feel free to submit them. The college will assess the highest subscores from various test dates.	Beloit Admissions
Bowdoin	While the submission of test scores is optional if the student chooses to submit them, Bowdoin College engages in superscoring for the ACT. The admissions committee will evaluate the highest submitted Composite score as well as subsection scores. Additionally, they will recalculate a new Composite score by considering the subsection scores earned on different test dates.	Bowdoin Admissions
Brandeis	Brandeis University has implemented a test-optional policy, eliminating the requirement for domestic applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission consideration. However, if the student chooses to submit scores voluntarily, the admissions committee will superscore their results. This means they will consider the highest scores from different test dates when evaluating the application.	Brandeis Admissions
Bryn Mawr College	While SAT and ACT scores are optional for U.S. citizens and permanent residents applying to Bryn Mawr, the college accepts both standardized test scores. Bryn Mawr places emphasis on the best achievements, and therefore, the admissions process considers the highest section scores submitted, regardless of the test date.	Bryn Mawr Admissions
Butler	At Butler University, the submission of test scores is optional. If the student chooses to submit them, the admissions team reviews the highest subscores for each test, using their latest high test score for the admission decision. Additionally, it's worth noting that writing test scores are not a mandatory requirement.	Butler Admissions
Claremont McKenna College	Claremont McKenna College (CMC) maintains a superscoring policy for both the ACT and SAT. This entails considering the highest scores from each section of either the ACT or SAT, irrespective of the test date. It's important to note that CMC does not engage in superscoring across different test types.	Claremont McKenna Admissions
Colby	Contact the school for information	Colby Admissions
College of the Holy Cross	The submission of standardized test scores is optional. Contact the school for more information.	Holy Cross Admissions
Colorado College	The student has the option to report either the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT) or the ACT if they feel these scores best reflect their academic abilities and potential. If they opt for "Flexible Testing," they will carefully choose from the scores in the college’s records the combination that maximizes the advantage, ensuring a comprehensive and favorable representation of their testing performance.	Colorado College Admissions
Columbia University:	If a student takes an exam more than once, they will be evaluated on the highest score they received in any individual section.	Columbia Admissions
Connecticut College:	The Test is optional. The college "superscore" the SAT Reasoning Test and use the combined highest composite score from the ACT.	Conn College Admissions
Cornell	Currently, the test is optional. Otherwise, contact the school for information.	Cornell Admissions
Davidson College	Test optional. Davidson superscores both the ACT and SAT.	Davidson Admissions
Denison	The test is optional. Contact the school for information	Denison Admissions
DePauw University	Contact the school for information	DePauw Admissions
Dickinson College	Dickinson College maintains a well-established test-optional policy, allowing applicants the flexibility to decide whether to submit standardized test scores. It's essential to note that until the fall of 2023, Dickinson is operating under a test-free policy. This means that even if the student chooses to submit test scores, they will not be taken into consideration by the admissions committee during this period.	Dickinson Admissions
Drexel	Drexel is test optional and test flexible. For those submitting ACT scores, Drexel will consider the highest section scores across each testing date.	Drexel Admissions
Duke	For students opting not to follow the test-optional admissions track at Duke, the requirement is to submit at least one full set of scores from a single test date. However, students also have the flexibility to submit subsection scores taken individually on different test dates. Duke University will then evaluate the highest scores on each section, disregarding the test date, and will calculate a new composite score by averaging those top scores. It's important to note that Duke does not mandate the submission of the optional essay.	Duke Admissions
Duquesne University	The college implements a superscoring policy for all tests, wherein they consider the highest scores from each component of every test the student has taken. Through this process, they recalculate the highest possible score for the students by combining the top scores from each section.	Duquesne Admissions
Eckerd College	Eckerd College follows a score combination approach to establish the optimal composite score. Whether the students submit ACT or SAT scores, the college accepts both and determines the test on which the student achieved a higher score, considering that as their official submission. This allows the college to use the test where they demonstrate the highest level of achievement.	Eckerd Admissions
Elon University	Contact the school for information	Elon Admissions
Georgia Tech	The college employs superscoring specifically within the same test, utilizing the highest section scores from any test date. Upon each submission of new scores, we consistently update students’ records with the utmost consideration for their highest scores. It's crucial to note that in the evaluation process, the college takes into account all of the sub-section scores, emphasizing a comprehensive review rather than merely focusing on the sum or composite score.	Georgia Tech Admissions
Grinnell College	The college considers the best superscored ACT composite scores. The essay component is optional.	Grinnell Admissions
Hamilton College	Hamilton College accepts both official and self-reported scores when submitted with a student's application for admission. Additionally, the college engages in superscoring for both the SAT and ACT. This means that if multiple tests are submitted, Hamilton will consider the highest individual subsection scores from across these tests in the evaluation process.	Hamilton Admissions
Harvey Mudd	Contact the school for information	Harvey Mudd Admissions
Haverford College	Contact the school for information	Haverford Admissions
Hawai'i Pacific University	Contact the school for information	Hawai'i Pacific Admissions
Hendrix College	The college employs super scoring	Hendrix Admissions
Hollins University	Contact the school for information	Hollins Admissions
Indiana University Bloomington	The college practices superscoring, which implies that if the student opts to include test scores in their application, the college will take into account the highest test scores. Specifically, for the ACT, we combine the highest scores for each subtest from different exams to generate a new ACT composite score for a more comprehensive assessment.	IU Bloomington Admissions
Ithaca College	Contact the school for information	Ithaca College Admissions
Johns Hopkins	The college takes into consideration the highest combined score for the ACT. They determine the maximum value of each official section score the student has submitted and then recalculate the composite score based on these top scores.	Johns Hopkins Admissions
Kalamazoo College	Contact the school for information	Kalamazoo Admissions
Kenyon College	Please be aware that Kenyon College "super-scores" all results. This signifies that they automatically calculate a new composite score for both the SAT and ACT if the student has taken either test more than once.	Kenyon Admissions
Kettering University	Contact the school for information	Kettering Admissions
Lafayette College	Contact the school for information	Lafayette Admissions
Lawrence University	The test is optional. Contact the school for more information.	Lawrence Admissions
Lehigh University	Contact the school for information	Lehigh Admissions
Liberty University	The college gladly accepts the superscore. In the case where the student has taken the ACT or SAT multiple times, they will consider the highest individual test scores and compute a new super composite score, incorporating the best results from across all the test dates.	Liberty Admissions
Loyola University Maryland	The test is optional. Contact the school for information	Loyola Admissions
Miami University	This college utilizes the highest test scores submitted for both admission and scholarship consideration. Specifically for the ACT, the combined highest composite score is determined by considering the highest scores for each subtest from different exams.	Miami University Admissions
Middlebury College	Middlebury College adopts a "super score" policy for standardized test results. This means that they accept the highest score from each section of the SAT or ACT, irrespective of the sitting. They then sum up the best scores across different sittings of the same test for a comprehensive evaluation.	Middlebury Admissions
MIT	If you take the same test multiple times, we will consider the highest score achieved in each section.	MIT Admissions
Millsaps College	Contact the school for information	Millsaps Admissions
NYU	If the student has taken the ACT more than once, the college will recalculate a new composite using the highest score in each section, regardless of the test date.	NYU Admissions
Northeastern	Contact the school for information	Northeastern Admissions
North Carolina State University	If the student decides to share their test scores, kindly self-report them on the application. They highly encourage the students to submit all scores, and during their assessment, they will consider the highest sub-score from each section across various test dates to create a super-score.	NC State Admissions
Olin College	This college does superscores.	Olin Admissions
Pitzer	Pitzer College operates under a test-optional policy, and for further details, it is recommended to contact the school directly. However, it's important to note that for three years, beginning in the fall of 2022, Pitzer will be test-free. During this period, test scores will not be considered for admission.	Pitzer Admissions,
Pomona College	The college will assess the SAT scores by superscoring, taking into account the highest section scores, similarly, for the ACT.	Pomona Admissions
Purdue	The college will assess the SAT scores by superscoring, taking into account the highest section scores. Similarly, for the ACT, they will superscore section scores to consider the best performance across different test dates.	Purdue Admissions
Regis	The test is optional. Contact the school for information.	Regis Admissions
Rhode Island School of Design	For students opting to submit test scores, RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) adopts a superscoring approach. This means that the admissions team will consider your highest scores across multiple test dates, providing a comprehensive evaluation.	RISD Admissions
Rochester Institute of Technology	Contact the school for information	RIT Admissions
Roger Williams	RWU (Roger Williams University) operates under a test-optional policy. However, if the student chooses to submit SAT scores, the university will consider the highest score from each section, regardless of the exam date. In the event that you submit both SAT and ACT scores, the admissions team will use the composite score that is most favorable to the student, as per the official concordance data.	Roger Williams Admissions
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology	Contact the school for information	Rose-Hulman Admissions
Saint Mary's College	Contact the school for information	Saint Mary's Admissions
Seattle University	If you opt to report your scores, Seattle University considers the highest sub-scores on the ACT when making decisions regarding admission, scholarships, and class placement.	Seattle Admissions
Seton Hall University	Seton Hall super scores on the ACT.	Seton Hall Admissions
Spring Hill College	Contact the school for information	Spring Hill Admissions
Stanford	For the ACT, the college will review all subscores and will focus on the highest Composite from all sittings.	Stanford Admissions
Syracuse	Contact the school for information	Syracuse Admissions
Texas Christian University	If the students provide scores from multiple sittings of the ACT, the college will consider the highest section scores across various sittings or test dates. This means they will take into account the highest scores in English, Math, Reading, and Science, even if the students achieve them on separate test dates for the ACT.	TCU Admissions
Towson University	Contact the school for information	Towson Admissions
Trinity College	In the case of standardized test scores, Trinity College operates under a test-optional policy. However, if the students choose to submit scores, the college will accept the highest scores from all tests, and they need not be from the same exam date.	Trinity College Admissions
Trinity University	Under the test-optional policy, Trinity University employs superscoring for standardized test scores. This involves taking the best subtest score from various test dates and creating a new composite score, irrespective of the test date.	Trinity U Admissions
Troy University	Contact the school for information	Troy Admissions
Tufts University	If the students have taken the test multiple times, the college will consider the highest sub-score for each section. Specifically for the ACT, the college chooses the highest subscores and calculates a superscore ACT Composite for a comprehensive evaluation.	Tufts Admissions
University of Alabama	UA will superscore for admission purposes. The college will not superscore for automatic, merit-based scholarships.	University of Alabama Admissions
University of Arkansas	Contact the school for information	U Arkansas Admissions
University of Chicago	Superscoring is executed for both the SAT and ACT tests.	U Chicago Admissions
University of Colorado—Boulder	The college will consider the highest section scores on the SAT by superscoring; they will also superscore ACT section scores.	U Colorado Admissions
University of Connecticut	The college will combine the highest scores from each subsection of an exam to create the best overall score (within the same exam formats) for exams taken more than once.	U Conn Admissions
University of Dayton	Contact the school for information	U Dayton Admissions
University of Delaware	Contact the school for information	U Delaware Admissions
University of Denver	If the students have taken either test more than once, the college will combine the best scores from the individual sections of each test to create an ideal superscore.	U Denver Admissions
University of Georgia	UGA adopts a superscoring policy for both the SAT and ACT. In the case of the ACT, this entails considering the highest individual score from each of the four subsections across all ACT tests taken, utilizing this information to calculate the highest composite. While the reported ACT test score information involves the composite, during the admission review process, UGA places emphasis specifically on the ACT English and Math scores.	U Georgia Admissions
University of Maryland	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	U Maryland Admissions
University of Mary Washington	The test is optional. Contact the school for information.	U Mary Washington Admissions
UMass Amherst	For those who choose to submit test scores, the college continues to consider the student's best combination of scores from all of your tests.	U Mass Admissions
University of Miami	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	University of Miami Admissions
University of North Alabama	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	University of North Alabama Admissions
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:	If the students provide scores from both the SAT and ACT, the college will consider the higher of the two and disregard the other. In the case of multiple administrations of either test, the college will utilize the highest score obtained for each section or subject and disregard the others.	UNC Admissions
University of North Texas	Contact the school for information	UNT Admissions
University of Pennsylvania	For the ACT, we consider the highest individual English, Math, Reading, and Science scores across test sittings.	UPenn Admissions
University of Pittsburgh	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	U Pitt Admissions
University of Puget Sound	Test optional. Contact the school for information.	Puget Sound Admissions
University of Rhode Island	Superscoring is considered for the ACT Exam.	Rhode Island Admissions
University of Rochester	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	U Rochester Admissions
University of South Florida	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	USF Admissions
University of Tampa	Contact the school for information	U Tampa Admissions
University of Tennessee	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	U Tennessee Admissions
University of Vermont	Contact the school for information	U Vermont Admissions
University of Virginia	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	UVA Admissions
University of Washington	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	UW Admissions
Vanderbilt University	Vanderbilt will superscore both the SAT and the ACT.	Vanderbilt Admissions
Valparaiso University	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	Valparaiso Admissions
Vassar College	In assessing ACT scores, Vassar uses the highest subscores taken from multiple test dates and recalculates a new composite score.	Vassar Admissions
Villanova University	The Admission Committee will superscore the highest subscores from the SAT and/or ACT from multiple test dates.	Villanova Admissions
Virginia Commonwealth University	Contact the school for information	VCU Admissions
Virginia Tech	Contact the school for information	Virginia Tech Admissions
Wake Forest University	Test optional. Contact the school for information.	Wake Forest Admissions
Washington and Lee University	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	W & L Admissions
Washington University in St. Louis	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	WUSTL Admissions
Wesleyan University	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams. The test is optional.	Wesleyan Admissions
Western Michigan University:	Under the test-optional policy, applicants who choose to include test scores in the admission process at WMU are encouraged to report/submit scores from all test dates. This enables WMU to utilize your highest subscores from any test date to superscore your total (SAT) or composite (ACT) score.	WMU Admissions
West Point (US Military Academy)	Contact the school for information	West Point Admissions
West Virginia University	WVU combines the highest sub-scores from different test dates to create a 'super score' total or composite for admissions and scholarship consideration eligibility.	WVU Admissions
Wheaton College	Test optional. Contact the school for information.	Wheaton Admissions
Williams College	Superscoring is considered for both the SAT and ACT Exams.	Williams Admissions
Xavier University	Contact the school for information	Xavier Admissions

Why Do Colleges Superscore the ACT?

A Holistic View: Superscoring allows colleges to take a more holistic approach to admissions. By considering the students' best scores from different sittings, they get a more comprehensive picture of the students' abilities.
Recognizing Growth: Colleges understand that not everyone is a morning person or performs their best under pressure. Superscoring lets the students acknowledge their growth and improvement over multiple attempts.
Fair Assessment: Superscoring levels the playing field. It recognizes that a person's potential might not be accurately reflected in a single test sitting.

Tips for Navigating Superscoring Colleges

Now, let's equip the students with some tips for navigating the superscoring landscape.
1. Strategic Test-Taking: Knowing that colleges might cherry-pick the student's best scores, strategically plan the test dates. Give yourself ample time to prepare and consider retaking the test if needed.

2. Highlight Improvement: If the students have shown improvement in specific sections over different test dates, that's gold! Make sure to emphasize this in your application.

3. Check College Policies: Not all colleges superscore, and some may only superscore specific sections. Students must check the policies of the colleges that they are interested in to tailor their test-taking strategy accordingly.

4. Embrace the Optional Essay: Some colleges may consider the ACT Writing section in their superscoring.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it, intrepid scholars! The ACT and superscoring might seem like complex mazes, but armed with knowledge, you're well on your way to navigating them with confidence. Remember, your scores are just one part of a larger story you're telling to colleges. So, go forth, conquer those standardized tests, and may the superscore odds ever be in your favor!

We hope this article helps you. Reach out to us by filling out our assistance form if you need any help with the preparations.

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