Aside from adding jargon to the college admissions process that sounds like comic book dialogue, superscoring lets applicants put their best face out there with the SAT and, in fewer cases, the ACT. But what superscoring means in college admissions is a mystery to many people who could benefit from using it smartly.
Most college-bound high school students take more than one whack at the SAT and ACT. Superscoring lets you select your best scores by section and bundle them, or, in some cases, lets your target school select. Either way, your best scores rise to the top.
Not all schools superscore, and not all do it the same way. Superscoring also depends on the test you took.
ACT tests are divided into four sections: science, reading, math, and English. Your ACT score is the average of the four scores from these sections. Usually, your ACT superscore is the average of your best section scores from all the ACT tests you took. You typically pick the scores you want forwarded to the schools you are courting.
SAT tests in two sections: evidence-based reading and writing, and math. The sum of these two scores is your SAT score. Usually, your SAT superscore is the sum of your best section scores from all the SAT tests you took. You typically have the option of eliminating the lowest scores by having the schools you are courting weigh results/scores only from testing dates of your choice.
Google the question, “What colleges use superscoring?” and you’ll get over 50,000 results. Because we’re focusing on the SAT and ACT, you really need to again narrow your question down by test type.
College Board is one good option for finding out which schools superscore the ACT. This resource keeps tabs of schools’ superscoring policies on the ACT, so you can see which do and which don’t.
PrepScholar is one resource with a long list of schools that superscore the SAT. That list includes a section with statements from some schools on superscoring policies. The statements show, among other things, that:
The takeaway here is that checking the superscore policies of your colleges of choice is a must before making your picks on test results.
The benchmark of standardized testing, the SAT, has been around since the 1920s. However, the testing methods and focus have evolved since the Roaring ’20s, with superscoring among the latest tweaks.
Once again, when addressing what superscoring means in college admissions, the answer is a two-parter:
USF does superscore, and the university clearly states its policy under the GPA & Test Requirements section of the admissions page:
USF considers your highest submitted section scores across all SAT and ACT test dates. Final admission decisions will be made using only your highest cumulative scores. Each time you submit test scores to USF, we will update your record with any new high scores. We strongly encourage you to submit your scores each time you take the SAT or ACT. Sending your scores each time you take the SAT or ACT can benefit you by allowing us to consider you for all available enrollment-related opportunities.
If you have questions about USF, including its superscoring policy, contact the Office of Admissions online or call us at 813-974-3350.