How Superscoring Works

What superscoring means

Superscoring is a practice where a college takes the highest score from each section across all your test sittings and combines them into a single "super" composite score. For the SAT, this means the college would take your highest Reading and Writing score from one test date and your highest Math score from another (or the same) date, and add them together to form your composite superscore.

For the ACT, superscoring works similarly: the college takes the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science scores from any combination of your ACT sittings and calculates an averaged composite from those.

The result is typically higher than any single sitting's composite, which can strengthen your application — but only when the college actually applies this policy.

Superscoring policies vary by college

Superscoring is not a universal standard — every college decides its own policy. Some colleges superscore the SAT but not the ACT. Some superscore both. Some superscore neither and consider only your highest single sitting. Some are test-optional and the question may not apply to your application at all.

Because policies differ and change over time, you must verify the specific superscoring policy for every college on your list by reading its official admissions website. Do not assume a college superscores based on what you have heard from friends or read on non-official sources.

• SAT superscore only: some colleges apply superscore only to SAT sittings
• ACT superscore only: some apply it only to ACT sittings
• Both: some superscore both tests independently
• Neither: some consider only the highest single-sitting composite
• Test-optional: some colleges may not require any standardised score

How to find out if a college superscores

The most reliable way to confirm a college's superscore policy is to read the standardised testing policy on that college's official admissions page. Many colleges clearly state their policy — look for language like "we will consider your highest section scores across all test dates" or "we consider your highest total score from a single sitting."

If the policy is not clearly stated, contact the admissions office directly. Policies are updated periodically, so check the current-year page rather than relying on information from prior years.

Planning retakes with superscoring in mind

If a college you are targeting superscores, taking the test multiple times can work in your favour, because a higher score on any individual section — even if your overall composite from that sitting is lower — contributes to a stronger superscore.

For example, if you scored 700 Math / 650 Reading and Writing on your first SAT sitting, and then 680 Math / 720 Reading and Writing on your second sitting, a superscoring college would combine 700 Math + 720 Reading and Writing = 1420 superscore, even though neither sitting alone produced that composite.

However, whether to retake and how many times to sit depends on many factors — your current score, your target schools' policies, how much preparation time you have, and the cost of additional sittings. There is no universally correct number of retakes.

Score reporting and your choice

Both College Board (for the SAT) and ACT, Inc. offer score-send policies that allow you to choose which scores to send to colleges. The SAT's Score Choice option lets you send only specific sittings; ACT's policy also allows selective score sending. However, some colleges require you to send all scores from every sitting — again, check each college's score-reporting requirement on its official page.

For international students applying to US colleges: the same superscore policies that apply to US students apply to you. Fee structures and available test dates for your country's test centres are listed on the College Board and ACT official international sites.