FAQs - ACT Options September 2020 - ACT Solutions (2023)

Superscoring a way for students to put their best test results forward, as they apply for admissions and scholarships. The ACT test provides students with four subject test scores and a composite score. Superscoring is the process by which colleges consider the highest subject scores across all the dates the student took the ACT. Rather than confining scores to oneparticular testdate, superscoring allows the student to select their highest individual test subject scores across all of their testing/retesting to calculate the highest possible composite score.

...now it’s an advocate. Why have you changed your stance on this process? Is superscoring fair?

As an organization grounded in research, we listen and respond appropriately when new information comes to light. ACT now endorses superscoring because of the results from a recent study that we conducted. Over the last two years, we have been investigating whether superscoring is a fair and valid practice.

Our research findings surprised us: they revealed that superscores were more predictive of how students would perform in their college courses than other scoring methods. Our concernthat superscoreswould overestimate students’ academic preparation levels were unfounded based on the data. Inaddition to being supported by research, a great benefit of superscoring is that it allows students to put their best foot forward for college applications and scholarship eligibility.LearnACT’s Position on Superscoring 

...and, thus, increase ACT’s revenue?

Since it was founded in 1959, ACT has been a nonprofit organization, which has allowed it to put the priorities of students and schools first. These new enhancements, including superscoring, are based on the needs of students and schools in order to maximize student success.

...scores and not a superscore?

Collegesestablishtheir own policiesfor admissions and scholarship decisions. ACT will supply them at least one full composite score with each superscore, plusall ofthe scores from the test events that are part of the superscore composite.

We encourage colleges and university to consider adding superscoring to their score-use policy because, as our research shows, superscores were just as predictive – if notmorepredictive – of first-year grades as other scoring methods. SeePerspectives on using multiple score reports. 

...the advent of subject retesting?

Superscores will only increase when students improve their scores onsectionretests. Therefore, we cannot say whether in the aggregate superscores will improve.

Superscoring is the process by which colleges consider the highest subject scores across all the dates the student took the ACT(and, next year, including the ACT Section Retest).Rather than confining scores to oneparticular testdate, superscoring allows the student to select their highest individual testsectionscoresfromall of their tests to calculate the highest possible composite score.

The composite score is the average of a student’s four test scores – English, mathematics, reading, science – rounded to the nearest whole number. Fractions one-half or more are rounded up; fractions less than one-half are rounded down.

The composite score is the average of students’ foursectiontest scores. The superscoreis the average ofthe fourbestscoresa student attained in eachsection over two or more test administrations.

Superscoring benefits studentsby allowingthem to submit their highest scores for college admission and scholarship purposes. Students’superscores will increase if they do better on asectionretest than they did on previous times they took it, or if they take the entire test again. Superscoring andsectionretests showcase students’ skills and accomplishments gained over a lifetime and not only their test-taking abilities on oneparticular day.SeeHow to calculate your superscore? 

Colleges may want to consider superscoring given theresults of a recentstudyconducted by ACT. The findings indicate that superscores were more predictive of how students would perform in their college courses than other scoring methods.

In addition to being supported by research, a great benefit of superscoring is that it allows students to put their best foot forward for college applications and scholarship eligibility.

Another reason a college should consider superscoring the ACTisif they are already superscoring the SAT. Whatever score-use policy an institution chooses, that policy should be applied consistently to all applicants. Concerns of fairness arise if one score-use policy (most recent score) is applied to some groups of applicants (e.g., females, ACT test takers) and a different score use policy (superscore) is applied to other groups of applicants (e.g., males, SAT test takers).

...but not the ACT? 

If colleges superscore the SAT but not the ACT, ACT test takers can be negatively impacted because they do not benefit from the typical score gains associated with superscoring.

Whatever score-use policy an institution chooses, that policy should be applied consistently to all applicants. If a college is superscoring the SAT and wishes to continue to superscore the SAT, ACT recommends that they also superscore the ACT to be fair to all applicants.

In addition to considering the results of national validity studies, many colleges conduct local validity studies to inform their college admissions criteria and score-use policies. Based on results from their own research, many colleges and universities have identified superscoring as the most appropriate score-use policy in terms of predicting how applicants will perform on their campus.

No, not all colleges acceptsuperscoresbut many do. Collegesand universities typically provide information about their score-use policy on their website. Students interested in applying to aparticular collegeshould consult its website to determine their score-use policy as this information can help inform whether a student should retest.

We encourage colleges and universities to consider superscoring as their score-use policy because, as our research shows, superscores are just as predictive – if notmorepredictive – of first-year grades as other scoring methods.

Superscoring benefits collegesby providinga more accurate indicator of how students are going to perform once in college. This is useful information from an admissions perspective as well as from a student success perspectivebecause itmore accurately identifiesandprovidesappropriate resources to students who may be at-risk academically.

...to superscores and another school does not?

No, if a college and universityappliesthe same score-use policy for all applicants, no applicants are at an unfair disadvantage. Students are only at an unfair disadvantage if different scorepolicies are used for different groups of students (e.g., ACT test-takers vs. SAT test-takers) within the same institution.

That said, when considering institutions of comparable selectivity, a student may have a higher probability of being accepted at institutions that superscore as compared to institutions that do not, particularly if his/her superscore is relatively higher than an ACT Composite score based on other scoring methods.

Yes, we drafted this for you to use as a starting point.

University of ____ superscores the ACT.Superscoring at University of ____ means that we consider student’s highest ACT section (or subtest) scores regardless of test date. The super composite ACT score is calculated as the average of the best ACT English, Reading, Math and Science subject scores and is used as one of multiple factors in admission and financial aid.Beginning in September 2020, students are encouraged to send University of ____ their ACT test scores utilizing the Superscore reporting option.​ See example from Vanderbilt University.

...and sent to colleges which the student chooses to send their scores?

No. The student will have the option to send either a full ACT test score to a college or to send their superscore to a college.