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Articles / Preparing for College / Superscore FAQs

Superscore FAQs

ACT
Written by ACT | April 22, 2021
Superscore FAQs

Superscoring is the process of averaging your four best subject scores from all of your ACT® test attempts.

Have you taken the ACT more than once? To find your superscore, gather all of your ACT score reports, identify your highest score from each test section/subject, then add those four scores together, divide by four, and round to the nearest whole number or use our free tool to calculate your superscore.

Who is eligible for a superscore?

All students who have taken the ACT more than once from September 2015 to current day.

What is a superscore?

ACT will calculate and report a superscore for students who have taken the ACT test more than once. Scores from State & District testing and International testing will also be used in this calculation.

Where can students find their superscore?

Log into your MyACT account or create a MyACT account at MyACT.org. Superscores will be visible in your account.

When will a student's superscore be available?

Superscores are available as soon as scoring is completed on the second ACT test.

How do students send their superscore to colleges?

Create or sign in to your MyACT account and request to send reports from your scores dashboard, and pay by credit card.

How is the ACT Composite score different from an ACT Superscore?

Your Composite score is the average of the four subject scores from one ACT test attempt. Your superscore is the average of your best scores from each subject from multiple test attempts. Your superscore is never lower than a single Composite score.

Does the writing score count toward a superscore?

No, the writing section score is not figured into a Composite score; therefore, it's not a component of a superscore. Just remember that some colleges require applicants to take the writing section.

What are the benefits of superscoring?

Your superscore combines your best performances into one score that best reflects your abilities and, ultimately, allows you to put your best foot forward. The higher your ACT score, the more competitive you are when it comes to getting admitted into college and securing merit-based scholarships.

Can superscores be trusted?

There has been some concern that using only the best subject-test scores could overstate students' capabilities. However, research shows ACT Superscores are better at predicting success in college than other scoring methods (including recent ACT score, average ACT Composite score, and highest ACT Composite score).

Is superscoring fair to all student populations?

Yes, superscoring is fair to all students, regardless of their gender, race/ethnicity, family income level, or parental education level. Research found that the differences in test performance between student groups did not change with superscoring, which shows superscoring does not disadvantage one group over another.

It is important to point out that students who are eligible for the fee waiver program get registration fees covered for four ACT tests, which means they can also get a free superscore!

Do all colleges superscore?

No, not all colleges superscore, but many do and the number is increasing. To find out if the college of your choice superscores the ACT, we recommend that you check out their test score use policy under admissions requirements on their website.

Why do colleges use a superscore?

Colleges who superscore the ACT see it as a student-friendly method of testing that best aligns with their holistic approach to admitting students to their school.

Looking for more useful tips and information? Explore College & Career Planning Resources from ACT!

A version of this article originally appeared on the ACT blog.

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ACT

ACT

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