One of the most common questions I am asked is which colleges superscore the ACT. For those of you not familiar with superscoring, it is when a college takes the highest subscores from various test dates to get a new higher superscore. For example, assume that a student takes the April ACT and gets a 29 reading, 27 math, 28 English and 31 science subscores. This give a composite score of 29. That same student then takes the June ACT and gets a 32 reading, 25 math, 29 English and 29 science. Again, the student has a composite score of 29. However, if a college superscores the tests they combine the best scores from each test giving a 32 reading, 27 math, 29 English and a 31 science. This combined superscore gives a new composite of 30.
Most colleges in the past have superscored the SAT but not the ACT. Recently, however, some colleges are starting to superscore the ACT. I first reported on superscoring the ACT in December, 2007. Here is a list of the colleges that I am aware of that currently do superscore the ACT. As I become aware of additional colleges I will add them to the list.
University of Arkansas – Fayetteville
California State University System
University of Colorado – Boulder
University of Louisiana – Lafayette
MIT *
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Washington University – St. Louis
*MIT uses the best subscores from each section of the ACT but does not use a composite score. So effect is same benefit as superscoring.
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I was under the impression most colleges superscore, but don’t make it an official policy. Do you find this to be true?
Comment by Mark Truman — October 7, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
Mark,
Most colleges do superscore the SAT but until recently almost none superscored the ACT. Since the ACT is becoming more popular around the country, more people have been questioning if the ACT is being superscored. That is why I posted this entry.
Comment by Todd Johnson — October 7, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
What is that conclusion based on? Most colleges aren’t officially publishing anything in regards to this issue…
Comment by Mark Truman — October 7, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
Most colleges have been open about their refusal to superscore the ACT in the past. I have contacted a number of colleges in the last month or so asking about whether they have had a change in policy. Amherst and Washington University made news last December when they both announced that they were going to superscore the ACT. Because of the announcement of those two well known colleges, there has been some movement toward ACT superscoring. The colleges listed are by no means the only colleges I have discussed this issue with. They are merely those that said that they are superscoring the ACT.
Comment by Todd Johnson — October 7, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
So some of these schools have publicly announced and some have privately confirmed with you?
Comment by Mark Truman — October 7, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
Correct.
Comment by Todd Johnson — October 7, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
We visited Duke this summer. They said to send both ACTs for superscore purposes. Have you had an official or unofficial word from Duke?
Comment by Catherine — November 16, 2008 @ 3:35 pm
Catherine,
There have been suggestions about Duke for about a year but nothing I have been able to confirm. I will check with them again to see if they are superscoring the ACT. Thanks for the note.
Comment by Todd Johnson — November 16, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
How does the NCAA Clearing House work with the ACT superscore? Does the Clearing House send out a superscore to the colleges?
Comment by KillaTrey — November 19, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
Killa,
The student sends the scores to the NCAA Clearing House directly from the ACT. The NCAA would then determine a super score to see if you qualify for Division I or II. The only concern of the Clearing House is to make sure the student athlete is academically qualified. It is my understanding that the Clearing House does not send any test scores to the colleges.
Comment by Todd Johnson — November 19, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Does ohio university superscore?
Comment by Jessica — November 29, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
Jessica,
According to their website it appears that Ohio University does not superscore the ACT but will superscore the SAT.
Todd
Comment by Todd Johnson — November 29, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
[...] Colleges that super score ACT : College Admissions Counseling This says 2007. Apparently a lot of colleges don’t take it htough. [...]
Pingback by ACT or SAT?? - VolNation — December 16, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
hendrix college in arkansas superscores
Comment by paul — January 27, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Paul,
Thanks for the note regarding Hendrix. I have a policy of trying to confirm with the colleges before listing them. I have contacted Hendrix and as soon as they confirm I will add them to the list.
Todd
Comment by Todd Johnson — January 28, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
I emailed illinois and they say they don’t superscore the ACT. They said that they do however consider the best subscores from multiple tests. This seems like a contridiction and i had trouble getting a straight answer from the people answering the admissions e-mails.
Comment by Mike — June 24, 2009 @ 1:15 am
Mike,
I will try to clarify with Illinois but you are right, their description of what they do is superscoring. It may be that there is a misunderstanding of the definition by the people you were talking to.
Comment by Todd Johnson — June 24, 2009 @ 8:33 am
This is extremely helpful. Thank you for doing this!
Comment by Terry Wright — June 24, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Daughter took both SAT and ACT test in past few months.
ACT was higher than SAT scores. She was quite surprised. We sent all scores to four colleges.
Will they then take the best,in this case her ACT score for admission purposes?
This is our first time around with all of this.
Thanks!
Comment by Cindy — June 25, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Cindy,
Virtually all colleges will take the highest score regardless of whether it is the ACT or SAT. So in your daughters case they will use the higher ACT score for admissions decisions.
If you have more questions feel free to give me a call or send me an email. My contact information can be found at the Free Consultation page.
Comment by Todd Johnson — June 25, 2009 @ 9:03 am