Understanding ACT Superscoring

Hey folks, can someone explain what ACT superscoring is and how it works? Also, what would you consider a 'good' superscore? Thanks so much in advance!

Hi! I'd be happy to explain ACT superscoring and what is considered a 'good' superscore.

ACT superscoring is the process where colleges consider your highest section scores across all the ACT test instances you've taken, and then calculate a new composite score. To do this, they take the highest subscores (English, Reading, Math, and Science) from different test dates, and then average those scores (rounded to the nearest whole number) to create a new composite score. This often results in a higher composite score, which can benefit you during the admissions process.

For example, suppose a student took the ACT twice with the following results:

Test 1:

English - 30

Math - 28

Reading - 31

Science - 27

Composite - 29

Test 2:

English - 29

Math - 32

Reading - 29

Science - 30

Composite - 30

The superscore would be:

English - 30 (from Test 1)

Math - 32 (from Test 2)

Reading - 31 (from Test 1)

Science - 30 (from Test 2)

The superscore composite: (30 + 32 + 31 + 30) / 4 = 30.75, rounded to the nearest whole number = 31.

As for what's considered a 'good' superscore, it primarily depends on the colleges you are targeting. A competitive superscore for top-tier universities is usually in the range of 33-36. For many other great colleges, a superscore in the upper 20s or lower 30s could be strong. It's advisable to review the middle 50% ACT scores for the colleges you're interested in and aim for a superscore that falls within or above that range.

Keep in mind that the ACT score is just one part of your application, and colleges will also review your academics, extracurriculars, and essays as part of their holistic admissions process. Good luck!