Hey, guys! I've been seeing the term 'super score' used a lot regarding college admissions. Can somebody help me understand its meaning, and how colleges use it during the admissions process?
Hi there! "Super scoring" is a term commonly used in college admissions, referring to a policy some colleges have when evaluating applicants' standardized test scores. In the context of the SAT or ACT, super scoring means that colleges will consider the highest section scores from multiple test dates, rather than using the total score from a single test date.
For example, let's say you took the SAT twice. On the first attempt, you scored 650 on the Reading and Writing section and 700 on the Math section. On the second attempt, you scored 700 on the Reading and Writing section and 650 on the Math section. If a college uses super scoring, they will combine your highest section scores across the two tests to create a new, higher total score: 700 in Reading and Writing and 700 in Math, totaling 1400.
Each college has its own policy on super scoring, with some accepting super scored SAT or ACT scores, while others consider only single test date scores. It's important to research the specific policies at the colleges you're interested in applying to. If super scoring is allowed, students might benefit from taking the SAT or ACT multiple times, as it can increase their chances of achieving higher section scores across different test dates, ultimately leading to a stronger overall super score for their college applications.
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