ACT Superscore—What's that?

Hi, folks. I came across the term 'ACT Superscore' while researching for ACT prep. Can someone help me understand what it is and how it benefits me when I'm applying to colleges?

Sure, I'd be happy to explain. ACT Superscore is a method used by some colleges where they consider the highest scores a student has achieved on each individual section of the ACT (which consists of English, Math, Reading, and Science), regardless of the test date on which those scores were earned. These highest section scores are then averaged to form the 'superscore'.

Say you took the ACT three times and got these scores:

Test 1: English - 30, Math - 28, Reading - 32, Science - 29 (Composite score: 29.75 or 30)

Test 2: English - 32, Math - 30, Reading - 33, Science - 30 (Composite score: 31.25 or 31)

Test 3: English - 31, Math - 32, Reading - 34, Science - 31 (Composite score: 32)

If a college superscores the ACT, they'll take the highest score from each section, regardless of which test date it was from:

English - 32 (from Test 2)

Math - 32 (from Test 3)

Reading - 34 (from Test 3)

Science - 31 (from Test 3)

The average of these scores would give you a superscore of 32.25 or 32.

This approach benefits you because it essentially gives you multiple opportunities to perform your best on individual sections without the pressure of having to ace every single one during the same test administration. It's a great way to highlight your maximum potential to colleges. However, keep in mind not all schools superscore the ACT, so you'll want to confirm each college's policy before applying.