Chariot Learning
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Curriculum
    • Areas Chariot Learning Serves
  • Services
    • SAT & ACT Prep
    • SAT/ACT TestFlip
    • Academic Coaching
    • Subject Tutoring
    • Strategic Reading Club
    • Proctored Practice Tests
    • GRE Prep
    • College Essay Coaching
    • Roots2Words
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
July 26, 2019 by Mike Bergin

Should Colleges Superscore?

A test score is a score is a score, unless the score is being evaluated for college admissions purposes. We’ve never seen as much uncertainty around how SAT and ACT scores are used by colleges as we do today. Not only do many schools allow students to choose whether to send test scores at all, but the ones that do require or recommend scores have a surprising diversity of ways to evaluate those scores: highest single test, most recent test, average of all tests, superscore of just SAT or ACT, or superscore of both.

Superscoring, if you haven’t yet heard of this marvelous policy, occurs when applicants are permitted to send scores from multiple test administrations to colleges, after which admissions staff will construct a new composite score derived from the best scores from each section across multiple tests.

SAT Superscore = best Evidence-based Reading & Writing + best Math

ACT Superscore = best English + best Math + best Reading + best Science

Current estimates indicate that roughly 50% of colleges superscore either or both of the tests. Some do so for admissions purposes only, some for scholarship only, and others for all purposes. Generally, schools that only superscore one of the two tests will superscore the SAT for a couple of reasons. First, many schools reputedly find superscoring the SAT easier, since simple addition is all that is required. However, the more likely reason is that College Board was open to superscoring earlier than ACT.

While ACT’s earliest stance opposed superscoring, the organization recently conducted several studies to test the validity and fairness of superscoring for predicting college success. To allay concerns that superscoring may overstate some students’ abilities (in testing terminology, ACT conducted a study on the validity and fairness of different scoring methods entitled How Should Colleges Treat Multiple Admissions Test Scores? For good measure, ACT researchers also looked at the Impact of Superscoring on Subgroup Differences. What did the organization uncover?

Basically, the studies suggest that, of the four options of evaluating test scores, superscoring is most predictive of college success. Even better, combining an SAT and/or ACT superscore with high school GPA is even more accurate in predicting FYGPA, how a student performs in the first year of college.

ACT deserves credit for exploring issues such as inconsistent treatment, fairness, and equitability. In the cohort of 2018 high school graduates who took the ACT, 44% retested, and most of them tended to have higher ACT scores. Underserved students are less likely to retest compared to more affluent peers, but even these groups benefit from a comprehensive superscoring policy (and expanded access to testing!) In essence, as far as the most recent studies conclude, not only is superscoring fair, but it is the most fair of all the score evaluation policies. ACT now officially recommends superscoring. While every college bases admissions policies on a plethora of internal and external data, these most recent analyses of the benefits of superscoring may prove persuasive sooner rather than later.

admissions test scores

Previous articleRoutine and Predictable InstructionNext article Why Coaching Matters
Mike Bergin
Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

Latest Posts

  • Self-Control and Score Outcomes
  • Tests as Equalizers and Predictors of Success
  • Beginner’s Mindset for Advanced Results
  • Make This Your Year of Preparation
  • Who Benefits from Admissions Tests?

What is TestFlip?

Learn about the ultimate in self-directed supplemental SAT/ACT prep, powered by Chariot Learning:

  • Knowledge isn
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    Knowledge isn't free. You have to pay attention.
  • Bring a little extra to your day ;)
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    Bring a little extra to your day ;)
  • Consistency for the work week. Intensity for the weekend!
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    Consistency for the work week. Intensity for the weekend!
  • Believe in yourself, champ.
    by chariotlearning 5 months ago
    Believe in yourself, champ.
  • The depth of your struggle determines the height of your success.
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    The depth of your struggle determines the height of your success.
  • Decide your habits well. Your habits decide your future.
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    Decide your habits well. Your habits decide your future.
  • Be stronger than your excuses!
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    Be stronger than your excuses!
  • The one thing you can control is your effort.
    by chariotlearning 6 months ago
    The one thing you can control is your effort.

Subscribe to Mike’s Podcast

Subscribe to Tests and the Rest

PARENT GROUP AND NEWSLETTER

Are you an Upstate New York parent with questions about college admissions, testing, and scholarships? The Upstate NY College Conversations Facebook group is for you. Join today!

And also sign up for College Road, our free email newsletter delivering expert educational advice, test news, admissions action steps, special offers, and more.

Testimonials

We really appreciated your help and knowledge of the test- as well as all the helpful hints and things to look out for-I just wish we had found you earlier! We will keep you in mind for our next son...

Beth & Keith, Webster parents

Read more testimonials...

PODCAST

Tests and the Rest is the ultimate college admissions industry podcast. Join Mike Bergin and Amy Seeley every Tuesday and Friday as they discuss the latest issues in testing, admissions, learning, and education with leading experts.
© 2023 Chariot Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.