Is an ACT Superscore less impactful than a single test composite score?

[Anonymous]

DD got a 34 composite score on her first ACT test this Sept. as a junior. She wants to get at least a 35 composite to be competitive for her top choice school, which has a 25th-75th percentile of 33-35.

For the section scores she got Math 35, Reading 35, Science 32, English 32.

Going forward to prep for the next test, my gut tells me she should focus on Science. I think the English score was a weird fluke considering she took 6 practice tests and scored 34 or 35 on all of them. However on Math, the highest practice test score she got was a 33.

My fear is that on the next test she might not do as well on Math, and that would be a bad look. Do the schools care weather the score they record is a superscore or a single test composite score? If it doesn't matter, then I won't have her stress about trying to keep/improve the math score and just hone on improving the Science score.

Thanks for any insights.

[Anonymous]

There is a slight advantage to single sitting score, but only slight. I'd say she should go ahead and retake. Only Georgetown asks to see all the scores anyway.

[Anonymous]

Same impact. It's all computerized.

[Anonymous]

I think that she can weather a 34.

[Anonymous]

Only a school like Georgetown would even know. When she applies she puts her highest scores only. Only time it would be known is after being accepted and committed you send a score report in. It won’t matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a slight advantage to single sitting score, but only slight. I'd say she should go ahead and retake. Only Georgetown asks to see all the scores anyway.

You're making this up. Schools don't care---they all say this on tours. Over and over again.

Stop trying to make s$%T up just to cause anxiety in other parents.

[Anonymous]

Just helped DD fill out parts of the Common App this weekend. Most schools want you to report your scores exactly as they appear on the score report. The applicant does not super score, the school does the super score.

So, if we are splitting hairs, yes, the applicant that got a 35 in one sitting could possibly be seen as stronger as an applicant that got a 35 across multiple sittings.

Below from UVA:

Reporting Scores
Applicants who wish to have SAT, ACT, AP, or IB testing considered during the application process should opt to submit scores and self-report them on the application. After the deadline, applicants may submit updated scores through their portal. Admitted students who applied with testing and decide to enroll at UVA must request official score reports for verification. Our ETS code is 5820. Our ACT code is 4412.

Super-scoring
For applicants submitting test scores, we consider the best combination of section scores without recalculation. Report your scores (section scores for the SAT or composite and sub-scores for the ACT) as they appear on your official score report. Our system will do the rest for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a slight advantage to single sitting score, but only slight. I'd say she should go ahead and retake. Only Georgetown asks to see all the scores anyway.

You're making this up. Schools don't care---they all say this on tours. Over and over again.

Stop trying to make s$%T up just to cause anxiety in other parents.

Wow. Chill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a slight advantage to single sitting score, but only slight. I'd say she should go ahead and retake. Only Georgetown asks to see all the scores anyway.

You're making this up. Schools don't care---they all say this on tours. Over and over again.

Stop trying to make s$%T up just to cause anxiety in other parents.

Wow. Chill.

no, I hate when people come on here pretending to have definitive news on something when they are in fact just making it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just helped DD fill out parts of the Common App this weekend. Most schools want you to report your scores exactly as they appear on the score report. The applicant does not super score, the school does the super score.

So, if we are splitting hairs, yes, the applicant that got a 35 in one sitting could possibly be seen as stronger as an applicant that got a 35 across multiple sittings.

Below from UVA:

Reporting Scores
Applicants who wish to have SAT, ACT, AP, or IB testing considered during the application process should opt to submit scores and self-report them on the application. After the deadline, applicants may submit updated scores through their portal. Admitted students who applied with testing and decide to enroll at UVA must request official score reports for verification. Our ETS code is 5820. Our ACT code is 4412.

Super-scoring
For applicants submitting test scores, we consider the best combination of section scores without recalculation. Report your scores (section scores for the SAT or composite and sub-scores for the ACT) as they appear on your official score report. Our system will do the rest for you.

I agree. If a school is asking you to report the entire score report, there is a REASON why they want to be able to see the individual scores prior to being superscored.

Superscoring helps the schools for the rankings. I don’t think it helps applicants as much as we think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just helped DD fill out parts of the Common App this weekend. Most schools want you to report your scores exactly as they appear on the score report. The applicant does not super score, the school does the super score.

So, if we are splitting hairs, yes, the applicant that got a 35 in one sitting could possibly be seen as stronger as an applicant that got a 35 across multiple sittings.

Below from UVA:

Reporting Scores
Applicants who wish to have SAT, ACT, AP, or IB testing considered during the application process should opt to submit scores and self-report them on the application. After the deadline, applicants may submit updated scores through their portal. Admitted students who applied with testing and decide to enroll at UVA must request official score reports for verification. Our ETS code is 5820. Our ACT code is 4412.

Super-scoring
For applicants submitting test scores, we consider the best combination of section scores without recalculation. Report your scores (section scores for the SAT or composite and sub-scores for the ACT) as they appear on your official score report. Our system will do the rest for you.

I agree. If a school is asking you to report the entire score report, there is a REASON why they want to be able to see the individual scores prior to being superscored.

Superscoring helps the schools for the rankings. I don’t think it helps applicants as much as we think.

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. But a single test composite score does stand out regardless.

[Anonymous]

This is similar why NMSF is a solid award. It’s one sitting.

[Anonymous]

What if the applicant has taken the ACT twice, but the second time went up in every category. So their highest scores are from one sitting, but it's not their only sitting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the applicant has taken the ACT twice, but the second time went up in every category. So their highest scores are from one sitting, but it's not their only sitting?

The schools will not know it was more than one sitting unless you send them both reports. Just send the highest report and that will be "one sitting."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if the applicant has taken the ACT twice, but the second time went up in every category. So their highest scores are from one sitting, but it's not their only sitting?

To echo the PP, you don't report the lower scores.

First, understand that many colleges will just ask you to report the scores in the Common App, which asks for your highest scores in each section and highest composite. Colleges that take scores this way do not see the lower scores. Second, the schools that ask for an official report at the time of application will only see the test dates you choose to send them.

The only school that requires applicants to report all their scores, including the lower ones, is Georgetown.