Do colleges care at all if a ACT/SAT is one sitting or superscored?

[Anonymous]

Specifically interested in ACT reporting and sending official reports. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

DCs only planned to take SAT, should I ask them to take both (SAT and ACT)? TY

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify- ACT Composite from one single sitting on one single date is what is self reported on Common App. You can then send ONLY this singular test if this each sub section on this test is your highest? If you bombed every section on your first attempt, you will never have to send this test to colleges since you are self reporting data only from the single test? Alternatively, if you do have higher sub sections you choose to list below the compooist from subsequent attempts, you could still never have to send the original test you bombed ever? Thank you.

Yes. You report a composite from one single test date- with date achieved- not your composite score.

Underneath that you enter highest score for subsections and date achieved. They can be from different test dates. But the composite on common app is from a single test date.

Then- when superscore report is officially sent it will provide scores from each test date used to get the highest composite. They will see all score from that single date.

I have a Senior and just went through this.

[Anonymous]

So they won’t see scores on tests
Not used for superstore? ALL tests aren’t automatically sent? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Only Georgetown cares. They still require all scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCs only planned to take SAT, should I ask them to take both (SAT and ACT)? TY

The formats are different enough that some kids do noticeably better on one or the other, or are just more comfortable with one or the other. You could have your kids do a practice test or two for each and see if it makes a difference. But there’s no reason to take both just to take both. Colleges do not care at all which test you submit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like most things I doubt it's a black/white answer. Some schools don't accept superscores, some only want best and highest, some want to see the scores of all tests, some are test blind, etc. I suspect it's best to assume their priority lies in what they ask for.

For DCUM parents on the other hand "one sitting" seems to be an important data point.

Because we paid so much $$$$ for those private tutoring sessions that we expect results — at one sitting!

^^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were at a Georgetown information session not too long ago. Georgetown requires all scores be submitted. The admissions rep running the session said that while they expect to see more than one, "a whole page of scores" is not what they expect to see.

I interpreted that to mean that for Georgetown, diminishing returns is real

At out Gtown session, the speaker said he gives it a second to look it over and just notes the score and essentially moves on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify- ACT Composite from one single sitting on one single date is what is self reported on Common App. You can then send ONLY this singular test if this each sub section on this test is your highest? If you bombed every section on your first attempt, you will never have to send this test to colleges since you are self reporting data only from the single test? Alternatively, if you do have higher sub sections you choose to list below the compooist from subsequent attempts, you could still never have to send the original test you bombed ever? Thank you.

Yes. You report a composite from one single test date- with date achieved- not your composite score.

Underneath that you enter highest score for subsections and date achieved. They can be from different test dates. But the composite on common app is from a single test date.

Then- when superscore report is officially sent it will provide scores from each test date used to get the highest composite. They will see all score from that single date.

I have a Senior and just went through this.

Sorry to be asking but I am confused. My son got a 33 in Feb and a 33 in April but did better and worse in sections so the super score is a 34. Are you saying he would put the 33 as his highest composite score on the common app but then list down the sub scores so colleges will see the super score is a 34? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure on a tiny level, it is noted those who do it in one setting.

Is it? I hope so. Superscoring is just more evidence of the dumbing down of expectations.

Superscoring has been around for decades. I graduated high school in 1993 and there was superscoring.

Interesting. I graduated in 1989 and never heard of it until recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like most things I doubt it's a black/white answer. Some schools don't accept superscores, some only want best and highest, some want to see the scores of all tests, some are test blind, etc. I suspect it's best to assume their priority lies in what they ask for.

For DCUM parents on the other hand "one sitting" seems to be an important data point.

Because we paid so much $$$$ for those private tutoring sessions that we expect results — at one sitting!

^^^

One and done are usually the people who didn’t have to prep much. It is just a measure of their ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like most things I doubt it's a black/white answer. Some schools don't accept superscores, some only want best and highest, some want to see the scores of all tests, some are test blind, etc. I suspect it's best to assume their priority lies in what they ask for.

For DCUM parents on the other hand "one sitting" seems to be an important data point.

Because we paid so much $$$$ for those private tutoring sessions that we expect results — at one sitting!

^^^

One and done are usually the people who didn’t have to prep much. It is just a measure of their ability.

Agreed. All the kids by us have private tutoring and take it multiple times. I can think of only one kid (who has a 1:1 tutor) who was one and done…

[Anonymous]

our kid was a senior last year. one sitting 35 act with no tutoring. Had a 3.87 UW GPA. rejected from many schools. It is a mystery as we head into a new round of college admissions with our other kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They definitely should get rid of superscoring but nearly every selective college allows it, except for Georgetown.

What do you think these tests are testing? You seem to think they are testing how you do on one test on one day. What they actually are testing is can you do work at that college freshman year which is not one test on one day. That is why they do not care. A 36 on one day is the same as a superscored 36 after three tests. Both kids will do equally as well freshman year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:our kid was a senior last year. one sitting 35 act with no tutoring. Had a 3.87 UW GPA. rejected from many schools. It is a mystery as we head into a new round of college admissions with our other kid.

Did he take the highest level/hardest courses? Did the 3.87 place him outside the top 20%? 3.87 UW can be barely above average at some schools. One of those is usually the issue for a kid like this.