Basically, I got a 1540 (750 EBRW, 790 math) the first time with no essay.
I then took it again just for the essay and got a 1510 (770 EBRW, 740 math) and a 20/24 for the essay.
How bad will scoring worse the second time look to selective schools?
I also want to ask whether or not colleges that superscore will combine my 790 math from the first test and my 770 EBRW from the second test and 20/24 essay from the second test? This would be a 1560 and 20/24 essay.
Also, for colleges that don't superscore, will they look at my 1540 from the first test and 20/24 essay from the second test separately? Or if they require essay, will they only look at my second 1510 test which is the only test I took the essay with, even though I got a higher combined EBRW/math score the first time.
Thank you in advance for helping me clear up this confusion.
The difference is unlikely to have any real impact. The scores are really not much different and colleges claim they do not use lower scores against you.
As to what scores will actually be used:
A. College requires essay and superscores: you likely need to contact the particular college. Some in that group will not use a test without essay at all, while others will use it as long as you have submitted one with essay. The problem is that colleges typically do not say what they do in that situation on their sites and thus you need to contact them to determine the issue.
B. College requires the essay but does not superscore: Actually raises same issue as above. The college may use only that test with the essay but even some colleges that do not superscore will consider higher section scores from a second test for a particular purpose, e.g., the engineering department may consider that higher math score from the test without essay. So once again, you likely have to contact the college to find out if the test without essay will be used at all for any purpose…
C. College superscores and does not require the essay: your score will be 770/790, Also the 20 if the college states it recommends or considers the essay or deems it optional. There are, however, many colleges that do not use the essay at all so the 20 is not relevant to those.
D. College does not superscore and states it recommends or considers the essay or deems it optional: The 1540 test will be used, but, once again, that the college does not superscore does not automatically rule out the possibility it may still consider that 20 essay score. You may need to contact college if you care in that situation whether it does so.
Easiest solution: send both tests and do not worry about it