Is there an easy way to determine if you must submit all test results to a college for ACTs? My son took the ACTs three times, and did better in all areas on one test date. In other words, super scoring would not help him. We would just like to submit the one best test. How can we find out which schools will accept just the one test versus all times they took the test? Thanks!
You will need to look at the application requirements of each school. Yu should be able to find it on their websites.
They’re not saying one way or another - a number of his schools are test optional but we want him to submit his ACT, we think it would be helpful.
If the school is test optional then you should be able to just submit the test date that you desire.
I would just submit the one.
We had the opposite of your situation because it was advantageous to my D to superscore ACT subsections. When she applied 2 years ago her schools did not address in their websites “superscoring” ACTs and she didn’t want to call and ask. I found a spreadsheet (maybe on CC) that purported to indicate admissions offices that did in fact superscore ACTs. Weird that unlike with SATs the submission policies on ACT scores isn’t explicit. I believe that relates to the College Board’s push to encourage multiple test taking to boost revenue.
Yes, at many, many schools you can just submit a single score. If the school wants all scores, they make it clear on their website. In general, the logic is that some students can’t bear the financial burden of sending all the scores to the schools they are applying to. So generally speaking, sending one is fine and again, they make it clear if they want all. I think it is just a few elites that do. Stanford maybe and certain Ivy’s…idk for sure but again, check the website for “application checklist” of each school you are applying to.
Just received an email from Rice reminding students to report all test scores. That can get pricey. So it does vary per school as mentioned.
You should call Rice and ask them your question specifically.
Based on the policy they have on their website, Rice requires all SAT tests to be submitted. That’s 100% clear. Makes sense since they super-score SATs. And since they express concern about better resourced kids taking advantage of test prep and multiple test taking.
For the ACT, though, seems like you can send just one ACT. Perhaps that makes sense since Rice (like most schools) does not super-score ACTs. In which case their concern for under-resourced kids (for no explicable reason) extends to poor SAT test takers but not poor ACT test takers. Hmmm…
Super-scoring SATs, imho, is just a ratings/rankings scam anyway. Overall, it should provide no advantage to most kids. Since the SS-ing is available to help competing kids just as much as it is available to help your kid.
My hunch is that the SCHOOLS are the ones who gain advantage by allowing SS-ing. Because it necessarily inflates the SAT scores of the kids that it eventually reports as being accepted and enrolled. Although does it really help if all of your peer schools are doing the same stat inflation via SS-ing?
Not too different from Baylor paying kids to retake the SAT after admission so it could report higher SAT scores.
Or like Northeastern and some other schools offering spring admission to lower SAT scorers so they could be excluded from the rankings data sets.
OP wasn’t asking about Rice, I just used that as example because we just happened to get that email today. They want them all, this is from the email:
“As you may know, Rice University requires all applicants to submit either SAT scores and the results of two SAT Subject Tests or to submit results from the ACT. We have no preference between these two options, nor do we have a preference for the old SAT or the new, redesigned SAT. If you take either exam more than once, we will use only your highest individual section scores, in the case of the SAT, or your highest composite ACT score, in our evaluation.
In order to ensure every applicant benefits from this policy, we require the results of all such exams be submitted to Rice. If you have taken the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or the ACT and elected to suppress the release of any of your scores, please release them now to ensure that you meet our application deadlines.”
Just fyi for this particular school.
Most allow a single ACT score submission since there is a charge for each one.
Not only is there a charge for each ACT score that you send but students who recieve test waivers do NOT get free sends after the test. The SAT does offer four free test sends in addition to those schools selected on your exam date.
That being said, I didn’t mind spending the $14 to send each ACT score since I prefer that test.