It is not clear from all admissions info pages about super scores. Is it unusual NOT super Scoring? Also, ACT says they cannot send October 2015 report until the writing is scored. How can you get the Oct multiple choice to early schools where already submitted by Common App?
Most schools do NOT superscore ACT. Here is the most recent list: http://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-that-superscore-act-complete-list
@“Erin’s Dad” Do you know why that’s the case?
I do not understand why some superscore the SAT, but do not superscore the ACT.
Does it really matter? (The fact is that only a relatively few supersocre the ACT, so better to spend your emotional energy on stuff that you can control.)
@bluebayou Yes it does. It kind of favors SAT takers.
Actually many schools don’t superscore the SAT either. It just depends.
That link is either outdated or just inaccurate/incomplete. For example, it does not list UVA or William & Mary, they accept all tests and choose the top section scores, they don’t recalculate the composite but they will select highest scores for the sections. https://admission.virginia.edu/admission/testing I would suggest googling your school of choice ACT superscore and see what pops up and not relying on this link. Almost every school I am interested in has some form of score choice or super scoring.
Uh, no. (you obviously don’t understand the differences in the tests.)
@bluebayou then please explain what justifies superscoring the SAT but not superscoring the ACT.
@JuliasChild Why is this your first post…?
@bluebayou The ACT actually tests 4 different materials, therefore it makes more sense to superscore it as opposed to only 3. SAT tests general knowledge, so why would it need a superscore? ACT tests content, so if you can demonstrate that you know the content on a test, it should suffice. You should not be allowed to combine multiple “knowledge” tests though.
@nadinem123 ACT should be superscored over the SAT.
Well that’s in interesting justification but obviously most colleges don’t agree (at this point). The reason the link supplied above is not accurate is because various colleges change their minds each year about whether or not to superscore. More seem to be going that way. And you’ll have to explain knowledge vs. content.
@cappex because it’s my first post??!! I have been reading here for years but finally I have something unique to add, did I miss some place I am supposed to put a first post?? “Why is this your first post” may actually be the oddest thing I have ever read here??!
Back to the original poster- just google your college of choice and ACT super scores to get n accurate answer. Each school differs and is apparently quite different than the links given here.
@coolmom23 there is no definitive list of colleges that super score ACT, and sometimes it is not even clear from the college’s website. I would that you CALL each school and ask. It is very confusing.
In general, super scoring and “test optional” policies allow a college to boost its standing by reporting higher average ACT/SAT scores.
@JuliasChild So you are telling me that you have been reading for years and that was the best reason you came up with to make an account?? Really?
Those that superscore ACT have always been fewer than those which superscore SAT, although in the last several yhears more have been adopting it for ACT. The reason partly has to do with historical company positions. Many years ago, College Board decided to take a neutral position on superscoring the SAT, neither supporting it nor being against it. ACT, however, recommended against superscoring its test. Colleges are free to do what they want but many thus decided against superscoring ACT. Added to that issue was the economic issue that held back many colleges from superscoring: when you have taken multiple tests, the College Board has traditonally allowed you to send all your test scores in one order per college; ACT has always sent only one test per order and to send a secod test to a college, you must make and pay for a another order.
As to the “fairness,” issue, superscoring the SAT and not the ACT has likely not favored those with SAT. If you have followed the middle 50% ranges for colleges for many years, you would have noticed that those which superscore SAT and not ACT tend to have have a little higher SAT middle 50% range than ACT range, when you compare scores, indicating that schools are considering the fact that that a little higher SAT scores may be needed becuase of superscoring.
As to the question of sending scores without the writing, ACT will not send sectrion scores until your writing section is scored if you took the writing section. In the past that has not been a major issue because ACT usually had the writing sections graded for almost all within about a week of releasing the section scores. This year ACT has had significant problems. With the September 14, 2015 test, It changed the writing test and how it was scored. It apparently overlooked that doing so could delay scoring if it did not provide enough training to its scorers and hire more. The result for the September 14 test was that, as of the first week of November, there were still a large percentage of test-takers who did not have their writing score and they needed their test scores for early decision and early action applications. An ACT VP publicly admitted the problem but when asked what was the solution for those who did not have their writing scores, his repsonse was that ACT refused to send section scores without writing scores and he suggested that applicants send photocopies of their section scores and tell the college that offical scores would be coming when the writing score was ready. When asked how long that would take, he could not give an answer except that ACT was working on speeding up the process. When asked if the same could occur with the October test, which many also want to use for ED or EA, he said that was a possibility. Some colleges have rejected the photo-copy suggestion. I am assuming, but do not actually know whether, all the September scores are now done, since I am not hearing 'test-takers say any longer that they do not have their scores… Also, colleges are reporting that ACT has informed them that it is correcting the problem for the October test, but for that we just have to wait and see.
@cappex why wouldn’t this be a great reason to post? I have apparently unique knowledge about this specific issue. My knowledge is not so unique about anything else I’ve read. I am afraid I don’t understand your hostility or suspicion? Is this not a topic new posters are welcome on?