Sending in your best ACT/SAT Scores

Test Preparation
1

I have a question regarding sending in your scores to colleges. My sons’ tutor for the ACT told him that he can send in any total score he wishes to and not send in a bad score. If a college superscores and if you get a 25 on the total score, but a 30 on math for instance, then it is wise to send in the total score since that 30 in math may be the highest score of all of the act tests that you take.

Colleges in general want you to send in ALL the tests that were taken. My sons’ tutor disagrees vehemently. His opinion is why send in the 22 Act Score if the other scores are 26 29 and 30? Especially if they do not superscore.

I am just paranoid and feel that colleges have a way of finding out all of the tests that were taken. The tutor said nope, they have no way of knowing if you do not send the score in. Especially if one does not sign up for score choice.

So that said, do colleges have a way of seeing all of the tests (BIG BROTHER) And, should my son just send in his best scores to the schools that do not superscore.

Thanks

2

Some schools require all scores, some schools will take the highest single sitting and some schools will superscore. You need to check the requirements for each school on your son’s list.

About with holding scores, there is no way to know if scores are withheld, unless they are posted on your son’s HS transcripts (my son’s HS did this), so if a transcript is required prior to an admissions decisions and all scores are required, he could get caught.

It is also about the honor system. Schools will take the highest score and if he has shown improvement over the course of taking the ACT several times, I see no major impact from the lower scores.