Superscoring SAT but not ACT -- any idea why?

[djbridjmurh]

I’ve always thought that is was because the SAT is usually considered a harder test than the ACT, although that might be changing now as the SAT seems to be getting easier with harsher curves (similar to the ACT). I know that in terms of percentile, there are far more high/perfect-scoring ACT test takers than SAT test takers, and I always thought the exclusive super-scoring SAT practice was a way to equate the two tests in the eyes of admission representatives.

[lookingforward]

They may say the don’t calculate an ACT superecore composite. but it’s not really the composite that matters. It’s the subscores. And if you submit multiple ACT results, they certainly can see the best in each section. The problem is colleges that only let you send your one best sitting.

Some blogs talk of superscoring your best SAT M and EBRW into one grand total. But at top holistics, it’s still the individual scores that matter.

[djbridjmurh]

@lookingforward As a current high school senior, I’ve been to a lot of college meetings recently and asked schools if I should send multiple ACT scores so that admissions reps could review the subscores and compare them, all of them except one said they absolutely do NOT do that (John Hopkins, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Tulane and Brown all said they do not, Santa Clara said they would consider it). They look at your best composite only.

[mathmomvt]

@djbridjmurh that was our experience as well

[Mwfan1921]

@djbridjmurh Interesting, for the following schools the websites seem pretty clear that they either superscore the ACT or take the highest section scores (even if they don’t calculate a new composite score)

Johns Hopkins:

We also consider your highest combined score for the ACT. We’ll find the maximum value of each official section score submitted, then recalculate the composite score.

Applicants: You should report scores from all tests as received. We will do the above calculations as part of reviewing your application.

Brown:

Do you accept Score Choice or do you super score standardized testing?

We accept Score Choice. We will super score within both current and redesigned SAT, but will not super score using results from both versions of the test. For the ACT, we consider the highest scores submitted for each section; however, we do not calculate a super scored ACT Composite score.

UChicago:

I’ve taken the SAT or ACT more than once. Should I send all my test scores?
We superscore test scores, meaning that only your best testing results—your highest sub-scores and the best result of the two testing options, if you’ve taken both the SAT and ACT— will be considered in the review of your application. Lower test scores submitted will not be used in the review of your application. If you have chosen to submit SAT or ACT test scores, we recommend you send us all of your test scores.

[lookingforward]

From the horses mouth:
Chicago, “We superscore test scores, meaning that only your best testing results—your highest sub-scores and the best result of the two testing options, if you’ve taken both the SAT and ACT— will be considered in the review of your application. Lower test scores submitted will not be used in the review of your application. If you have chosen to submit SAT or ACT test scores, we recommend you send us all of your test scores.”

JHU says similar. Brown says they don’t recalculate composite, which is slightly different than the above, can still allow the super-view.

[bluebayou]

The real question currently is why they continue the practice and why add the ACT to the mix.

That one is really easy. It is in the college’s own interest to superscore. Higher scores look better to USNews, to alums, to bond rating agencies, to prospective donors… And that it the obvious reason why more colleges are superscoring the ACT. If I recall, it was as recent as a decade ago that only a handful of selective colleges superscored the ACT. Again, it is in the colleges’ best interest to superscore.

The requirement to Send All Scores is a way to reduce gaming. (google the history of why CB inititally dropped score choice back in the dark ages.)

[lookingforward]

Not everything is about US News.

C’mon, let the colleges do you a favor.

Mwfan and I xposted. But you see the advantage of reading what the colleges print and the risk of counting on what’s heard.

[mathmomvt]

There are still plenty of top schools that superscore SAT but not ACT, for instance

Harvard

Does Harvard superscore test results?
We do not create superscores for applicants. We will evaluate your application noting the highest test scores in each section across test dates for the SAT and your strongest sitting for the ACT. We take into account your educational background when reviewing your scores.

RPI

If you take multiple tests, Rensselaer will superscore the SAT, but will consider only the highest composite score on the ACT.

CMU

Carnegie Mellon historically “superscored” results from the old SAT Reasoning Test. If you’ve taken the old SAT Reasoning Test more than once then we’ll continue to superscore old SAT Reasoning Test results. At this time, we also plan to superscore results from the SAT Test. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to superscore results from the retired SAT Reasoning Test with results from the SAT Test. Historically, we haven’t superscored ACT Test results and that will remain true going forward.

It’s a curious dichotomy. CMU requires submission of all SAT and ACT results, so the cost argument doesn’t apply.

[Mwfan1921]

@djbridjmurh One more thing: UChicago, NU, JHU, Santa Clara all accept self-reported test scores, and Tulane will accept the pdf you can download from the ACT site, if sent in by your counselor. So, save your money and don’t send official scores direct from CollegeBoard/ACT!

[lookingforward]

Yup. An important consideration when your scores wobble between sittings. A good example of why to dig through the websites. For the most competitive holistics, as much as you can. It helps.

[JBStillFlying]

“It’s a curious dichotomy. CMU requires submission of all SAT and ACT results, so the cost argument doesn’t apply.”

• CMU requires all SAT OR all ACT, not both: "All applicants are required to submit all official results* of either the old SAT Reasoning Test/SAT Test or the ACT Test". Not sure if this is a change from two years ago when my D17 applied. She submitted everything but it's possible that we mis-read the directions.

“At this time, we also plan to superscore results from the SAT Test.”

• This blurb from CMU is from a couple years ago when the new SAT had just been administered. Their current standardized test section says nothing about superscoring, although posters on other threads maintain that CMU still does superscore (presumably the new SAT as well). Given that they request all your scores and look at score patterns, any superscore will be tempered by that review.

“Tulane will accept the pdf you can download from the ACT site, if sent in by your counselor.”

• Same with CMU; if your guidance counselor can verify your score report, CMU will accept it in lieu of scores from the testing agency.

[mathmomvt]

Yes, @Mwfan1921 the schools that have allowed self-reporting this year saved us some $$ – and it makes sense. They will require the formal reports from those who get accepted, it’s nice that they realized that it isn’t necessary to make everyone spend that money!