<p>Anyone know the thinking behind super score policies where the SAT is superscored but the ACT is not? It seems the list of ACT super scoring schools is a lot shorter than it is for SAT super scoring colleges.</p>
<p>I'm curious why one would lend itself to that and not the other since each test has subsection scores that are reported.</p>
<p>Also, as of last year (?) more students are taking the ACT than the SAT, so do you think more and more will SS the ACT?</p>
<p>I see this has been asked before but as far as I can tell, not this year, so I’ll leave it for any comments :)</p>
<p>See <a href=“http://in.princetonreview.com/in/2011/07/act-superscores-fact-or-fiction.html”>http://in.princetonreview.com/in/2011/07/act-superscores-fact-or-fiction.html</a>
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<p>I did read that. Sum and average don’t seem different enough to me, it’s easy enough to average ACT subscores across test dates. </p>
<p>As I understand it most colleges have a little computer program that spits out the best score for SAT, across dates if it is the school’s policy to do that, can’t think why wit couldn’t average ACT scores across test dates too.</p>
<p>I also read that it might be because the ACT makes you pay for each date’s score report whereas the SAT doesn’t. But the idea of making it “fair” for lower income folks would then extend to multiple sittings of SAT as well, not to mention the cost of test prep and so on. </p>
<p>Pure speculation based on urban legend: The ACT is much more time-sensitive than the SAT. That is, the test determines how quickly you can correctly answer questions, and often it is difficult for students to finish out a section. Therefore, it is easier to “game” the test by focusing study on one section at a time, and speed-practicing, and taking multiple tests focusing on each section (or group of sections) sequentially. On the ACT, so the urban legend goes, more than on the SAT, a series of sprints will yield a higher score than a sustained effort.</p>
<p>Do I believe this? Does it matter?</p>
<p>It seems CB would encourage you to take more than once. Since you pay the same for reporting one or multiple scores on the report, there is no extra cost for providing multiple scores (other than cost for the test) for superscoring. While for ACT, one need to pay for each score report, it may not be fair for those who are not eligible to a waiver but have limited budget to pay for multiple score reports to multiple schools.</p>
<p>That may be. But the ACt could do a lot to help lower income folks. They do grant fee waivers but their waivers - unlike the CB’s - do not allow reports to be sent after the fact, only when you register and don’t yet know your scores.</p>
<p>As an example, Rice superscores the SAT but not the ACT. This is there reason for doing so:</p>
<p>“The only definition of a composite score that ACT recognizes is its own definition: an ACT composite is the average of the four multiple-choice scale scores from a single administration of the exam. Therefore, it is Rice’s policy to use the highest ACT composite score in admission consideration.”</p>
<p>Rice only uses composite scores of ACT tests because the ACT only recognizes a raw composite score as legitimate.</p>
<p>However, I don’t see why their reasoning behind their choice to superscore SATs can’t also be applied to ACTs.</p>
<p>“Rice uses the highest scores from any sitting on the SAT in order to consider each applicant’s most positive test results. Recognizing that this policy could disadvantage those students who cannot afford repeated testing or expensive test prep coaching, we believe a comprehensive testing history provides us with the appropriate context required for making a fair judgment of what the test scores mean in a holistic admission process. Therefore, we require all applicants submitting the SAT to submit all scores to Rice.”</p>
<p><a href=“Office of Admission | Rice University”>Office of Admission | Rice University;
<p>I guess I don’t see the disadvantage poor kids part of this argument. If you don’t SS one, OK…but why SS the other?</p>
<p>@OHMomof2 – while I do not know the answer about super scoring, I did want to address your comment that more students are taking the ACT. I think this is partially due to the fact that the ACT is now being administered during the school day in lieu of the state’s standardized test. I believe the in-school version does not include the essay, but students are required to take the test and the school pays the test fee. There are more than a dozen (14+ perhaps) states using the ACT as the standardized achievement test whereas Maine is the only state using the SAT as such.</p>
<p>Of course, the new SAT may chase more students to the ACT, at least until enough new practice SATs have emerged.</p>
<p>Correction to above based on article from Aug 2013, so may be out of date info now. </p>
<p>Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming require students to take the test, and Arkansas pays for the ACT if districts want to offer it. The SAT has only Delaware, Idaho and Maine.</p>
<p>My son took the ACT that his school last year began administering to juniors during the school day. The school did pay for the test. And the test did include the essay.</p>
<p>Re superscoring. This doesn’t answer your question, but not long ago I had some email communication with someone at ACT. I was asking about the details of data in the national profile report, trying to understand exactly what they are reporting and I asked if the data included all tests taken or just the highest score or some kind of superscore. In his reply the person answering me said that ‘There is no super scoring being done by us. (actually super scoring is somewhat of a dirty word around our parts)’
Note: The answer to my question is that the report contains the score for the last test taken by each senior for whom they have a file, up through June at end of junior year. Senior year tests are not considered. It may not be a student’s best score if score drops for the last test considered (or if he tests higher in senior year.)</p>
<p>@celesteroberts – interesting about including the essay. ACT is still catching on here in CT and CT uses own standardized tests so no SAT or ACT administered during school day.</p>
<p>Do you recall if your son had to pay an additional fee to take the essay of if the test administered to all students included the essay? Just curious…</p>
<p>I appreciate everyone’s thoughts so far.</p>
<p>I just read this:</p>
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<p>at <a href=“SAT vs ACT: Which Test is Right for You? | The Princeton Review”>http://www.princetonreview.com/sat-act.aspx</a></p>
<p>…and wonder why? Why “care” about CR vs math but not reading vs math vs science?</p>
<p>I think its because the curve is so much more crucial to the act. Sometimes, some sections re given super generous curves while others arent. People can say otherwise, but its true. I missed three on act math one test and got 33 on the math, and missed three on another one, and got 35. Thats half a point based on just the curve. Since that’s such a crucial part, I think the other seconds “balance out the difficulty”. I don’t know how else to say it, and many will disagree with this, but I feel it’s true because I’ve taken three acts and a few practice ones that were actual tests, and thats how I felt.</p>
<p>@CT1417, incredibly, the test was no charge. I suppose because it was required and during the school day. They don’t charge for the other exams they require like Explore and Plan/Pact.But any elective tests, like PSAT, SAT or Saturday ACT is usual charge.</p>
<p>@CT1417, Montana school districts have for the past 2 or three years been able to administer the ACT during a school day at the school for free (with essay) to juniors. Usually in April. I don’t think sophomores can sign up, it is only for juniors.</p>
<p>@CT1417 My state is also one that requires the ACT in lieu of state testing. Every junior takes it during the school day one specific day in the spring, and it includes the essay for everyone. There is no cost.</p>
<p>That’s nice. Those tests count for college then, and you just pay to send score reports?</p>
<p>Thanks to all who replied about taking the ACT during the school day. I don’t know why I had it in my head that many schools did not include the essay when using the ACT in lieu of the state test. (Probably something I read somewhere on CC!)</p>
<p>The private day schools around here administer the PSAT on Wed during the school day while the public schools all administer it on Saturday. I read a year or more ago about school districts that are allowed to administer the SAT on a weekday off the typical schedule. I believe, but may be wrong, that these were lower-peforming districts. It was not a statewide option, but just offered in specific areas.</p>
<p>Thanks again for the info.</p>