What is a Superscore on the SAT?

Have you been extremely perplexed by SAT superscoring? Have you scoured college websites for hours to learn what SAT scores they need, how they use them, and what they require? Each college, and occasionally each college department, will have a different policy regarding the use of SAT scores. Let's investigate how colleges evaluate your scores.

What is a Superscore on the SAT?

Consider a scenario in which you took the SAT twice, once in the spring and once in the fall. Your math score decreased by 10 points, while your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score climbed by 80 points. Your top section-level results, even if they came from various exams, are used by colleges that superscore the SAT. Many colleges with a superscore policy urge students to submit all of their test results, and some do so as a requirement. This enables them to consistently and fairly compare the highest section scores across all applicants.

While many colleges superscore the SAT, it’s always a good idea to review the SAT score-use policy for each college on your list. You can usually find this policy on the admissions website, usually in an “application requirements” section.

What’s the Difference Between Superscoring and Score Choice?

The College Board provides Score Choice, which allows students to select which scores or sets of scores they want to send to a college. With Score Choice, students can control which score reports, by test date, will be sent to each college.

What Other Types of SAT Score-Use Policies Are There?

• Single Highest Test Date

Some schools will take your single highest total SAT score, regardless of whether it was your most recent. These schools may request that you send scores from all test dates, as you receive them, so they can update your records to use your highest total score.

• All Scores Required for Review

This policy requires students to submit scores from every SAT test date they participated in. Don’t stress it if a school you’re applying to has this requirement.  These schools take into consideration the highest section scores and will see any improvements you may have made between sections or the whole exam itself. Here's how you can figure out what a school's SAT score use policy is:

1. Visit Bigfuture and click on Find Colleges

2. Enter the college you're interested in and click Go

3. On the left panel click on Applying  

4. Select the Application Requirements tab  

5. View "SAT Score use policy" under the "Test Policies" header

How Many Times Should You Take the SAT?

No matter if colleges on your list superscore or not, you should consider taking the SAT more than once. It will give you the opportunity to demonstrate perseverance, show your growth, and possibly improve your scores. Having two or three SAT scores also allows for more score sending options.

Colleges don’t look poorly upon retaking, so don’t worry about it hurting your admission chances. And it can strengthen your application! In fact, 2 out of 3 students raise their scores when they take the SAT a second time.

Many students will take the SAT for the first time in the spring of their junior year, then again in late summer or the fall. Some will take the SAT a third time in the fall. There are three national SAT administration dates before even early college application deadlines—in August, October, and November. Spending time with Official SAT practice and continuing to learn in your classes will increase the possibility of improving your score. Just be sure to put your effort into every section of the test with each test date because you never know which section score could end up higher than last time

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