A superscore is a recalculated test score that combines a student’s highest section scores from different test dates into a single best result.
It rewards students who improve in different sections on different days. Whether it helps you depends on the college’s policy, not the test.
How the ACT superscore is calculated
ACT’s superscore guide says that for the current ACT you take your best English, math and reading scores (they can come from different test dates), add them, divide by 3 and round to the nearest whole number. Science is no longer part of the composite or superscore. You need at least two test events.
Worked example:
| English | Math | Reading | Composite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test 1 | 26 | 30 | 27 | 28 (83 ÷ 3) |
| Test 2 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 29 (88 ÷ 3) |
| Superscore | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 (90 ÷ 3) |
Neither sitting reached 30, but the superscore does. The ACT score calculator computes composites from section scores so you can test the math yourself.
Superscoring the SAT
The SAT has two sections, so superscoring is simpler: a college that superscores takes your best Reading and Writing score and your best Math score from any dates and adds them. A 640 RW / 720 Math sitting and a 690 RW / 680 Math sitting superscore to 690 + 720 = 1410, higher than either single total (1360 and 1370). Estimate section scores with the SAT score calculator.
Where it matters
Superscoring affects how many times it’s worth testing and how you send scores. Read each college’s policy, plan your retakes around the section that has the most room to grow (our guide to AI for test prep covers honest ways to practice), and compare the tests themselves under ACT and SAT.