Key facts about ACT superscoring
ACT automatically
Shown in MyACT account
E + M + R
Science excluded
Varies
Check each school's policy
What is an ACT superscore?
An ACT superscore takes your highest section score— English, Math, and Reading — from across every test date you've sat, and averages them into a single new composite. It doesn't matter if your best English score came from February and your best Math score came from June; the superscore combines your peak performance in each area.
Under the Enhanced ACT format, Science is not includedin the superscore calculation, consistent with its removal from the regular composite. If you take Science on multiple dates, ACT still reports your best Science attempt separately, but it won't factor into your superscore composite.
Superscoring exists because standardized test performance is noisy on any single day — fatigue, timing pressure on one section, an unfamiliar passage topic, or simple bad luck with a harder question set can all pull down one section without reflecting your actual ability. By letting your best section-level results stand on their own, the superscore is meant to represent a more accurate picture of your skill ceiling than any one sitting alone.
Worked example
Here's how superscoring plays out for a student who tested twice:
| Attempt | English | Math | Reading | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attempt 1 (Feb) | 28 | 24 | 30 | 27 |
| Attempt 2 (Jun) | 26 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Superscore | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
Neither test date alone reached a 29 composite — but combining the best English (28), best Math (29), and best Reading (30) from across both attempts produces a superscore of 29, two points higher than either individual sitting.
Superscoring compounds further across three or more attempts. Here's a second example with a student who tested three times, showing a smaller but still meaningful gain per additional sitting:
| Attempt | English | Math | Reading | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attempt 1 (Sep) | 22 | 26 | 24 | 24 |
| Attempt 2 (Dec) | 25 | 23 | 27 | 25 |
| Attempt 3 (Apr) | 24 | 27 | 25 | 25 |
| Superscore | 25 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Notice the gain shrinks as attempts add up — the jump from two to three sittings only added one point here, versus a two-point jump in the first example after just two attempts. This pattern (fast early gains, then diminishing returns) is common and is discussed further in the retake section below.
Superscoring vs. Score Choice: what's the difference?
It's easy to confuse two separate concepts: superscoring and choosing which score reports to send. Superscoring is something a college does on its end, combining your best sections across whichever score reports you submit. Sending scores is something you control — you decide which test dates to release to which schools.
This matters strategically. If a school superscores, sending all of your test dates generally helps you, since more data points mean more chances for a high section score to enter the mix. If a school does notsuperscore and only looks at your best single composite, sending every date still doesn't hurt you at most schools — but it's worth confirming, since a few institutions do ask you to self-report every attempt regardless of which one they ultimately consider.
Which colleges accept ACT superscores?
Superscore policy is set by each individual college, not by ACT. Policies generally fall into three categories:
Accepts superscore
The majority of public universities and many private colleges use your superscore for admissions review, often automatically pulling your best sections across submitted score reports.
Best single date only
Some schools consider only your highest composite from one sitting, ignoring cross-date section combinations. Check whether you can choose which date to send.
Requires all scores
A smaller number of selective schools require every test date you've sat to be reported, though many still calculate their own superscore internally from those scores.
Always verify on the school's admissions page
Superscore policies change and are not standardized. Search "[college name] ACT superscore policy" or check the admissions FAQ before deciding which scores to send.
How superscoring fits into test-optional admissions
Many schools have adopted test-optional or test-flexible policies in recent admissions cycles, meaning you can choose whether to submit ACT scores at all. This doesn't eliminate the relevance of superscoring — if you do decide to submit, a superscore-friendly school will still combine your best sections the same way it always has.
The practical decision point is different, though: at a test-optional school, you're weighing whether your superscore (not just your best single composite) is strong enough to help your application, versus omitting scores entirely and letting other parts of your file speak for you. Because policies shift from year to year and school to school, it's worth checking the current testing policy for each college on your list well before decision deadlines.
Should you retake the ACT to raise your superscore?
Worth retaking if...
One section is clearly your weak point while the others are already strong — a retake focused on that section can meaningfully raise your superscore without risking your other scores.
Think twice if...
Your section scores are already balanced and close to your ceiling, or your target schools only consider single-sitting composites — in that case, a retake carries more cost (time, fees, stress) than likely upside.
A useful way to decide is to look at the spread between your highest and lowest section scores from your most recent attempt. A wide spread — say a 6-point gap between your strongest and weakest section — usually means there's real upside in a targeted retake, since raising just one section can shift your superscore composite meaningfully. A narrow spread of a point or two suggests you're closer to your natural ceiling, and further attempts are more likely to produce small, incremental gains rather than another jump.
It's also worth weighing test fatigue. Some students see their scores plateau or even dip on a third or fourth attempt if they haven't meaningfully changed their prep between sittings. If you're retaking primarily for superscore purposes, focus your prep specifically on the one or two sections holding your composite back rather than re-studying everything evenly.
Calculate your composite for each attempt
Run your raw section scores from each test date through the calculator, then compare them side by side to estimate your own superscore before ACT posts it officially.
ACT Score Calculator →Frequently asked questions
What is an ACT superscore?
Your highest English, Math, and Reading section scores across all test dates, averaged into a new composite — even if the high scores came from different sittings.
Does ACT calculate my superscore for me?
Yes, automatically, and it appears in your MyACT account once you have more than one test date on file. You do not need to request it.
Is Science included in the ACT superscore?
No. Under the Enhanced ACT format, the superscore composite is based only on English, Math, and Reading, matching the regular composite formula.
Do all colleges use ACT superscores?
No. Policies vary — many colleges accept or prefer superscores, some only look at your best single test-date composite, and a few require all scores. Check each school directly.
How many times should I take the ACT to maximize my superscore?
Most students see the best return from 2–3 attempts with focused prep between sittings targeting a specific weak section. Beyond three attempts, incremental gains typically shrink.
Does ACT superscoring work the same way as SAT superscoring?
The idea is similar, but the mechanics differ — the SAT combines two sections (Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) while the ACT combines three (English, Math, Reading). Check each exam's policy separately at each school.
Can a superscore end up lower than my best single test date?
No. A superscore can only equal or exceed your best single-sitting composite, since it is always built from your highest section scores across all attempts.