Does Duke superscore the SAT?
Does Duke superscore your SAT? The Score Choice option at Duke University always defaults to the “Highest Section.” If you have taken the SAT more than once, Duke University encourages you to use the SAT score choice option, which allows you to submit only your highest scores, and only if you have taken the exam more than once. You should know that the highest score that you submit from any combination of SAT dates will be used to determine your final grade at Duke.
Therefore, if the current value of your SAT superscore is lower than 1570, it is strongly recommended that you seriously consider retaking the test after you have prepared for it. You have a very good chance of improving your score, which will significantly increase your likelihood of being accepted into the program.
The fact that the Superscore allows you to concentrate all your efforts on a single part of the game at a time is an added bonus. If your score on the Reading section is lower than on the other test sections, you should focus solely on improving that score before taking the SAT. Then, put your attention on math so you can do well on the next test, and so on. You will achieve the maximum possible Superscore if you do this.
You are more than welcome to send us either your SAT or ACT scores, or both, and Duke will always consider the highest score you receive regardless of the type of test you took or the date it was administered. Applicants have the option of selecting the Score Choice feature for the SAT, as well as selecting specific ACT dates from which to submit their scores.
The only test scores that applicants are required to submit are those that are necessary to fulfill the testing requirement. Duke does not require applicants to submit all of their test scores. On their applications, students have the option of self-reporting their scores.
It is entirely up to you to decide whether or not to have your scores from the SAT or ACT taken into consideration. Your admission decision will not be affected by your decision to opt-out of having your SAT or ACT scores considered.
You might find it helpful to use as a reference Duke’s ADMISSIONS PROFILE, which contains information about students who were accepted to Duke in previous years. If you are still unsure about what to do, one option is to opt-out of having your scores considered when you apply. You will have the opportunity to opt-in at a later time.
Although Duke superscore your SAT scores, it is common knowledge that you can take the SAT exam as often as you see fit. In a typical scenario, everyone would believe that the scores you submit can come from whichever test you performed the best on.
The students are relieved of this burden by the SAT’s superscoring method, making the score submission process more convenient. Duke’s SAT superscoring is calculated by adding your highest scores from each test section. Simply put, it indicates that if you take two different exams, you can make your composite score by averaging the two highest scores from each of the separate sessions.
For example, your scores on the SAT from your two most recent attempts are as follows:
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- English: 30, Reading: 29, Math: 31, Writing: 9
- English: 33, Reading: 27, Math: 30, Writing: 10
Your test scores will be according to the SAT superscore calculator:
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- English: 33, Reading: 29, Math: 31, Writing: 10
The SAT’s optional “superscoring” feature enables test takers to calculate their final composite score by adding their highest individual section scores. You cannot independently add these new scores to your existing ones and then send that total to the college as your final score.
You are required to report the results for each and every one of the times that you have participated in the examination. After receiving both sets of scores, the admissions staff at the college will compare them and determine which set contains the higher total.
The SAT and the ACT both permit superscoring, but only the results of one of the two exams can increase their scores. It is impossible to create a composite score by adding up the highest possible scores on both of these exams and presenting the combined total.
However, you should also remember that some universities will accept SAT superscores while others will not. Some universities accept SAT super scores while others do not. For this reason, you should check the official websites of the universities that you are interested in attending in advance to acquire additional insight.
How Do You Apply to Schools that superscore?
As Duke does superscore your SAT score, remember that many of these schools are competitive and will require more than just a strong test score to get in even though you might believe that applying to a school that superscores might be easier than one that doesn’t keep in mind that many of these schools are still very competitive.
Look at the reports of the average SAT score from the previous year of applications.
Even though this may be a superscored average, it will still provide a useful guide for determining what kind of score you should aim for when you take the SAT.
Pay close attention to the requirements for the application, and ensure that you take them seriously.
Essays, letters of recommendation, and possibly even other types of information may be required by certain educational institutions. If they are asking for information, it means that they read it and take it seriously when deciding whether or not to admit you, so you want to ensure that you do your best on every part of your application. If they are asking for information, it means that they read it and take it seriously when deciding whether or not to admit you.
During your junior year, give the SAT a shot.
It is recommended that you take the SAT twice during your junior year, once in the fall and once in the spring. This will allow you to avoid the stress of preparing for the SAT while you are working on your college applications during your senior year, which will cause you more stress than is necessary. If this is not the case, you should take the exam at least once during the spring of your junior year to get an idea of how much additional preparation you will need before taking the exam at the beginning of your senior year.
What is the Average SAT Score at Duke?
The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a standardized test that is given to high school students to evaluate how well they are prepared for college and to give colleges a single point of data that can be used to compare the qualifications of each individual applicant.
The scores you received on standardized tests will be considered by college admissions officers, along with your high school grade point average, the subjects you studied in high school, letters of recommendation from previous instructors or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays.
The weight that each institution places on SAT scores in relation to the process of applying to colleges and universities varies. In 2021, many students will choose to take advantage of the test-optional policy and will not send in their scores from either the SAT or the ACT. If you believe including your score will make your application stand out from the crowd, you should include it.
The following is the range of SAT scores received by the middle fifty percent of accepted students at Duke University over the past three years:
| Year | SAT Score Range |
| 2021 | 1510-1570 |
| 2020 | 1500-1570 |
| 2019 | 1500-1560 |
The average SAT score of accepted students at Duke University ranges from 1500 to 1570, with 25 percent of the student body having scores below 1500 and 25 percent having scores above 1570.
This is a section-by-section breakdown of the SAT scores needed to get into the middle 50% of accepted applicants at Duke University in the year 2021.
| SAT Section | Average Score (50th Percentile) | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
| SAT Math | 770 | 740 | 800 |
| SAT Reading + Writing | 740 | 710 | 770 |
| SAT Composite | 1510 | 1450 | 1570 |
If you wanted to get into Duke University, having a score of 1570 would put you well above average while having a score of less than 1510 would put you below the average score of accepted students. A minimum score of 1450 on the SAT is recommended for admission to Duke University; however, the school does not require that applicants have this score to be considered.
Does Duke Require SAT for 2022?
Before the admissions cycle for the academic year 2020-21, Duke required all candidates to submit either their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Due to the difficulties in obtaining access to standardized testing due to COVID-19, Duke University has decided to waive the requirement for prospective students to take standardized tests in the application process for the academic year 2020-2021.
Although Duke superscore your SAT scores, due to the unpredictability of testing availability in 2021 and the ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19, the administrators at Duke have made the decision to continue the test-optional policy for one more academic year. For 2021-2022, both first-year and transfer applicants may choose whether or not to have test scores considered.
Students who are unable to submit their SAT or ACT scores or who choose not to do so will not be penalized in our consideration of their applications. The holistic review used by Duke has always considered the SAT or ACT scores to be only one factor in our multifaceted evaluation process.
Other factors considered include the student’s coursework and performance in secondary school, letters of recommendation, meaningful involvement, and personal essays. They will continue to evaluate the potential role that standardized tests will play in the future of the admissions process, particularly concerning the impact these tests will have on our capacity to recruit and enroll students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
If a student chooses to send in their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application to Duke, the university will continue to take those scores into consideration. As in the past, self-reported scores will continue to be acceptable for the purposes of evaluating an application. Only students who enroll at Duke must send in scores from testing agencies.
Students who are not native English speakers and students not currently enrolled in English-language curricula but who wish to demonstrate further evidence of their English proficiency will be encouraged to take English proficiency tests such as the DET, IELTS, PTE, and TOEFL. These tests will continue to be recommended by Duke.
If you need help putting the finishing touches on your early applications or want some advice on whether or not applying Early Decision or an Early Action is a good option for you, at AdmissionSight, we have over 10 years of experience guiding students through the competitive admissions process, including our athletic recruitment program.
AdmissionSight can help you put your best foot forward when applying to college this fall. Contact us today for more information on our services.
