When it comes to college admissions, every little point on your SAT score matters. That’s why superscoring is such a game-changer! It’s a strategy that could give you a higher overall score without having to ace every section in one go.
In this blog, we’ll dive into how to superscore your SAT, which colleges superscore SAT, and why it’s worth considering.
- How Does SAT Superscore Work?
- Which Colleges Superscore SAT?
- Tips for Applying to Schools That Superscore
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Takeaways
How Does SAT Superscore Work?
Think of SAT superscoring like creating your own “best of” playlist. Every time you take the SAT, you receive a score for two main sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. But instead of using the score from just one test day, colleges that superscore will take your best Math score and your best Reading score, even if they happened on different test dates. It’s like mixing and matching your top performances to create a higher overall score.
Here’s how it works in real life: Let’s say you took the SAT in March and got a 650 in Math and a 600 in Reading. Then, you took it again in May, and this time you scored a 700 in Reading but only a 620 in Math. Normally, colleges would just use one test score as-is, so you’d either be looking at a 1250 (March) or a 1320 (May). But with superscoring, they’ll take your best score from each section, so you get the 650 in Math from March and the 700 in Reading from May. Boom! Now your superscore is 1350—a clear win.
It’s one of the easiest ways to boost your SAT score without having to be perfect on any one test date. And while superscoring doesn’t require you to study more, it’s always a good idea to keep practicing to improve those individual section scores. After all, the higher your scores across the board, the better your superscore will be in the end!
Can you superscore your SAT?
Yes, you absolutely can superscore your SAT—but not all colleges allow it. Superscoring is when colleges combine your best section scores from multiple SAT test dates to give you the highest possible composite score. So, if you crushed the math section on one test and nailed the reading on another, superscoring lets you shine in both areas. Just check your target school’s policy to make sure they accept superscores.
Which Colleges Superscore SAT?
Many colleges across the U.S., both public universities and private institutions, are on board with superscoring. If you’re wondering whether Ivy League schools like Harvard superscore, the answer is yes!
In addition to Harvard, schools like MIT, Stanford, and the University of Chicago also accept SAT superscores. However, each college has its own policies, so it’s important to check the admissions page of each school you’re interested in for the most up-to-date information. Even if a school doesn’t superscore, many still allow you to submit multiple test results, which could still work in your favor—so don’t rule them out just yet.
Superscoring is a fantastic way to showcase your best performance across different test dates, so definitely take advantage if the schools you’re applying to allow it.
But remember, your SAT score is just one part of your application. Make sure to nail your essays, highlight your extracurriculars, and get strong recommendation letters to really stand out.
Here’s a list of some of the most popular schools that allow superscoring, along with their official statements on the policy straight from their websites:
| School | Official Statement |
| Boston College | We review each application with a level of thoroughness and thoughtfulness that reflects the time and effort you have invested in Boston College. In making admission decisions, we consider grades, standardized test scores, what you do outside of school, teachers’ and others’ appraisals, and how you express yourself through writing. |
| Boston University | BU superscores both the SAT and ACT. To take advantage of superscoring, we recommend including all your test scores if you take more than one test or take a test multiple times. For both the SAT and ACT, BU uses the highest score of each section, regardless of test date, to best represent you as an applicant. |
| Columbia | Columbia accepts results from both paper and digital administrations, and tests will be superscored across paper and digital administrations if you have taken a single test in both formats. |
| Duke | For students who submit both ACT and SAT scores, Duke will consider your best score. |
| Georgetown | Georgetown only considers the Critical Reading and Math portions of the SAT, not the Writing section. If an applicant takes the SAT more than once, the admissions committees will consider the highest EBRW (verbal) score and the highest Math score from multiple test sessions when reviewing the application. |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Highest section score on Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math |
| Harvard | For the ACT [and SAT], we will evaluate your highest composite score and any other scores you choose to share with us. |
| Johns Hopkins | We’ll consider your highest section scores across all SATs taken—even if they were on different test dates, or across paper and digital tests—in our evaluation of your application. Make sure to update your application with new test scores each time you take the SATs. |
| MIT | If you take the same test multiple times, we will consider the highest score achieved in each section. We do this in order to consider all applicants in their best light. |
| New York University | We will superscore results across multiple test dates for the SAT and ACT. |
| Notre Dame | If you submit multiple scores, we will superscore the tests for our evaluation. |
| Princeton | For those who choose to submit testing, we allow applicants to use the score choice feature of the SAT and accept only the highest composite score of the ACT, but we encourage the submission of all test scores. |
| Stanford | For those who choose to submit testing, we allow applicants to use the score choice feature of the SAT and accept only the highest composite score of the ACT, but we encourage the submission of all test scores. |
| University of Chicago | You will not need to superscore your own results or recalculate your scores in any way; send your scores exactly as you receive them. |
| University of Connecticut | We will combine the highest scores from each subsection of an exam to create the best overall score (superscore) for exams taken more than once. |
| University of Miami | You will not need to Superscore your own results or recalculate your scores. Simply enter your scores exactly as you receive them. Students self-reporting scores will be required to submit official score reports only if they are admitted and choose to enroll. |
| University of North Carolina | The highest score received on any administration of the same version of the SAT for critical reading will be combined with the highest score received on math… Scores can be combined within test versions (ex: old math and old reading) but cannot be combined across test versions (ex: old math and new reading). |
| University of Pennsylvania | For the SAT, we will combine your highest Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing with your highest Math score across multiple tests to calculate a superscore. |
| University of Southern California | The highest scores for each section of the SAT and ACT exams will be recorded, even if achieved in different sittings. |
| University of Virginia | For applicants submitting test scores, it has been the Office of Admission’s long-standing policy to consider the best test scores submitted by applicants. We use the top score from each SAT section across all administrations of the same exam. We hope you will submit all of your scores knowing that we will recombine the sections to get the best possible set of scores. |
| Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt will superscore both the ACT and the SAT. |
| Villanova | The Admission Committee will superscore the highest subscores from the SAT and/or ACT from multiple testing dates. |
| Yale | Applicants may report “super-scored” results from the SAT or ACT. |
Tips for Applying to Schools That Superscore
Superscoring isn’t just something that helps after you’ve applied to colleges—it can actually influence how you approach taking the SAT. If the schools you’re aiming for superscore, you can use that same mindset while prepping for the test itself!
Think of it like this: instead of stressing over acing every section on a single test day, you can take the SAT multiple times and focus on improving one section at a time. You could spend extra time prepping for Math on one test and then shift your focus to Reading and Writing for the next.
This approach was even more useful with the old SAT, which had three separate sections, but now that Reading and Writing are combined into one score, you’ve got two areas to tackle. Still, using multiple test dates to build the best possible score works just as well!
Unless a college specifically advises against it, don’t stress about taking the SAT multiple times. As long as you’re not going overboard with five or six attempts, a better score will help your application way more than retaking the test a few extra times will hurt it. Plus, unless you’re switching between different versions of the SAT, there’s no need to worry about the slim chance of scoring lower on a retake.
That said, everything in moderation! Even with superscoring, admissions officers are still human, and they might raise an eyebrow if they see wild swings in your scores. So don’t totally bomb your Math section on purpose just because you’re focused on Reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is SAT supercore?
A superscore is like your best SAT performance on display. Instead of using just one test score, colleges take your highest scores from each section across different test dates. So, if you did better in Reading on one try and Math on another, a superscore combines those top scores to give you a stronger overall result—showing off your best without needing to nail it all in one go!
2. How many times should I take the SAT if I want to superscore?
You can take the SAT as many times as you feel necessary, but a good rule of thumb is to keep it under five or six attempts. The goal is to boost your score—not overwhelm admissions officers with tons of tests. Focus on improving different sections each time, so you’re building toward that superscore.
3. If I score lower on a retake, will it hurt my chances?
Not if your school superscores! When colleges superscore, they only care about your highest section scores, so a lower score on a retake won’t matter. Just concentrate on improving your weaker areas and let superscoring do the rest.
4. Is superscoring only for the SAT, or do colleges do this with the ACT too?
Good news—many colleges superscore the ACT as well! Just like with the SAT, schools that accept ACT superscores will take your highest scores from each section across different test dates. Be sure to check each school’s policy for both tests if you’re considering the ACT too.
5. Does superscoring guarantee I’ll get into my dream school?
Not quite. While superscoring can definitely help boost your overall score, it’s still just one part of your application. Colleges look at your grades, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations too, so make sure to focus on the entire application, not just your test scores!
Takeaways
- Colleges that superscore take your highest section scores from different SAT test dates and combine them, giving you the best possible overall score. It’s like creating a highlight reel of your best performances.
- Don’t stress about acing every section on one test date. You can take the SAT multiple times, focusing on improving different sections each time to build your best composite score.
- Not all colleges accept superscores, so make sure to check the specific policy for each school you’re applying to. Ivy League schools like Harvard, as well as many public and private universities, are on board with superscoring.
- While superscoring can boost your SAT score, it’s not the only factor in college admissions. Be sure to focus on the whole application, including your grades, essays, extracurriculars, and recommendation letters.
- Looking for help with superscoring your SAT? It’s a smart move to reach out to a college admissions expert for personalized advice.
Eric Eng
About the author
Eric Eng, the Founder and CEO of AdmissionSight, graduated with a BA from Princeton University and has one of the highest track records in the industry of placing students into Ivy League schools and top 10 universities. He has been featured on the US News & World Report for his insights on college admissions.
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