When it comes to the SAT, it’s not just about the score you earn—it’s about the scores you send. This is a crucial part of your college application and plays a significant role. Two important score reporting policies offered by the College Board are superscoring and Score choice. Superscoring allows you to present the best section scores across multiple SATs, while Score choice showcases the best total SAT score across the different test dates.
To stand out in your college application, understanding which score to send to the college is a really important step. But which approach will give you an edge? This blog covers all your questions regarding the same.
What Is Superscoring?
The superscoring policy allows you to combine your highest section scores from all the SAT dates. For example, consider you scored 700 in EBRW and 690 in one SAT attempt, while 690 and 700 in EBRW and maths, respectively, in another attempt, you can combine your best scores from both sections, making a total score of 1400.
Many colleges use superscoring because it highlights a student’s best performance in each section, offering a more comprehensive view of their academic potential. However, policies can differ depending on the institution.
What Is Score Choice?
Score Choice lets you choose which full test-day scores to send to colleges. This policy focuses on sending your best overall SAT performance from a single date.
With Score Choice, you have control over what colleges see, but you miss out on the potential advantage of combining your best section scores.
Colleges That Accept Superscoring or Score Choice
Most colleges have clearly defined policies regarding Superscoring and Score Choice. While some other colleges encourage students to submit all scores for a more holistic evaluation, others allow applicants to choose the test dates that best showcase their abilities. Here are some examples:
Colleges That Superscore SATs:
MIT and the University of Chicago allow superscoring of your SAT score. They emphasise that Superscoring helps them evaluate your academic strengths by focusing on your best section scores.
Colleges That Allow Score Choice:
Yale University recommends sending all scores because they will consider your best ones. This process essentially works like Superscoring.
Harvard University gives applicants the flexibility to choose which SAT dates to submit, but they also state that seeing multiple test scores provides insight into a student’s overall testing performance.
Since score policies can vary widely, always check individual college guidelines to maximise your testing strategy and align your score submissions with your admissions goals.
Superscoring vs. Score Choice: Pros and Cons
Both Superscoring and Score Choice offer unique advantages, but they also come with potential drawbacks. Here’s a closer look:
Superscoring
Pros:
Superscoring helps in representing your best overall performance.
It encourages students to retake the SAT and improve their scores by working on the weaker sections, which in turn will elevate their scores after superscoring.
Cons:
Some colleges still require all SAT scores, even when they superscore your SAT score. This creates a possibility that they may see your lower scores.
Not every college superscores, so one should be careful while applying to colleges.
Score Choice
Pros:
One can choose which test-day score to send, and hence, they can send their best test-day score for their college application..
If you have one strong overall score from a single test date, Score Choice allows you to submit that score without worrying about section-specific results.
Cons:
It doesn’t allow you to combine your best section scores.
Some schools recommend or require submitting all scores, which may reduce the effectiveness of this strategy.
How to Decide Which Policy to Follow
Since colleges have different score reporting policies, you need to check the admission websites of your desired colleges before applying. Some colleges accept the superscored score, while others consider the Score Choice policy. Here are some tips to help you decide what policy you need to follow for your college applications.
Take Multiple SATs to maximise your chances of higher section scores. This increases your chances of higher SAT scores in your application after superscoring.
Not all colleges have the same policy for considering your SAT scores. Hence, it is important to apply accordingly to the colleges based on the policy they accept between the superscoring and Score choice.
If you face lower scores in one section, try improving your scores in subsequent attempts.
Debunking Common Misconceptions
There are many misconceptions when it comes to SAT score submission. A common misconception is “Superscoring means you don’t have to send all your scores”. But, it is not necessary, and some colleges do require you to submit all test-day scores even if they use superscoring for evaluation. Another misconception is “College automatically superscores all SAT submissions.” Although this isn’t guaranteed, not all colleges superscore your score for evaluation.
Conclusion
SAT scores are an important part of your college application. With policies such as superscoring and Score choice, you have an opportunity to present your SAT scores to the colleges in a more beneficial way on the basis of your college preferences, and knowing how to present them can make a real difference. By carefully planning your test dates, improving on weaker areas, and understanding each school’s score policies, you can maximise your chances of standing out in a competitive admission process.