What is 'Super-scoring' on the Digital SAT?

Getting crushed under the weight of all the SAT prep. and someone throws 'Super-scoring' at you?! Really mean to say the least. But we are prepared to handle the mean machines. Let's do a surgical crackdown on this Super-score thingy.

What Exactly Is Super-scoring?

Imagine you’ve taken the SAT twice (or maybe even three times—no judgments!). On one test, you crushed the Math section, but the Reading and Writing section didn’t go so well. On another test, your Reading and Writing score soared, but Math? Not so much.

Super-scoring comes to the rescue! Instead of looking at just one test date, schools that accept super-scores will combine your highest section scores across all test dates. It’s like cherry-picking your best performance to create a mega-awesome SAT score.

Example Time

Let’s say you took the SAT twice:

• Test 1:

  • Math: 650

  • Reading and Writing: 600

  • Total: 1250

• Test 2:

  • Math: 620

  • Reading and Writing: 680

  • Total: 1300

Your super-score would be:

• Math: 650 (from Test 1)

• Reading and Writing: 680 (from Test 2)

• Superscore Total: 1330

Boom! You just bumped up your score without any extra studying. Well, sort of.

Super-scoring for the Digital SAT

The Digital SAT might be new, but super-scoring works the same way it did on the old paper test. The College Board sends schools a detailed score report for each test you take, making it easy for them to pluck your highest section scores. The best part? You can focus on improving one section at a time during retakes without sweating about the other.

Why Super-scoring is good...no, Great!

1. No Pressure, More Strategy: Knowing super-scoring is an option takes some of the stress off test day. If one section tanks, it’s not the end of the world. You can retake the SAT and focus on the section that needs some love.

   
   

2. Your Best Foot Forward: Colleges want to see you at your best, and super-scoring lets them do just that. It highlights your potential instead of focusing on one "off" day.

   
   

3. More Bang for Your Buck: Since the SAT isn’t exactly free (hello, test fees!), super-scoring makes each attempt more worthwhile. But your complete attempts strategy should be centred around super-scoring for this to be worthwhile.

Schools That Embrace Super-scores

Good news: lots of colleges in the U.S. are on board with super-scoring. Here’s a quick roundup of schools that accept it:

• Ivy League Favorites: Schools like Harvard, Cornell, and Dartmouth accept super-scores to see your best performance.

• Public Universities: Big names like the University of Florida and UNC-Chapel Hill also super-score.

• Popular Private Schools: Boston College and Northeastern University encourage students to submit all their scores to get the best super-score possible.

The complete list of colleges that take the SAT super-scores can be accessed here. It is not exhaustive to the absolute number.

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Wait—Who Doesn’t Super-score?

Not every college is on the super-scoring train. Some prefer to look at the highest composite score from a single test date. Here are a few schools that don’t super-score:

1. University of California System:

   • Includes schools like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego. They stick to the highest single-test composite score.

2. Georgetown University:

   • Georgetown’s admissions office explicitly says no to super-scoring. They evaluate your best one-day performance.

3. Texas A&M University:

   • Another single-score-only school, they’ll consider your highest composite from one test day.

4. Louisiana State University (LSU):

   • LSU doesn’t super-score and opts for a single composite score.

5. University of Georgia:

   • UGA prefers to evaluate a single test result for consistency.

6. California State University System (CSU):

   • Like their UC counterparts, CSU schools focus on the highest single composite score.

How to Use Super-scoring to Your Advantage

1. Plan Your Retakes:If you know super-scoring is an option at your dream schools, take the SAT with a focus on one section at a time. Maybe your goal for Test 2 is to crush Math since your Reading and Writing is already solid.

2. Know Your Schools’ Policies:Before sending your scores, double-check whether your target schools accept super-scores. The College Board website and individual college admissions pages are great resources.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Retake:With super-scoring, a not-so-great performance in one section won’t ruin your chances. Take the test as many times as you can afford (and handle emotionally!).

4. Send All Your Scores:For schools that super-score, it’s best to send all your test results. They’ll only use the highest section scores, so there’s no downside.

Super-scoring on the Digital SAT is like a secret weapon in your college admissions arsenal. It shows schools the best version of you, giving you the edge to compete for top spots. That said, not every school is on board, so be strategic and do your homework. Whether you’re gunning for an Ivy League school or your dream state university, super-scoring could be the boost you need to make it happen. And remember, your score is just one piece of the puzzle—you’ve got this!

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