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Have you ever felt that you scored a little too low on the SAT? Do you want to score more? Of course, you do, and you should try- Let us discuss how to increase your SAT & ACT score

    There is a key ingredient on the SAT, which makes it a very interesting examination:

THE SUPERSCORE: The system of superscoring is a process in which colleges consider scores across different subsections, called sub-scores and record a SUPERSCORE that is obviously higher than your individual test scores. Students and colleges are both winners here. Why? Colleges can improve their rankings, while students benefit from a higher score!

What is the system of superscoring?

The SAT is scored out of a possible maximum of 1600. The composite score is the sum of the scores in 2 sections: Mathematics and Evidence-based Reading and Writing. I am assuming a lot of you would have already guessed what a superscore is? Let us take an example:

Let us say that a student takes a test twice:

  • TEST ONE: In test 1, the student scores 1400- 700 in Mathematics and 700 in the Verbal Section.
  • TEST TWO: In test 2, the student scores 1400- 750 in Mathematics and 750 in the Verbal section.

A combination of sub scores would give the student a superscore of 1500, which is the exact benefit of this process. The best scores from both the subsections are counted toward the final score of the student. Also understand that the SUPERSCORING system is not followed by every college. Make sure that you visit the website and find out the participating colleges.

SCORE CHOICE: Another technique that is used by a few colleges that are a part of the SAT. Students can using this, opt to send the SAT scores of a particular date, to a college, rather than scores on all the test dates.

    Just as you have in the SAT, the same ingredient is present in the ACT:

The scoring pattern on the ACT is slightly different: the ACT has four sections: Math, Reading, English and Science. The concept of superscoring remains the same even in the ACT.

Each section is scored out of 36, therefore, the composite score is the average of all your scores on 36. Let us take an example to illustrate how superscoring works on the ACT:

Let us say that a student takes a test twice:

  • TEST ONE: In test 1, the student scores 26- Math: 30, English 24, Science 21 and Reading 29.
  • TEST TWO: In test 2, the student scores 29- Math 26, English 30, Science 30, Reading 30.

The student’s superscore, in this case, would comprise of the following: MATH: 30, English 30, Science 30, and Reading 30- A COMPOSITE SCORE OF 30!

Again, the superscoring is not accepted by all the colleges, therefore, do check out the website of the ACT to check the participating colleges.

ALL THE BEST with your SAT/ACT! We hope that you ace all your tests, and superscores!

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