If you are applying to colleges that superscore the ACT, every retake gives you a chance to raise your composite without improving every section at once. Superscoring lets colleges combine your highest English, Math, and Reading scores from multiple test dates into a single best composite. Below you will find which schools superscore, how the calculation works, Ivy League policies, and a retake strategy to maximize your score.
ACT superscoring is the practice of combining your highest section scores from multiple ACT test dates into a single composite. Instead of being locked into the results of one test day, colleges that superscore the ACT take your best English from one sitting, your best Math from another, and your best Reading from a third, then average those top marks into a new composite that is often higher than any single attempt.
Approximately two-thirds of selective institutions now superscore the ACT. ACT's own research confirms that superscores are better at predicting college success than single-sitting composites, which is one reason the practice has spread so widely.
The calculation is straightforward. Take your highest score in each section across every ACT you have taken, add those best scores together, divide by the number of sections, and round to the nearest whole number. Under the enhanced ACT format (starting 2025), the superscore uses three sections: English, Math, and Reading. For legacy tests taken before the 2025 changes, all four sections (including Science) were averaged.
The ACT Writing test is never included in the superscore. Your writing score is reported separately and does not factor into the composite. Your superscore becomes available automatically in your MyACT account after you complete your second ACT test.
Worked Example
A student took the ACT three times and received these section scores (Science scores omitted — not used in enhanced ACT superscore):
Starting in April 2025 for online test-takers (and September 2025 for everyone else), ACT changed how the superscore is calculated. The new method uses only three sections — English, Math, and Reading — because Science became an optional section under the enhanced ACT format. If you take the optional Science section, it contributes to a separate STEM score but does not affect your composite or superscore.
One important detail: your best section scores can come from any test event, whether you took the legacy ACT or the enhanced version. A student who earned their highest English on an older four-section test and their highest Math on the new three-section format would see both scores used.
Enter your best section scores from any ACT test date to calculate your superscore.
The following tables include well-known colleges that superscore the ACT, organized by institution type. This is not an exhaustive list of every school in the country — there are hundreds more — but it covers the most commonly searched institutions. Always verify a school's current policy directly on their admissions page, since testing policies can change from year to year.
| College/University | Type |
|---|---|
| Amherst College | Private |
| Boston College | Private |
| Boston University | Private |
| Bowdoin College | Private |
| Caltech | Private |
| Duke University | Private |
| Johns Hopkins University | Private |
| Middlebury College | Private |
| MIT | Private |
| Northwestern University | Private |
| NYU | Private |
| Rice University | Private |
| Stanford University | Private |
| Tufts University | Private |
| Tulane University | Private |
| University of Chicago | Private |
| USC | Private |
| Vanderbilt University | Private |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Private |
| College/University | Type |
|---|---|
| Auburn University | Public |
| Georgia Tech | Public |
| Indiana University Bloomington | Public |
| Ohio State University | Public |
| UConn | Public |
| UMass Amherst | Public |
| UNC Chapel Hill | Public |
| University of Georgia | Public |
| University of Michigan | Public |
| University of Washington | Public |
Ivy League superscoring policies are among the most frequently searched aspects of this topic, and for good reason — the policies vary significantly across the eight schools. Six out of eight Ivy League institutions superscore the ACT, while two prominent exceptions use only your highest single-sitting composite.
| School | Superscores ACT? | Policy Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Yes | Accepts Score Choice; considers highest section scores across all dates |
| Columbia University | Yes | Accepts Score Choice; superscores across all test dates |
| Cornell University | Yes | Superscores across all test dates |
| Dartmouth College | Yes | Superscores across all test dates |
| Harvard University | No | Considers highest single-sitting composite score |
| Princeton University | No | Considers highest overall ACT composite score |
| University of Pennsylvania | Yes | Superscores across all test dates |
| Yale University | Yes | Superscores across all test dates |
Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Penn, and Yale all superscore the ACT. At these schools, you benefit from sending all your test dates because they will only use your best individual section scores. Both Brown and Columbia also accept Score Choice, giving you additional control over which scores they see.
Harvard and Princeton are the two Ivy League holdouts. Harvard considers your highest single-sitting composite rather than mixing section scores across dates. Princeton similarly uses your highest overall ACT composite. If either school is on your list, your best single test day matters more than your superscore, so prepare accordingly.
Not every college evaluates ACT scores the same way. Understanding the difference between superscoring and highest single-sitting policies is essential for setting realistic score targets and deciding whether to retake.
| Score Policy | How It Works | Example Composite | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superscoring | Best section scores from ALL test dates averaged into new composite | 35 (from best of each section) | Brown, Columbia, MIT, Stanford, Duke |
| Highest Single Sitting | Best total composite from ONE test date used | 33 (best single attempt) | Harvard, Princeton, Georgetown |
Worked Example
Consider the same student from our earlier example applying to two different schools:
At superscoring schools, sending all your test dates is beneficial — they will only pull your highest marks from each section. There is no penalty for a lower score on one test date if another section improved. In the Class of 2020, scores of 31 or higher were 23% more common when superscores were counted compared to single-test composites.
At schools that use highest single-sitting composite, one bad section can drag down your overall score even if other sections were strong. This makes preparation strategy different — you need every section to perform well on the same day, rather than being able to improve one section at a time across multiple attempts.
Superscoring fundamentally changes how you should approach retaking the ACT. Because only your best section scores matter, you do not need every section to peak on the same day — you just need each section to peak at least once.
After your first ACT, identify your lowest section score. This is where targeted study will produce the biggest superscore improvement. Spend roughly 50% of your preparation time drilling that one section. Since superscoring locks in your highs, you do not need to worry about the other sections declining slightly — only your best score for each section counts.
For the Class of 2024, 35% of ACT graduates tested more than once, and those retakers improved their superscore by an average of 2.4 points compared to their first attempt. That is a significant gain. However, the data also shows diminishing returns: after three test attempts, average gains fall below 0.5 points, making further retakes less cost-effective.
The sweet spot for most students is two to three attempts. Plan your first ACT as a strong effort (not a throwaway), then retake once or twice focusing on your weakest areas. The enhanced ACT format also allows section-specific retakes starting in 2025, which lets you target a single section without sitting for the entire exam again.
Allow three to four months between ACT attempts. This gives you enough time to analyze your score report, drill weak areas, rebuild test stamina, and see meaningful improvement. Cramming retakes too close together rarely produces gains, while waiting too long risks losing familiarity with the format.
While the majority of selective colleges now superscore, several high-profile institutions do not. Knowing which schools fall into this category is critical for planning your testing strategy.
Harvard and Princeton are the most prominent non-superscoring schools. Georgetown is another well-known institution that uses only your highest single-sitting composite. At these schools, colleges may still see all your test dates (some require you to send all scores), but they evaluate your best complete test rather than cherry-picking sections across dates.
If any of these schools are on your target list, your preparation strategy should differ. You need all sections performing well on the same test day, not just one strong section per attempt.
To verify whether a school superscores, visit their admissions website and look for terms like "test score use policy," "standardized testing policy," or "superscoring." You can also call the admissions office directly. Policies can change year to year, so always check during your application cycle rather than relying on older lists.
Keep in mind that many colleges are now test-optional, meaning you can choose whether to submit ACT scores at all. If a school you are targeting does not superscore and your single-sitting composite is lower than you would like, consider whether applying test-optional might be a stronger strategy.