College Connection: The truth about SAT 'superscoring'

High school students throughout the country (and even the world) all want to get the highest scores possible when taking the SAT as it greatly impacts college admissions and scholarship awards.

Students get two separate scores on an SAT exam: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math. (There is also an “optional’ essay that is only required by some colleges.) The scores for each of these two areas range from 200 to 800. Students often add their scores together for a “combined” SAT score in the range of 400 to 1600 points.

Many colleges report that they “superscore” and will consider the highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score from one SAT exam and the highest Math score from another. Problems arise when students misinterpret this policy. Students often believe that when it comes time to submit their SAT scores they can choose to send their highest section scores from different SAT dates, and that is all the testing information colleges will receive.

With that premise in mind, some students will take an SAT exam and only focus on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections, not putting any effort into the Math sections. On a subsequent SAT exam, they flip their strategy and focus heavily on the Math sections, not worrying about their Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. Their thinking is that they will ultimately “superscore.”

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These students are in for a rude awakening when they log into their College Board account to send SAT scores to colleges. While they can certainly submit their test scores from two (or more) SAT exams, there is no way to submit a score for only one section of a test. So colleges will see the impressive Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score on one exam, and the notable Math score on another exam. But, they will also see the very mediocre, or worse, scores on the sections the students thought wouldn’t matter. 

Any time students take an SAT exam they should try their best on each section. There is no way to know in advance which SAT exam may turn out to be harder or easier, or have a tougher or easier curve. For example, I had two students who each got two Math questions wrong on their SAT — one took the test in June and the other student took the test in August. The June Math score, for getting 56 of the 58 questions correct, was 720. The August score, also for getting 56 of 58 questions correct, was 790. That’s a significant difference, all based on things outside a student’s control (difficulty of the test and the scoring curve).  

Students should take the SAT several times, trying their hardest on each section each time, and then if “superscoring” happens to benefit them it is an extra perk.

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated instructors have prepared students for the PSAT/SAT/ACT exams with preparation courses and private tutoring throughout Central Jersey. SAT Smart also offers private tutoring for subject tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com, or call 908-369-5362.