Calculate your ACT superscore by combining the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science scores across multiple test dates for the best composite.
ACT superscoring is an admissions practice where colleges take the highest score from each of the four sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — across all of your test dates and compute a new composite from those best sections. This often produces a composite higher than any single sitting.
Our ACT superscore calculator lets you enter section scores from multiple sittings and automatically identifies the best score for each section. You'll see your superscore composite alongside your best single-sitting composite, making it easy to quantify the benefit of retaking the ACT.
As more colleges adopt superscoring policies, understanding your potential superscore is essential for strategic test planning. Even if only one section improves on a retake, your superscore can increase meaningfully.
Students, parents, and educators all gain valuable perspective from precise act superscore data when planning academic paths, managing workloads, or setting realistic performance goals. Return to this calculator each semester or grading period to stay on top of evolving academic targets.
Superscoring eliminates the risk of retaking the ACT. Even if some sections dip on a retake, your superscore only uses the highest section scores. This calculator instantly computes the best-case composite from all your sittings, helping you plan whether another retake is worthwhile and showing the concrete benefit of each additional test date.
Superscore = round((max(E) + max(M) + max(R) + max(S)) / 4) Where max(E), max(M), max(R), and max(S) are the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science scores across all sittings.
Result: 31
From Sitting 1: E=30, M=28, R=32, S=29 (composite 30). From Sitting 2: E=28, M=31, R=30, S=31 (composite 30). Superscore uses best sections: E=30, M=31, R=32, S=31 = 124/4 = 31.0, which rounds to 31. This is a 1-point improvement over either single sitting.
Superscoring considers every section score from every sitting and selects the best one for each of the four sections. Unlike the SAT (which has only two sections), the ACT has four sections, creating more opportunities for improvement across sittings. A student who excels in Reading one day and Math another benefits significantly.
Since 2020, ACT allows students to retake individual sections rather than the full test. This pairs perfectly with superscoring: if your Science score is holding back your composite, you can retake only Science and potentially improve your superscore at a fraction of the time and cost.
Many top universities now superscore the ACT, including numerous Ivy League schools and other selective institutions. However, some large state universities still use single-sitting composites. Check the policy for every school on your list.
Analyze your section scores after each sitting to identify the weakest area. Dedicate preparation to that section before your next test date. With superscoring, you only need one strong performance per section across all sittings, making focused preparation highly efficient.
ACT superscoring is when a college takes the highest English, Math, Reading, and Science scores from across multiple test dates and recalculates the composite from those best sections. Review your results periodically to ensure they still reflect current conditions.
No. While many selective colleges superscore the ACT, some institutions consider only single-sitting composites. Always verify each college's policy.
Most students see a 1–2 point improvement in their composite through superscoring if they've taken the ACT at least twice. The benefit increases with more sittings and greater score variability.
Yes. Since 2020, ACT allows retaking individual sections. A higher score on a single section retake can improve your superscore without retaking the full test.
ACT reports a "superscore" on their score reporting platform. However, colleges calculate their own version during the admissions review.
Absolutely. If your target schools superscore, improving one section by 3–4 points could raise your composite by 1 point with no risk to other sections.
Two to three times is optimal for most students. Beyond three sittings, statistically significant section improvements become less likely for most test takers.
No. Superscoring applies within each test separately. You cannot combine SAT and ACT section scores.