SAT Superscoring: What It Is, How It Works, and Which Colleges Accept It (2026)

SAT superscoring takes your highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score and your highest Math score from multiple test dates and combines them into a single composite. If you scored 700 Math and 620 Reading and Writing in March, then 650 Math and 720 Reading and Writing in August, your superscore would be 700 + 720 = 1420, even though neither sitting alone reached that number.

The majority of colleges and universities in the United States superscore the SAT, and understanding how it works can change the way you approach retaking the test. This guide explains the mechanics, lists which schools do and do not superscore, and shows you how to build a retake strategy around it.

How SAT Superscoring Works

The SAT has two sections, each scored on a 200 to 800 scale:

• Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW): 200-800
• Math: 200-800

Your total score is the sum of these two sections, ranging from 400 to 1600. When a college superscores, it pulls the highest EBRW from any test date and the highest Math from any test date and adds them together.

Here is a concrete example with three test sittings:

In this example, the student never scored above 1400 in a single sitting, but their superscore is 1430. That 30-point boost could be the difference between a reach school and a match school.

Why Superscoring Changes Your Retake Strategy

Without superscoring, every retake is an all-or-nothing attempt to beat your previous total. With superscoring, you only need to improve one section for the retake to be valuable.

This has practical implications for how you prepare:

• If your Math score is already strong but your EBRW is lagging, you can focus 100% of your study time on reading and writing before your next attempt
• A "bad" test day where one section dips but the other improves is still a net positive for your superscore
• You never lose ground. Your superscore can only stay the same or go up with each additional sitting

This is a key reason why experts recommend taking the SAT two to three times. Each attempt is a chance to lock in a higher section score.

Which Colleges Superscore the SAT?

The vast majority of four-year colleges and universities in the United States superscore the SAT. Here are the policies at major schools:

Top Schools That Superscore

Notable Schools That Do Not Superscore

A small number of schools do not superscore. The most prominent is Georgetown University, which requires you to submit all SAT scores and evaluates your complete testing history. However, even Georgetown considers the highest section scores across your submissions when reviewing your application.

Other schools that require all scores but still consider your best sections include MIT and Yale. The key distinction is between "requires all scores" (you must send everything) and "does not superscore" (they only look at your best single sitting). Very few top schools fall into the second category.

Always check each school on your list. Admissions policies can change from year to year. Look for the testing policy on the admissions section of the school's website.

Superscoring vs. Score Choice: What Is the Difference?

These two terms are often confused, but they serve different purposes:

Score Choice is a College Board feature that lets you pick which test dates to send to colleges. Most schools honor it, but some (like Georgetown and MIT) require all scores regardless.

Superscoring is a college admissions policy where the school pulls your best section scores from whichever dates you submitted. It happens on the college's end after they receive your scores.

The best-case scenario is a school that both accepts Score Choice and superscores: you send only your best dates, and they combine the highest sections from those dates.

Does the ACT Also Get Superscored?

Yes, but ACT superscoring is less widespread and works differently. The ACT has four sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) plus an optional Writing section. When a college superscores the ACT, it takes your highest score in each of those four sections from any test date and recalculates your composite.

Key differences from SAT superscoring:

• Fewer colleges superscore the ACT compared to the SAT
• The ACT has a 12-attempt lifetime limit and a 60-day waiting period between tests, making it harder to accumulate retakes
• ACT superscoring combines four section scores instead of two, which means more combinations but also more variability

If you are deciding between the two tests, SAT superscoring is generally more favorable because of the simpler two-section structure and the lack of retake restrictions. See our SAT vs. ACT comparison for more details.

How to Build a Retake Strategy Around Superscoring

Once you understand superscoring, your approach to retaking the SAT should shift from "beat my total score" to "raise my weaker section." Here is how to do it:

1. Take your first SAT and review your score report. Identify which section has the most room for improvement
2. Focus your study time on that section. If your Math score is already 720 but your EBRW is 600, spend all your prep time on reading and writing. Practice targeted sections on Larry Learns to drill your weak areas
3. Do not worry about the other section dipping. Even if your strong section drops 20 points on the retake, your superscore keeps the original high
4. Consider a third attempt if your target superscore is within reach but neither section quite hit your goal individually. Check SAT percentiles and scores for your target colleges to set a realistic number

This focused approach is more efficient than general prep because you are concentrating your effort where it has the most impact on your superscore.

How to Calculate Your SAT Superscore

Calculating your superscore is straightforward:

1. List every SAT test date and your section scores for each
2. Find your highest EBRW score across all dates
3. Find your highest Math score across all dates
4. Add them together

You can also use our SAT score calculator to see where your superscore falls in terms of percentiles and what it means for your target schools.

The College Board also displays your superscore in your online score report if you have taken the SAT more than once. Look for the "Superscore" label in your score history.

Common Superscoring Myths

Several misconceptions about superscoring cause unnecessary stress:

• Myth: Colleges will judge you for taking the SAT multiple times. Reality: most colleges want you to take it more than once because superscoring works in your favor and theirs (higher admitted student scores improve their rankings)
• Myth: You need to improve both sections for a retake to matter. Reality: improving even one section by 20 points raises your superscore by 20 points
• Myth: Superscoring is rare. Reality: the overwhelming majority of four-year colleges and universities in the US superscore the SAT, including all Ivy League schools
• Myth: Colleges secretly look at your worst scores. Reality: admissions offices use the scores their published policy says they use. They have no incentive to punish you for improving

Frequently Asked Questions About SAT Superscoring

Do all colleges superscore the SAT?

No, but the vast majority do. Nearly all top 50 universities superscore, including every Ivy League school. Georgetown is the most notable exception among elite schools. Always verify each school's policy on their admissions website.

Does the College Board send superscores to colleges?

The College Board sends complete score reports for each test date you choose to submit. Colleges then calculate the superscore themselves from the scores they receive. Your online College Board account also shows your superscore for reference.

Can superscoring hurt you?

No. Superscoring can only help or stay neutral. It selects your highest section scores, so it will always be equal to or higher than your best single-sitting total.

Do colleges superscore across the SAT and ACT?

No. Superscoring only works within the same test. Colleges will not combine your SAT Math score with your ACT English score. Each test is superscored separately.

How much can superscoring boost your score?

It depends on how much your section scores vary between attempts. Students who improve one section by 40 to 80 points on a retake while the other section stays flat will see their superscore rise by that same amount. Typical boosts range from 20 to 60 points.

Should you send all your SAT scores to superscoring schools?

If a school superscores and accepts Score Choice, you only need to send the dates that contain your highest section scores. If a school requires all scores, send everything. Either way, the school will use your highest sections, so more scores generally work in your favor.