It’s the question we kept Googling: “Does superscoring even count for scholarships?” Everyone says take the ACT again, but no one tells you how colleges actually use those scores — especially when money’s on the line. This post breaks it down in plain English: when superscores matter, when they don’t, and why one more Saturday morning might just be worth a full semester’s tuition.
🎓 What Is Superscoring?
Superscoring means colleges take your kid’s best section scores across multiple ACT or SAT attempts and combine them into a higher composite score. It’s a way to reward consistency — or second chances. For example, a 28 English and a 32 Math on different test dates might average out to a 30 superscore.
💰 Do Colleges Use Superscores for Scholarships?
- Many do. For example, University of Oklahoma and University of Tennessee use superscored ACT/SAT for merit awards.
- Some don’t. Universities like Kentucky require a single test sitting for scholarship consideration.
- It varies. Lists like The Princeton Review and PrepScholar show hundreds of schools that superscore — but always double-check each college’s scholarship policy.
🔍 Why It Matters Financially
If your child is just one point below a scholarship cutoff, a superscore might bump them into a higher award range — and potentially net thousands of dollars per year.
📅 Should My Kid Take the ACT Again?
- If the school superscores, retaking is often worth it.
- If they don’t — and your child is close — you’ll need to improve the full composite score to make it count.
- Always check the school’s scholarship thresholds to see what’s at stake.
🧠 Pro Tip: Focus on One Section
Many students improve faster on individual test sections. If your child already scored high in reading or English, focus on boosting another section — the superscore will reward that targeted effort.
📌 What To Do Next
- 📄 Download our Scholarship Tracker to record which schools superscore
- 🔍 Review our College-Specific Scholarship Pages for superscore policies
- 🧠 Plan one final test with a smart section focus
If one more test can unlock $10K, it’s worth the prep. Just make sure you know what each school actually honors.