The SAT is a standardized test that can be taken multiple times. You’ve probably heard something like this before: “You shouldn’t take the SAT more than once; it’s not fair to colleges.” It’s true that colleges don’t like it when you submit your scores more than once, but there are still plenty of reasons why you should take the SAT more than once if you want to go to college.
Colleges That Don’t Superscore Sat
Average SAT Scores
As you might expect, the average SAT score at a particular college will vary depending on the school’s student body. So while an Ivy League institution may have an average SAT score of 2240 and a community college might have one of 1150, both schools’ average scores tell you very little about what to expect from your own test results.
However, if you’re wondering just how far ahead or behind your own scores are relative to other students who’ve been admitted to these schools in the past and are planning on taking the test again in an effort to gain admission next year, here’s what they look like by class year:
- 2022: 1490 (down 20 points)
- 2021: 1490 (down 15 points)
- 2020: 1490 (no change)
- 2019: 1490 (up 10 points from 2018)
How Do I Read SAT Scores?
You’re probably used to seeing your SAT scores broken down into three parts: Reading, Writing and Math. But the College Board also calculates a composite score for each student based on all three sections’ raw scores. This composite score is essentially just an average of those three individual scores, weighted by how important the College Board believes that section is for different students (for example, most students are more likely to take math than writing).
The problem with this scale is that it’s not linear—for example, it goes from 400 points on one end to 1600 points on the other end without any breaks in between. While a 200-point difference might seem large when considering whether you want to apply for admission as an Early Action or Regular Decision applicant; when comparing various schools’ superscored ranges (with zero superscoring at one school compared with 100% at another), these differences become fairly insignificant.
In short: if you have scored above the 50th percentile on both Reading and Writing but below average on Math and/or Essay portions of your test—meaning that this was your lowest section score—your final superscore would still be 500 points higher than if only one section were super-scored!
Convert Your Raw Score to a Scaled Score
To convert your raw score to a scaled score, you’ll first need to know the highest level of difficulty for each section of the test. The SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800; the PSAT is scored on a scale of 10-40; and the ACT is scored on a scale of 1–36. Next, use this table to determine which raw score corresponds with your scaled score:
Raw Score Scaled Score
0 200-800
1 200-800
2 200-800
What Can I Do With My PSAT Scores?
If you took the PSAT as part of your high school’s National Merit Scholarship Program or National Achievement Scholarship Program, then you’ll receive a report that shows how your scores compare to those of other students who are also in the programs. This information might be useful if you’re trying to decide which colleges to apply to.
The PSAT will also help students earn recognition from several other college admissions programs and scholarships, including the following:
- National AP Scholar Award – If you score big on all sections of the PSAT and meet other requirements, then you can qualify for this award that recognizes outstanding academic achievement among high school seniors across America.
- National Hispanic Recognition Program – Students who achieve certain scores on this test could be eligible for this program’s annual awards ceremony at their local schools’ auditoriums each year when they graduate from high school. The event often includes entertainment provided by celebrities (e.g., pop stars), appearances by famous athletes and speakers who talk about their lives growing up as children who were born outside of America but later became successful adults who achieved great accomplishments within our nation’s borders today!
Colleges That Don’t Superscore the ACT
Colleges that don’t superscore the SAT
Most colleges don’t superscore the SAT, but there are some exceptions. We’ll go over them in this section.
Colleges That Superscore the ACT
The majority of colleges don’t superscore the ACT, but there are some schools that do and use other methods to determine your final score. We’ll go over them in this section.
Colleges That Superscore PSAT/NMSQT or AP Tests: The majority of schools don’t superscore PSAT/NMSQT or AP tests either, but we’ve compiled a list where they do so you know what schools give bonus points and how many points they award for specific high school achievements (like taking specific AP classes).
Taking the SAT more than once is a good idea.
Taking the SAT more than once is a good idea for many reasons. The SAT can be a good predictor of college success and readiness, as well as admissions success. If you want to retake the SAT, here’s how to make sure you get the most out of it.
Closing
Taking the SAT is a big deal for many students. It can be nerve-wracking and difficult, but it’s also an opportunity to show colleges what you’re made of. By knowing what it means when schools superscore their admissions processes, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which schools are right for your needs and interests.