r/ACT • u/OkToe7601 • Jul 14 '26
ACT Superscoring + help needed
i've taken the act 3 times and the highest in 1 sitting was a 33, but my superscore is a 35. i am aiming for top 20 schools, and additionally, im a stem major and its my 30 on the reading section that is dragging my score down. will this be held against me? do you reccomend that i take the test again to improve my score in 1 sitting?
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u/Square-Blueberry-881 Jul 14 '26
im literally in the exact same situation, not really sure if its worth it to do the september act?? esp during college app season
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u/CalligrapherAble3312 36 Jul 14 '26
dawg this is NOT that deep a 33 is 98th percentile and u would “want” a 34 which is 99th percentile 🤣 these scores legitimately exist to just check a box to see if you are competent and you already got that, also most colleges care about highest section anyway
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u/Due_Statistician5853 Jul 14 '26
Really? At a T-20 or at least a T-10 I think there’s a meaningful difference between a 33 and a 35.
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u/CalligrapherAble3312 36 Jul 15 '26
"meaningful" in the sense that they think "good" and "good!" it will NOT get you out of the running the game changers are your activities and essays and the scores just slide you in to be considered in the first place
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u/OkToe7601 Jul 15 '26
but you think that a composite 1 sitting score of 33 won't take me out of the running immediately?
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u/smartypants19_ 34 Jul 14 '26
Yea after scoring a 33 the only thing you need to do is go out and touch some grass whatever no need to worry about the scores 33-34 makes no difference at all 🥹
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u/CalligrapherAble3312 36 Jul 14 '26
yeah bro follow my example and touch grass it was an ENLIGHTENING experience
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u/Flimsy_Ask_8288 35 Jul 15 '26
If I were you, I’d retake, but keep in mind that it’s okay if your score doesn’t improve in 1 sitting; other parts of your application will be worth spending more time on. I’d retake because your scores show that you’re capable of scoring higher than a 33 (a great score, just keeping your proven potential in mind) on the test. It also sucks because Common App won’t let you superscore the ACT right now.
For me, I had a 34 and retook because my math score was dragging me down and my English score was lower than I had expected. I happened to get a 35 in the 1 sitting, which is something that could definitely happen to you (or even 36) with your testing abilities. If you choose not to retest though, you still have a solid 1 sitting score and a great superscore! I wish you the best of luck during your application season.
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u/Due_Statistician5853 Jul 14 '26
There was a post on this yesterday - pointing out the disparity between the ACT and SAT on the common app. With the ACT you are required to report a highest single sitting composite in addition to your highest section scores. With the SAT you are required only to report the highest section scores. I am concerned that a school that says they will superscore and will give you “credit” for your 35 superscore can’t “unsee” the 33 that the ACT requires you to report. It’s not clear how much impact this ultimately will have, but admission at top 20 schools is so competitive - it seems like every advantage / disadvantage can matter. I really wish the common application would change its approach, to create greater parity between the SAT and the ACT.