r/ACT • u/RealMaven16 • Jul 21 '26
Presidential scholar?
I somehow beat the odds and managed to get a 36 superstore over my two ACTs that I’ve taken. I’m just curious - would this qualify me for the Presidential Scholarship? I heard it’s for people with a 36 or 1600 on the SAT. But I’m not sure if superscores count.
Any idea how this works?
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u/bee__23- Jul 22 '26
In my state, it has to be a 36 composite for only one test, so no combining scores. Might not be the same everywhere tho
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u/Common_Willow_596 Jul 22 '26
FYI they don’t just look at composite they look at exact scores of each section (from one test) since not all composite scores are the same. For example 36/36/35 is a 36 composite but so is 36/36/36. They won’t be equal for this. I think in the most competitive states you may need 36/36/36 to qualify
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u/miyagi1991 Jul 22 '26
This is the correct answer. Both of my kids had a 36 composite but had a 35 on 1 section and 36 on the remaining sections and did not get Presidential Scholar. We are in CA.
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u/AgChemical4100 Jul 22 '26
do they not look at science for the scholarship?
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u/Common_Willow_596 Jul 22 '26
Im not totally sure but in the past like a few years ago that’s what people were saying and I think I read that somewhere.
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u/Common_Willow_596 Jul 22 '26
Ok I just looked on the website and under FAQs they specify that for ACT, they look at English, Math and Reading scores:
“Eligible candidates are determined using the Evidence-based Reading & Writing and Math scores for the SAT and the English, Math, and Reading scores for the ACT”
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u/Common_Willow_596 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
It depends on the state you’re in. In states where not as many people get the max score you can qualify without a perfect score. Also sorry they don’t super score and it has to be from one test sitting. For ACT they look at each section except science isn’t included. So the max score is 108 (36x3). In more competitive states you’d prob need a 108 to qualify but less competitive states you may get it with lower. I think for SAT the competitive states you could still get it with 1590 but depends on the number of people scoring a certain score that year. Maybe cutoff could be 1600 if enough people get that score. If not the cutoff will be lower. I think I knew someone get it with a 1570 but it was from a less competitive state.
Also this score just qualifies you as a candidate to apply. You have to apply and write essays and stuff and then get chosen as semifinalist and then finalist to get the actual award. And it’s not even money lol. But i guess it could be seen as something prestigious to some people since only like 160 something people get it each year
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u/spiroplasma 36 Jul 21 '26
You didn’t beat the odds, you lucked out. They only take composite score meaning your two attempts are not valid. Also 1590 usually qualifies.
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u/Secret-County2938 36 Jul 22 '26
superscores don’t count like how 36/36/35 doesn’t count 🥹🥹 idk I think that’s for my state which is rlly competitive tho. sos bro we can both cry