Your ACT superscore is the average of your best English, Math and Reading scores from every ACT you have taken, rounded to a whole number. ACT calculates it automatically once you have tested more than once. For the class of 2025, students who tested two or more times raised their superscore by 2.4 points on average.
How is the ACT superscore calculated?
ACT takes your highest English, highest Math and highest Reading score, from any test dates, and averages them the same way it builds a Composite. Its superscore FAQ puts it simply: add the three, divide by three, round to the nearest whole number.
| English | Math | Reading | Composite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 27 | 31 | 26 | 28 |
| December | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
| Superscore | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 |
Neither sitting produced a 30. The superscore does, because it pairs October's Math with December's English and Reading.
Three rules decide which tests count. Any ACT from September 2016 onward is eligible. Old-format and new-format tests mix freely, so a 2025 Math score can combine with a 2026 English score. And since September 2025, the superscore uses only English, Math and Reading, the same three sections as the Composite. If an old test had a strong Science score, it no longer lifts your superscore.
Why does the superscore rise faster than a retake?
Because a retake is a fresh test and the superscore is not. ACT's research found that students who first scored between 13 and 29 raised their Composite by about one point on a retake. The superscore gain for 2025 retesters was 2.4 points.
On any single sitting, a better Math day can come with a worse Reading day, and the two cancel out. The superscore keeps only the good days. The two numbers come from different ACT reports, so treat the gap as a rough guide rather than a promise.
Rounding adds to it. The Composite averages three whole numbers, so your total only has to cross one line to move up. Depending on where your total sits, one section point can be enough, and how the ACT is scored shows how to work out your own distance.
What do colleges see when you send a superscore?
More than the superscore. ACT says a superscore report includes the full scores from every test date that supplied one of your best sections. A college that does not superscore can still read those full results. If you took Science or Writing, the report also shows your highest score in each.
You choose what goes out: one specific test date, or your superscore. Not every college superscores the ACT, so check each college's testing page. MIT, for example, says that when you take the same test more than once, it primarily considers your highest score in each section.
| You send | The college sees |
|---|---|
| One test date | That date's scores only |
| Your superscore | The superscore, plus the full results of each test date that supplied a best section |
How do you send an ACT superscore?
Order it from the scores dashboard in your MyACT account and pay by card, according to ACT's superscore page. ACT's pages list report prices of both $20 and $32, and we set out that conflict in how much the ACT costs. If a college does not superscore, your single best test date may be all it needs.
How many times can you take the ACT?
ACT's student page says there is no limit. Its scores page says 43% of test takers sit it more than once, and ACT says most students need two or three attempts to reach their goal.
Plan for two sittings with a third in reserve. Leave enough time between them to study the first one properly. On four test dates a year, My Answer Key gives you your real questions back, and a retake built on that is worth more than a retake on hope. The dates are in ACT test dates for 2026-27.
If a sitting goes badly, you can ask ACT to cancel that test date's scores. ACT's scores page says you contact ACT and complete a form, and it then cancels the record for good and notifies any college that already received those scores.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ACT superscore automatically?
Yes. ACT calculates your superscore automatically once you have taken the ACT more than once, using any test from September 2016 onward. You choose whether to send the superscore or a single test date.
Does the ACT superscore include Science?
Not since September 2025. The superscore averages your best English, Math and Reading scores only. If you took Science, your highest Science score still appears on the report, separately.
Can I superscore an old ACT with the new ACT?
Yes. ACT says your highest section scores can come from any test, whether it used the old format or the new one.
Do colleges see all my ACT scores if I send a superscore?
They see the superscore and the full results from each test date that supplied one of your best section scores. A college that does not superscore can still review those results.
How many times can you take the ACT?
ACT says there is no limit. 43% of test takers take it more than once, and ACT says most students need two or three attempts to reach their goal.
How much does a superscore raise your ACT score?
For the class of 2025, students who tested two or more times raised their superscore by 2.4 points on average. A single retake raised the Composite by about one point for students who first scored between 13 and 29.