How Super score works?

JestFutureFalcon

JestFutureFalcon

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I read somewhere on the forum that act scores you send into USAFA get super scored and converted to an SAT score. I would quote it but I can't remember what the original post was about. Is this true? Because I blindly sent in sat scores that were pretty average(I prefer the act any day) and act scores that were pretty good imo. Im hoping this is true because I would much rather keep taking the act to improve my scores because I struggled a ton on the sat.
 
Submit all of them they will take the best of either. If you're ACT scores are better they'll use those if SAT score is better they'll use those instead.
 
Alright thanks. Im just glad that the bad sat scores I sent in won't affect my application since I did better in all aspects of the act in comparison
 
Super scoring...let's put it in a simple way.

You take the SAT and get: 620R 630M. Then you take it again, and this time you score: 570R 690M. The academy will look at the 570 and say "nope, not as good as the 620, we'll keep that. The 690, that's better than the 630 so lets toss the 630 and keep the 690." NOW...when the ALO and USAFA/RRS look at your score they see: 620R, 690M. They do the same with the ACT.

Bottom line: you can't hurt yourself by taking the test as often as you can afford!!! You do NOT want to know how many times I took both of them in my two attempts to get into USAFA. I can tell you this (I found the results forms recently in a memento box) that my LAST ACT was a 33 composite and that got me in! Prior to that...I had USMA and ROTC...

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
I will be taking both as many times between now and the deadline for the c/o 2020 application for sure. What were your scores the first two times you applied to USAFA? Mine (superscored) are:
Math-28
Science-34
English-32
Reading-32
I've been studying my butt off for the math portion of act but my sat scores are a lot more... Cràppy
Crit Read-550
Math-650
Writing-570
I was wondering if I should keep taking the sat because I'm a lot more comfortable with the act. I read somewhere on the forum that the act scores "translate" to sat scores so that a superscore can be obtained out of both test types but I didn't know if it worked like that and wanted to be sure because I sent in both tests before researching how it would work. Im just worried the low sat looks bad
 
I believe USNA does that. IE convert ACT E to the SAT score. They can than use that portion of the ACT and added to your M SAT. It would be what I would call a super superscore.

However, as far as I know USAFA does not mix and match like that.

They will convert to an SAT score to see which superscore is better. For example a 30 ACT (M/E) would be a 1340 SAT (M/CR). Now if your SAT is 1350 they will use the SAT superscore, and toss aside the ACT. In your case right now, your ACT would be 120 points higher than the SAT, thus they would use the ACT.

Remember if you are applying for AFROTC scholarship they do not superscore at all. It is best sitting. They will still choose whichever is the best sitting that you submitted, but nothing more.
 
To piggy-back on Pima's response....I have seen, in the past, a sheet that I can't release here, from USNA that did precisely that: converted SAT/ACT scores for a comparison. I saw it when I sat on my Senator's board doing nominations.

FYI...it's not releasable so you won't find it online.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
The current SAT test is max at 2400...So the conversion chart is out of date or ahead for SATs new format
 
Easier way GOOGLE ACT conversion SAT.

The reality is they do not use the writing portion. It is Math and CR for the SAT or Math and English ACT.

I really don't know any college that cares about the writing portion for the SAT or ACT.
 
Pima said:
I really don't know any college that cares about the writing portion for the SAT or ACT.
Click to expand...

Actually, some colleges my son applied to specified ACT or SAT written portion or the SAT english subject test (don't recall official name) or AP writing course. With the changes to the SAT (removal of the written), I don't know what these kids will do. This futzing around with standardized college entrance exams play havoc with these kids and their ability to put together a competitive application. Not only did the "powers that be" muck about with the SAT, they also changed the MCAT. I am not sure if they diddled with the GMAT too.
 
I will tell you this about USAFA, from conversations I've had in the RRS area...the "writing portion" doesn't garner much interest UNLESS it's either really low (compared to the rest of the scores) or really high...other than that...the "math and English (CR)" are the ones that are viewed hard.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
IMHO...as only RRS knows what they look at...

If your writing score was over 700...I think it'd get looked at. If your other scores were in the 400-550 range, I'm SURE they'd take a close look and wonder...

But lose NO sleep about the writing score!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
flieger83 said:
IMHO...as only RRS knows what they look at...

If your writing score was over 700...I think it'd get looked at. If your other scores were in the 400-550 range, I'm SURE they'd take a close look and wonder...

But lose NO sleep about the writing score!!

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Click to expand...
For ACT writing, do you know if they look at the combined English/writing score that is out of 36, or if they look at the writing score that is on a scale of 2 to 12? I took the ACT with writing a couple times and one time I got a very high essay score out of 12, but my English was not very good so my combined English/writing wasn't that high. Another time I got a low essay score, but my English was very good so my combined English/writing was high. I'm not sure if I should bother submitting the first one because on the latter I did better on every section except the essay score out of 12.
 
As our DD has been told...They do not need to take the written portion of the ACT
 
While the USAFA may not require writing scores I'd suggest taking the writing section anyways in case a Plan B school requires it. I know most of the schools our DS applied to last year required it. It would be a bummer if they score really high on a particular test but can't submit it to a Plan B school because they do require the written portion....
 
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