The Truth About Score Choice and Superscoring

When it comes to the SAT, most students don’t take the test just once. They take it two, sometimes three times — not because they’re chasing perfection, but because they’re playing the game strategically.

And two of the most useful tools in that strategy?

Score Choice and Superscoring.
But many students (and even guidance counselors) misunderstand what these terms actually mean — and how they actually work. Let’s break it down...

What Is Superscoring?
Superscoring is something colleges do — not students. When a school superscores, it takes your best section scores across multiple test dates and combines them to create a new, higher composite score.

Example:

• First SAT: 610 Reading & Writing / 700 Math = 1310
• Second SAT: 670 Reading & Writing / 650 Math = 1320
• Superscore: 670 R&W + 700 Math = 1370
  
  

You don’t get to decide if your score is superscored — the college does. If a school offers superscoring, they’ll do it automatically after they receive your official score reports.

Why it matters: Superscoring rewards persistence. It means you can focus on improving one section at a time and still end up with your best overall score.

What Is Score Choice?
Score Choice is a feature offered by the College Board that lets you choose which SAT test dates to send to colleges.

For example, if you’ve taken the SAT three times, you can send only the best two — or just one — depending on what each college allows.
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How to Use Score Choice:

• You select Score Choice when sending your scores through your College Board account.
• You choose which test dates to send (you can’t pick individual section scores).
• Sending scores costs $14 per report (after the four free ones you get with registration).

Important : Not all colleges accept Score Choice. Some require that you send all of your SAT scores, no matter what.

Examples of schools that traditionally require all scores:

• Yale
• Georgetown
• Stanford
• University of Southern California (USC)

Always check each school’s testing policy on their admissions website. Some may still superscore, but only after receiving all your results.

Should You Use Score Choice?
If you had a bad test day and a low score you don’t want colleges to see — Score Choice can be incredibly helpful.

But if your earlier scores are decent, and the school superscores, sending multiple score reports can actually help your application.

Rule of Thumb:

• Use Score Choice if one of your scores is clearly lower and unnecessary
• Don’t use it if the school requires all scores
• If your scores are solid and the school superscores, sending more than one date can work in your favor

Final Thoughts
Score Choice and Superscoring are powerful tools — if you understand how they work.

• Superscoring is handled by the college
• Score Choice is managed by you
• Not all schools use these tools the same way
  
  

Taking the SAT early gives you more flexibility, more test dates to work with, and more chances to take advantage of both Score Choice and Superscoring.Play the game smart — and play to win.