ACT Superscore vs Composite: What's the Difference?
Your ACT Composite is the average of English, Math, and Reading from a single test date. Your superscore is the average of your best English, Math, and Reading scores across all your test dates. The Composite comes from one sitting; the superscore takes your best section from each sitting, so it is equal to or higher than any single Composite, never lower.
The two scores, side by side
| Composite | Superscore | |
|---|---|---|
| Built from | One test date | Your best sections across multiple test dates |
| How it is calculated | Average of that day's English, Math, Reading (1-36) | Average of your highest English, Math, and Reading from any dates |
| Who creates it | ACT, on every report | ACT (Superscore report) and many colleges |
| Can it go down? | Varies date to date | Never lower than your best single Composite |
On the 2026 enhanced ACT, both numbers use the same three core sections: English, Math, and Reading. Science is optional and scored separately, so it does not factor into either the Composite or the superscore.
A worked example
How a superscore is built — say you test twice:
| Test date | English | Math | Reading | Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 30 | 24 | 28 | 27 |
| June | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
| Best of each | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 (superscore) |
Neither single date broke a 28 Composite, but the superscore is 29 because it takes your best English (April) and your best Math and Reading (June). That is the appeal: a strong section is never wasted just because you had an off day elsewhere. (These numbers are an illustrative example, not real score data.)
Do colleges use the superscore?
Many do, but not all, and some recalculate it themselves. ACT sends a superscore automatically once you have more than one test record, but each college decides whether to use your superscore, your single best Composite, or your most recent date. Always check the testing policy on each school's admissions page before assuming.
How to actually use this
The superscore changes your retake math. If one section dragged down an otherwise strong date, a focused retake of just that section can lift your superscore without you having to beat your whole Composite at once. That is also why it pays to test more than once — see how many times you should take the ACT and the full superscore guide. To set a target first, read what counts as a good ACT score.
FAQ
What's the difference between an ACT superscore and a composite?
The Composite is the average of English, Math, and Reading from one test date. The superscore is the average of your best English, Math, and Reading scores across all your test dates, so it pulls your strongest section from each sitting.
Is the superscore higher than the composite?
It is equal to or higher than your best single Composite, and never lower, because it combines your best section scores instead of one day's results.
Do colleges use ACT superscores?
Many colleges superscore the ACT, but not all do, and some calculate it their own way. Check each school's published testing policy, since some use your single best Composite or your most recent test date instead.
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