According to the 2026–27 score release table published by ACT, paper scores from the October 17 test began releasing on October 27, while online scores were released first on October 22. For Irvine seniors who now have a second or third set of scores, the next decision is which scores to send and under which rules. Since 2025, ACT has calculated the superscore differently: science no longer counts toward the superscore Composite, which directly affects decisions about retesting and about which scores to send.

October ACT Score Release and the New Superscore Method: What Happened

ACT releases scores in two groups, and online tests are usually scored a few days earlier than paper tests. The initial release dates for the three fall and winter test dates this school year are as follows.

Test date Online initial release Paper initial release
September 19, 2026 October 6 October 6
October 17, 2026 October 22 October 27
December 12, 2026 December 17 December 22

ACT explains that the initial release includes only tests that have been received, processed and validated; remaining scores are released on later business days. ACT also reports that 43% of test takers take the test more than once, and that more than half of them improve their scores.

The superscore rules are as follows. For students who have tested more than once since September 2016, ACT automatically calculates a superscore in the MyACT account, with no separate request needed. On the enhanced ACT, the highest English, math and reading scores across all attempts are added and divided by 3, then rounded to produce the superscore Composite; on the legacy ACT, four sections are added and divided by 4. Scores from both versions can be included. Science is no longer part of the Composite, but it is still combined with math to calculate the STEM score; when section scores are tied, the most recent one is used.

What the New ACT Superscore Method Means for Irvine Families

Retesting can be more focused. The superscore Composite now counts only English, math and reading, so a student who retests can concentrate on the section that is holding the Composite down, and an off day in a section that is already strong will not lower the superscore.

Colleges receive more than one number. ACT explains that when a student sends a superscore, colleges receive the superscore Composite, the highest score in each section with its test date (including science and writing, if taken), the STEM and English Language Arts superscores, and the full score report from each test date that produced a highest score. Even a college that does not superscore can use the scores in this report according to its own policy.

The University of California does not use the SAT or ACT. The UC Admissions website states that SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions or scholarship awards; scores may be used to meet minimum eligibility requirements or for course placement after enrollment, and applicants must first submit the application without scores and then log back in to add them. Irvine students therefore take the ACT mainly for private colleges outside California and some out-of-state public universities. The background of the UC policy is covered in UC Does Not Consider SAT or ACT: Origins and Uses.

SAT and ACT Score-Sending Rules Compared

Both testing organizations let students choose which scores to send, but the details differ.

Item ACT SAT (weekend test)
Sending only some sections Not allowed; all scores from a test date are sent together Not allowed; scores are sent by full test date
Superscore Calculated by ACT; students may choose to send it Not calculated by College Board; each college decides whether to superscore
Free score sends Colleges chosen at registration receive scores automatically Up to 4 free sends per registration, changeable until 9 days after the test
Additional reports $20 per test date per report; $32 for scores 3 or more years old Fee applies beyond the free sends or after 9 days
Delivery time Usually sent the same day once all scores are available Standard delivery within 5 to 10 business days of the order; rush delivery for released scores within 1 to 4 business days

Two further details deserve attention. ACT writing scores cannot be sent on their own, but a superscore can combine a writing score from one test date with multiple-choice scores from another. College Board states that students with fee waivers can send SAT scores for free to as many institutions as they want.

How Three Universities Use Superscores

University Testing requirement Superscore method Testing deadline
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) SAT or ACT required; ACT science and writing not required Primarily considers the highest score in each section Tests taken before November 30 for Early Action and before December 31 for Regular Action
Grinnell College Test-optional; ACT science section not required Superscored ACT Composite; superscored SAT for both sections Applicants state whether they will submit scores by the round deadline and cannot change afterward
University of California Not used for admission Not applicable When used for eligibility or placement, tests taken no later than December of senior year

MIT asks applicants to self-report every full sitting they have taken and not to enter a self-calculated superscore as a single sitting; official scores are verified upon enrollment. Grinnell College accepts self-reported or official scores and requires official scores before enrolled students arrive on campus.

The University of California Entry Level Writing Requirement is another frequent source of confusion. An ACT English Language Arts score of 30 or higher satisfies it; when English plus Reading is used, the combined score must be at least 63 and both sections must come from the same test date, so superscoring does not apply. Digital SAT scores cannot be used for this requirement; a score of 3 or higher on AP English Language and Composition or three other AP Exams also satisfies it.

EDUBUS Recommendations on ACT Superscoring and Score Sending

Check each college’s policy before choosing what to send. ACT itself advises students to confirm the testing policy on each college’s admissions website. For a college such as MIT that asks for every sitting, report as required; for a test-optional college such as Grinnell College, compare the superscore with the college’s published score range before deciding whether to submit.

Identify the weakest section before retesting. Under the new method, science does not count toward the Composite, so if a target college looks only at the superscore Composite, preparation for a retest should focus on the weakest of English, math and reading. There is one more ACT on December 12, with online scores released on December 17; MIT, for example, requires Regular Action tests to be taken before December 31, so that test date still qualifies.

Handle the University of California application separately. The UC application due November 30 does not need SAT or ACT scores for admission review; students who plan to use the ACT for the Entry Level Writing Requirement should confirm that their English and Reading scores come from the same test date.

Score timing for early and regular deadlines is covered in Early Deadlines: Will SAT/ACT Scores Arrive in Time?, and the number of attempts is covered in How Many Times Should You Take the SAT?. Families who want to coordinate a testing schedule with a college list can learn about EDUBUS university admissions planning and SAT preparation courses.

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