Overview

Evaluations, also called Tests, are essential to managing applicant data in the Decisions module. Element451 allows you to collect, manage, and review student test scores—including automatically calculated superscores for the ACT and SAT.

Within Decisions, test scores and superscores appear as part of the application review interface, helping reviewers assess academic readiness. You can configure score thresholds and determine how scores are factored into review scoring. Superscores are especially helpful in presenting a student’s strongest performance across multiple test attempts.

Adding Test Scores/Evaluations

There are several ways to add test scores in Element451:

By applicants: Students can enter their test scores during the application process using the user-evaluations-unofficial-root field.
By staff: You can manually enter scores from a contact’s Evaluations profile card within their contact record or import them using the Import + Export module.

📌 Note: To manage your test thresholds and configuration settings, go to Decision Settings > Tests. Read more about Test settings in our Decisions: Tests help article.

Viewing Superscores

There are two places where you can view superscores in the platform:

During Application Review: Superscores are displayed in the Tests section when reviewing and scoring a decision. You’ll see either ACT (S) or SAT (S) listed. The (S) indicates that the score is a superscore. If a score with "(S)" is not listed, a superscore has not yet been calculated. This indicates that the applicant has only one test on file or, if multiple tests exist, an individual score is missing, which may prevent the calculation (see calculation logic below).
In the Contact Record (Superscores Profile Card): The Superscores card within the contact record shows the calculated composite score for both ACT and SAT, using all available test attempts.

If you view the superscore from the profile card, you can review the highest scores used in the superscore calculation by clicking "view scores."

🚨 Important: ACT and SAT superscores are calculated automatically by Element451. You cannot manually add or edit superscores.

ACT Superscore Calculation Logic

Element451 automatically calculates superscores for ACT based on the highest scores a student has earned across all attempts. Superscores are recalculated anytime a new test score is added to the record.

Composite Superscore

Uses the highest scores across all attempts for:

English
Math
Reading
Science (optional)

Calculation:

If Science is present:
(Highest English + Highest Math + Highest Reading + Highest Science) ÷ 4

If Science is not present:
(Highest English + Highest Math + Highest Reading) ÷ 3

Rounded to the nearest whole number

📌 Note: If any of the English, Math, or Reading scores are missing, a superscore will not be calculated.

Composite Superscore (No Science)

Calculates the ACT composite using English, Math, and Reading only—Science is excluded even when a Science score is on file. This aligns with ACT's official superscore methodology, which no longer includes Science in the composite.

Calculation:

Highest English + Highest Math + Highest Reading ÷ 3, rounded to the nearest whole number.

This field is available on both individual ACT test records and ACT superscores, and is supported in segment filters and import/export.

📌 Note: When no Science score exists, the standard Composite Superscore and Composite Superscore (No Science) will return the same value.

STEM Superscore

Calculated as the average of the highest Math and Science scores across all attempts.

Calculation:

(Highest Math + Highest Science) ÷ 2
If Science is missing, the STEM Superscore will not be calculated
Rounded to the nearest whole number

SAT Superscore Calculation Logic

Element451 automatically calculates superscores for SAT based on the highest scores a student has earned across all attempts. Superscores are recalculated anytime a new test score is added to the record.