Released: April 8, 2026
ACT updated its superscore methodology to make the Science section optional, meaning official ACT superscores no longer include Science in the composite calculation by default.
Previously, Element451's ACT composite and superscore fields automatically included Science whenever a score was on file, creating a discrepancy with ACT's reported superscore.
This update introduces a new Composite Score (No Science) field for both individual ACT test records and superscores, giving institutions a way to align with ACT's current standard while retaining all score data on file for prerequisite and institutional use.
Existing Composite Score field remains unchanged; it continues to include Science in the calculation whenever a Science score is available on the student record
New Composite Score (No Science) field calculates the ACT composite using the standard method but excludes Science, even when a Science score is present
Superscore support applies the same field and logic to ACT superscores, so Element451's superscore can match ACT's official methodology
Segment filter and import/export mapping are supported for the new field, making it available for segmentation and data import/export workflows
Consistent values when Science is absent: when no Science score exists, the standard Composite Score and Composite Score (No Science) will return the same value
⚠️ The existing Composite Score field will continue to behave dynamically based on the availability of a Science score, and current imports/exports will remain unaffected. However, if you want to export a Composite Score that always excludes the Science component (even when it is present), you will need to update your import and/or export configurations accordingly.
Institutions can now accurately reflect ACT's updated superscore standard in Element451 without losing stored Science scores needed for prerequisite tracking or institutional reporting.
