Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges have introduced flexibility in the admissions process by adopting test-optional policies regarding college entrance exams. These policy changes were implemented at colleges due to primarily pandemic restrictions and concerns about the fairness of standardized testing.
The two most common college entrance exams submitted by high school students on college applications are the SAT and the ACT. The SAT measures a student’s reading, writing, and mathematical abilities on a scale from 400 to 1600. The ACT is almost identical in content to the SAT but includes a science section and a scoring range from 1 to 36. While it varies from school to school, more than 80% of colleges have moved towards not requiring applicants to submit their ACT or SAT scores for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.
This flexibility offers students the choice to not submit lower test scores that may have a negative effect on their application. “I think this option is great because kids who are not good test takers but excel in school will have an equal opportunity in admissions,” said Oliver Graham ’24.
However, test scores can also help bolster a student’s application if they feel their transcript is not representative of their academic progress. “I personally will be including my SAT score because it represents my academic ability better than my transcript,” said Kris Sekhar ’24.
The number of colleges with test-optional or test-blind policies has approximately doubled since 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns and concerns about socioeconomic and racial disparities. Organizations like The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) have published findings about how the SAT negatively affects female, African American, and Latino students. Additionally, students from wealthier backgrounds can often afford to take the SAT or ACT several times and receive individualized test preparation tutoring. While the intention of standardized tests is to gauge academic ability and potential, growing evidence and concern that they may inadvertently perpetuate inequities in the college admissions process have led to a shift in testing policies.
Despite many universities offering flexibility to students through test-optional policies, some schools still require students to submit scores for scholarship eligibility or admission consideration. States like Florida have hard cutoff SAT and ACT score requirements for students applying for scholarships funded by taxpayers, while selective universities like MIT and Georgetown require applicants to submit their test scores for admission evaluation. However, many colleges are still unsure of their testing policies moving forward. “Some universities that are test-optional for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle are undecided for next year,” said Mrs. Goodwin, one of Prep’s college counselors.
When faced with the choice to submit test scores, students should make a decision that will best help their admission chances at each school they apply to. College admissions experts recommend students submit scores at or above the middle 50% score range for each college they plan to apply to. However, students should understand that their test scores play a minor role in their applications, as most colleges incorporate a holistic admissions approach to evaluate students on a variety of things, not just one score.
