In the years since 2020, an increasing number of colleges and universities have embraced test-optional policies. Currently, more than 80% of undergraduate institutions are test optional, a trend that has come as a relief to many college-bound students who hope that this change marks the end of standardized testing pressure.
Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. Applying test optional is a viable strategic choice in some circumstances; in others, students do still benefit from testing. We want students to be empowered to make fully informed choices about their testing plans.
Here are a few reasons why you still might want to consider taking the SAT and/or ACT.
1. Some colleges still require testing
This may be stating the obvious, but: not every school is test optional! Some schools, like the University of Florida and other Florida state universities, never made the change, even in the height of the pandemic. Other notable testing holdouts include Georgetown, the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, and MIT, which went back to requiring testing in spring of 2022. In addition, some schools are test optional, but only for certain students—Auburn University, for example, requires that students have a 3.6 GPA to be able to apply as test-optional applicants (and encourages all students to send scores).
Likewise, we don’t yet know which schools might reinstate testing. While we expect the majority to remain test optional, especially private colleges and universities, there may be some that return to requiring the SAT and ACT—and in fact, Purdue University just announced in late November that they will reinstate the testing requirement for fall 2024 applications. Unfortunately, most colleges have a tendency to announce their testing policies in the spring before the next admissions cycle; this is very late for a junior to have to scramble to take a test. This lack of clarity is why we still encourage all students to try diagnostic tests and make a plan.
2. Test scores still matter to colleges — even test-optional ones
The role of standardized tests has always been to support and contextualize the work that students are doing in the classroom, and that will continue to be true. Scores are valuable data points for admissions officers that can bolster students’ applications, even at test-optional colleges. A strong score can provide important information that supports a student’s academic work and their growth and achievement across time. Some students who might especially benefit from a standardized test score include:
- Students with a significant upward trend throughout high school
- Students at a new or relatively unknown high school (including international students)
- Students with nontraditional high school backgrounds (multiple transfers, education gaps)
- Students applying for STEM or business majors (high math scores can bolster the academic profile)
For some great insights into how admissions officers think about and use standardized testing, check out this recent podcast episode hosted by Lee Coffin, Dean of Admission at Dartmouth. He engages in candid conversation with Stu Schmill, Dean of Admissions and Student Financial Services at MIT, and Leigh Weisenburger, Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Bates College, two representatives of schools with very different testing policies. And yet, they agree that there are students who should be sending tests, because it would benefit their academic profiles, but who aren’t because of the test-optional landscape.
3. Test prep can remedy pandemic learning gaps and increase college readiness
The pandemic may have precipitated some learning gaps among middle and high schoolers, but college standards have remained every bit as rigorous and demanding. In order to avoid floundering under a demanding college workload or struggling with advanced material, it’s critical that incoming college freshmen have rock-solid foundations in skills like math (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus), grammar, reading & analyzing texts, and more. The process of preparing for the SAT or ACT can provide an excellent opportunity to identify and close gaps in foundational knowledge, ensuring students have the tools they need to thrive in college.
When you’re ready, we are here to help you begin the test prep process with a complimentary consultation and diagnostic tests. Now is a great time to get ahead! Contact us for more information.
