Testing in College Admissions Guide

The Evolution of College Admissions Testing

When test centers closed worldwide due to the pandemic, colleges and universities across the U.S. pivoted away from their traditional SAT or ACT requirements. By adopting test-optional policies, institutions ensured that applicants were not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.

While some institutions viewed test-optional policies as a temporary, emergency measure, many others saw the pandemic as a catalyst for permanent change in their admissions philosophy. Today, the diversity in policy adoption reflects varying institutional values across the higher education sector.

As the educational community navigates these changes, the focus remains on fostering a fair and equitable admissions process. However, the lack of uniformity means that applicants must pay closer attention to individual college testing requirements than ever before.

To Test or Not to Test?

With so much uncertainty about requirements, many juniors wonder if they should even bother preparing for the SAT or ACT. The best approach is to prepare for and take the exams, keeping all of your options open. Even test-optional schools value students who submit scores that fall above their historical averages.

If your test scores accurately reflect your academic capabilities and strengthen your profile, submit them. If they do not, and the school is test-optional, you can confidently withhold them and allow your high school transcript to speak for itself.