For Selective Colleges, When is Standardized Testing Really Optional?

Following the pandemic, many of us saw the headlines declaring that standardized tests in college admissions were going away, and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. No more SAT or ACT stress.

Not so fast.

Today, the role of standardized testing in college admissions is confusing as ever–even for people like me, whose job is to stay on top of these trends.

Part of the confusion comes from how colleges talk about testing. Take Duke, for example. Their website states:

Students who apply without SAT or ACT scores this year will not be at a disadvantage in our consideration of their applications. Our decisions are based on a student’s comprehensive application materials, with or without test scores….The decision of whether or not to have your SAT or ACT considered is entirely yours. Choosing not to have SAT or ACT scores considered will not impact your admissions decision. 

Reassuring, right?

Yet, 76% of students admitted to Duke last year submitted an SAT or ACT score with a middle 50th percentile of 1520-1570 and 34-35, respectively. So, it’s logical to ask, if most admitted students are submitting scores that strong, can choosing not to submit scores really have no impact? 

Based on the data I review and the research I follow, here’s what students should know about standardized testing and its role in selective admissions.

Standardized testing is on the rise. 

During the pandemic, most colleges moved to test-optional or test-flexible policies because testing wasn’t widely available. Since then, the number of selective colleges that require tests has increased. Of the eight Ivy League Schools, all but Columbia have returned to requiring standardized testing. Highly selective technical institutions like MIT and Caltech now require them as well. 

Large flagship universities are also bringing tests back into the process. These include Ohio State, U-T Austin, Purdue, and the University of Tennessee. Even less selective colleges, including Ole Miss and LSU, now require scores again.

Testing never disappeared, it seems. It’s just become more confusing.

Test-optional doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere. 

Many selective colleges still say they’re test-optional, but the role that scores play in the admissions process varies widely from campus to campus. And, unfortunately, colleges are rarely transparent about this.

But if you do some digging, the information is available. One of the best places to look is the Common Data Set, a report most colleges publish each year with detailed admissions information. In particular, it shows the percentages of enrolled students who submitted test scores. At some highly selective colleges, the majority of admitted students still submit scores.

Selective Colleges with HIGHER Test Score Submission Rates

College	Admit Rate	% of Enrolled Students Submitting ACT or SAT
University of Michigan	16%	69%
UNC Chapel Hill	15%	69%
Duke	6%	76%
Johns Hopkins	6%	68%
Columbia	4%	61%

Meanwhile, at other selective colleges, far fewer admitted students submit scores.

Selective Colleges with LOWER Test Score Submission Rates

College	Admit Rate	% of Enrolled Students Submitting ACT or SAT
Colorado College	18%	45%
Tulane	14%	41%
New York University	9%	38%
Pomona	7%	50%
Northeastern	5%	30%

So, how should students approach testing?

Unless extenuating circumstances exist, I generally advise students to prepare for standardized testing. Because colleges aren’t always transparent about how scores are used in admissions, the data suggests that having scores within a college’s competitive range is often an advantage at many selective institutions. 

If you’re unsure whether to take an exam or submit test scores, check the policies for the colleges of interest to you. FairTest maintains the most comprehensive and up-to-date list of test-optional and test-free colleges. That said, policies are changing quickly, so it’s always best to confirm on a college’s website. 

If you’re trying to decide whether to submit test scores to a test-optional school, search for the school’s Common Data Set and navigate to Section C: First-Time, First-Year Admission. Look for table C9, which lists the number and percentage of first-time, first-year enrolled students who submitted SAT or ACT.

One final reminder

The admissions process never hinges on a single detail, whether that is a GPA or a standardized test score. And remember, there are nearly 3000 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. where you can have an incredible college experience.  Many would love to enroll you, with or without test scores.