2023-2024 SAT/ACT Updates

More and more colleges are becoming test-optional — they allow applicants to decide whether or not they will submit their standardized test scores. You are about to gear up for the SAT or ACT, or you just got your scores, and now you may be wondering if it’s necessary for you to take the test or submit those official scores.

SAT and ACT scores are important in the 2022-2023 college admissions cycle when applying to test-required schools. Especially if they’re high, standardized test scores can be beneficial when applying to test-optional institutions. They don’t count only when applying to test-blind colleges.

Which Colleges are Test-Optional?

Some colleges and universities have been test-optional for a long time already. Many of them permanently enact such an admissions policy. There are also those that have become test-optional only until recently, some of which are only for certain high school classes or admissions cycles.

If the school says it’s test-optional, it’s entirely up to you to decide whether you will submit your SAT or ACT scores or hush up about them. In a few, I will tell you when and when not to submit test scores when applying to a test-optional college — so don’t stop reading now!

Here’s a list of test-optional schools I prepared for you.

When Should You Submit Your SAT or ACT Scores?

Students applying to test-required colleges should submit their SAT or ACT scores. They should submit all scores from different test dates if the schools they apply to super-score standardized test scores. When applying to test-optional schools, SAT or ACT scores should be submitted only if high.

If you are planning on attending a college or university with a test-required admissions policy, you have no other choice but to take the SAT or ACT and submit your scores, too.

Otherwise, the institution will not consider your application when it’s time to review it.

You may or may not submit your standardized test scores, on the other hand, if you are applying to a test-optional school. Just like what its admissions policy explains, submitting SAT or ACT scores is totally optional. Fret not as you will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process should you decide to keep those scores you got a secret.

However, it’s important to note that, since admissions officers have one less data point available to them through which they could get to know your academic ability or potential more, they will focus elsewhere.

And this means using the rest of your application in coming up with your much-awaited admissions decision!

Even though the college or university you wish to apply to is test-optional, there are instances when submitting your SAT or ACT scores is a smarter move than keeping them under wraps. Even if a school has a test-optional admissions policy, it doesn’t mean right away that they do not consider SAT or ACT scores important.

If you meet one or any of the following conditions, it’s probably a much better idea for you to submit your standardized test scores for they might help increase your admissions chances:

Strong numbers

Access the school’s Common Data Set (CDS) from the last admissions cycle and look up the range of the SAT or ACT scores of admitted students. If your composite standardized test score is in the upper part or even above the middle 50, which is the range of scores between the 25th percentile and 75th percentile, you should submit it.

Absence of other scores

Other than the SAT or ACT scores, most colleges and universities ask hopefuls to submit other scores. Some of them include AP and IB test scores. If you have none of them, it’s a good idea to submit your standardized test scores in order to help make your application stronger — admissions officers love seeing numbers, especially high ones.

Submission is recommended

On their websites, test-optional institutions say that applicants may or may not provide their SAT or ACT scores. Many of them also say that no one will be penalized for not submitting theirs. But then there are also those that add that they recommend submitting scores nonetheless, which is a sign that you should consider making a submission.

Showing your college readiness as well as what you are truly capable of is the goal for presenting your standardized test scores. But if they can weaken rather than strengthen your application, it’s a much better idea to keep them undisclosed, particularly if applicants can decide whether or not to submit.

You should not submit those SAT or ACT scores to a test-optional school if:

• The composite score does not fall within the upper middle 50 range for the last admitted class

• It does not serve as a reflection of your academic performance in high school

The only time you should keep your SAT or ACT score to yourself no matter if it’s impressively high or embarrassingly low is if the school you are applying to has a test-blind admissions policy.

Well, technically, you can submit them — but the admissions officers will not look at those scores of yours.

Are There Colleges That Do Not Require SAT or ACT Scores?

Colleges and universities that do not require applicants to submit their official SAT or ACT scores are called test-blind schools. Also sometimes referred to as test-free schools, these institutions do not consider standardized test scores during the admissions process, even if applicants submit them.

Test-optional schools will consider SAT or ACT scores if they are submitted.

At institutions with a test-blind admissions policy, standardized test scores are not taken into account in the admissions process, which is why hopefuls are not required to submit theirs.

Even if you have very high SAT or ACT scores, it’s pointless to submit them. So, in other words, they will not help increase your admissions chances. At test-blind schools, admissions officers would much rather make admissions decisions according to various parts of a student’s application, except standardized test scores.

Here’s an updated list of US colleges and universities that are test-blind.

Please do take note that just because a school is test-blind today doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be test-blind for good. If truth be told, the vast majority of the institutions mentioned above are test-blind only within a provided time period. Some of them are until 2023 only, while others are until 2024.

But then there are also those that are permanently test-blind. Some of them are Hampshire College, Loyola University New Orleans, Northern Illinois University, Washington State University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Are There Colleges That Require SAT or ACT scores?

While there are colleges and universities that are either test-optional or test-blind, there are also those where all applicants must submit their SAT or ACT scores. In most instances, it’s for their applications to be considered by the admissions officers. There are times, too, when it’s for scholarship purposes.

If an institution requires applicants to submit their SAT or ACT scores, you have no choice but to provide yours. Failure to comply will result in your application not being considered by the college.

Fortunately, there are only a handful of schools in the US with a test-required admissions policy:

• Alderson-Broaddus College

• Art Academy of Cincinnati

• Blue Mountain College

• Cameron University

• Castleton State College

• City College of New York

• Dallas Christian College

• Fairmont State University

• Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

• Fort Valley State University

• Georgetown University

• Howard Payne University

• Kentucky Christian University

• Long Island University Brooklyn

• MacMurray College

• Mayville State University

• Olivet Nazarene University

• Queens College (CUNY)

• Richard Stockton College of New Jersey

• Rogers State University

• Southern Arkansas University

• St. Edward’s University

• The University of Texas at Brownsville

• United States Merchant Marine Academy

• The University of Arkansas at Little Rock

• University of Jamestown

• University of Pennsylvania

• William Carey University

It’s important to note that test-required schools may adopt a test-optional or test-blind admissions policy at any time. Needless to say, it’s of utmost importance to research your top-choice institution’s admissions requirements in advance so that you can prepare so much better for the next admissions cycle.

Standardized test scores are a requirement in some states for students applying to college, not only for their applications to be considered but also for them to be considered for scholarships.

In Florida, for instance, submitting SAT or ACT scores is a must for graduating high schoolers.

According to a statement by a board member that oversees all 12 public institutions of higher education in the Sunshine State, it’s because standardized test scores are a requirement to be eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship program.

Funded by the state, the said scholarship provides financial assistance based on high school academic achievement. It has different award levels, each with its own award amounts and eligibility criteria.

The Bright Futures Scholarship program is so big that, in 2019, over 110,000 students depended on it.

To qualify for what’s considered the most competitive and generous of all Bright Futures Scholarship programs, the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS), degree-seeking students must have a minimum SAT score of 1330 or an ACT score of at least 25. They should also have a weighted GPA of at least 3.0.

Conclusion

Taking the SAT or ACT and submitting your scores, too, are a must if you are planning on applying to a test-required school. Providing any scores is unnecessary if you are thinking about attending a test-blind college.

It’s only when applying to an institution with a test-optional policy that you have to carefully decide between showing your SAT or ACT scores and keeping them to yourself. But if the college or university says it does not require test scores but submitting them is recommended, it’s a good idea to hand over yours.

However, if your standardized test scores are low or do not reflect your academic prowess, consider not submitting them. But make sure that other parts of your application, such as your AP scores, class rank, personal statement, and extracurriculars, are impressive enough for your dream school.

Written By: Al Abdukadirov, Independent Education Consultant, Editor-in-chief..