If you already read the introduction to this series, then the first section of this post will be a refresher. But to answer this question, it makes sense to go back to the different testing policies colleges have adopted. Those are test optional, test blind, or the traditional test required.
Test Required: This is the typical admissions policy that most families were familiar with prior to the pandemic. At test-required schools, all applicants must submit at least one SAT or ACT score in order to be considered for admissions. In 2022–2024, a handful of schools elected to resume requiring standardized test scores. The most notable colleges requiring tests for students applying for 2025 admission as of this post’s publication are listed below:
Massachusetts institute of technology
purdue university
Obviously, if your student wants to apply to any of these schools, then the answer to “Do I need to take the test?” is absolutely yes! But what if these schools are not on your student’s college list?
Test Blind: A test-blind college will not accept your test scores, even if you have them and want to send them in with your application. It’s worth noting that some students try to sneak their scores into the “additional information” sections of applications. Do not do this! Admissions officers and readers do not appreciate it, and it demonstrates wanton disregard for the policies and values of the college to which you’re applying. Choosing to ignore directions in this way will not help your admissions chances.
The University of California
As of the 2024 application year, some test-blind colleges are:
While these schools will not even look at your student’s SAT or ACT score, even if it is submitted with the application, the scores can be used in other ways that might make it a good idea to still take the SAT or ACT (more on that below). It’s also worth noting that these colleges, except for the University of California, can change their minds about being test blind in the future. Caltech, for instance, has been actively tracking performance data for their test blind admits over the years and will surely use that performance data to decide whether or not to require the SAT or ACT in the future. The University of California will never return to a testing requirement. Their test-blind admissions policy is the result of a settlement reached in Smith v Regents of the University of California in 2021. [1]
Test Flexible: This is a narrower category of colleges that wants to see some sort of test score(s), but not necessarily the SAT or ACT. Test flexible colleges will accept AP Tests, IB Tests—and sometimes other kinds of standardized test scores—as stand-ins for the SAT or ACT. They want to see some evidence of standardized testing to validate an applicant’s aptitude, but they are willing to take other types of tests beyond the usual 3-letter exams.
Test Optional: The last, and largest, category. I won’t even attempt to list all the colleges that are test optional; nobody has that kind of time. If a college has a test-optional admissions policy, then submitting a test score is welcome, but not required. Most schools go out of their way to specify that your application will not be disadvantaged if you choose not to submit scores. Colleges are looking for reasons to admit students, not reasons to disqualify them, so lacking a test score will not be a disqualifying attribute of your student’s application. But if you choose to submit a score, it can provide additional context or demonstrate academic ability not reflected in the transcript.
Does that mean my student shouldn’t take the SAT?
Not at all! Your student should absolutely take the SAT or ACT at least once. There will be a deeper exploration of when to submit or not submit those scores in a future article. But it’s good to take the test and have it as an option to provide to colleges, just in case. It’s also worth noting that some colleges are having a hard time training admissions officers and application readers to compare applications with scores to ones without scores. So the prevailing wisdom is that if you compare an applicant without a score to an identical applicant with a score, the applicant with the score will “win” (i.e., be admitted). Having more data points in your application is absolutely an advantage. [2] So if your student has the time and you have the means to prepare them for the SAT or ACT, you absolutely should try. But if you’re still on the fence on having your student take the SAT or ACT, know there are other ways that colleges can and do use standardized tests outside of making admissions decisions.
Some colleges use SAT and ACT scores to help determine class placements for Math and English courses, including at the University of California. [3] Colleges do offer alternative placement tests to determine which English or Math course your student will start in. But why do that when the SAT or ACT adds to applications at test-optional colleges and is used for placements, too? Using test scores in this way saves time and energy.
The other place where test scores can be used is in providing merit aid. Merit aid is money colleges offer to students with strong performance in any area that the college deems important (this can mean high GPA or test scores, or perhaps for being an exceptional performer or artist, or for anything else—other than athletics, which have additional regulations). At many colleges that went test optional for admissions, students still needed to submit test scores to be eligible for merit scholarships. Some schools have changed this policy, enabling students who do not submit scores to also receive merit scholarships, but some have not made this change yet. Depending on the college, you might lose out on tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships if your student does not submit an SAT or ACT score.
Any time your student can get face-to-face with a college admissions officer—whether at a college fair, a college tour, or through an online information session—I always recommend asking about eligibility requirements for merit scholarships and about English or Math placement tests to see if you can use an SAT or ACT score for these other purposes besides admission.
Summary
If your student wants to apply to any of the schools on the Test Required list, then obviously they must take the SAT or ACT, and we will publish recommendations for when and how to prepare and take these tests. The answer gets murkier with other colleges. Even test blind colleges can use standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, even if they are not utilized for admissions. They can help determine placement in Math and English courses. So even though the test might not get you admitted, it could speed your student’s path through college by qualifying them for a higher level of English or Math.
Some colleges also require test scores in order to be eligible for merit scholarships, which can equal tens of thousands of dollars in aid to make college that much more affordable. Imagine cutting your tuition in half just because your student qualified for a merit scholarship. And often, your student can requalify for that money each year by maintaining a high GPA.
I believe that it’s better to have the score and not need it than to need the score and not have it. And colleges will favor an applicant with more data in their application over one with less. But whether testing makes sense for your student will depend on their unique circumstances and a number of other factors: what major they want to apply to, which colleges, their GPA and course rigor, and their testing ability or how much time they have to prepare for the test.
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Citations
[1] “Milestone Settlement in Higher Education Reached Between Students and University of California",” Public Counsel. https://publiccounsel.org/press-releases/milestone-settlement-in-higher-education-reached-between-students-and-university-of-california/ (Accessed: Jul 13, 2023).
[2] Jill Barshay, “Colleges that ditched test scores for admissions find it’s harder to be fair in choosing students, researcher says,” The Hechinger Report. https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-colleges-that-ditched-test-scores-for-admissions-find-its-harder-to-be-fair-in-choosing-students-researcher-says/ (Accessed: Jul 12, 2023).
[3] “Exam Requirements” University of California, https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/freshman-requirements/exam-requirement/ (Accessed: Jul 5, 2023).