Expert tips for college success

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15 January 2025

Written by: Commodo Consequat

A short discussion about SAT and ACT testing and college admission

Standardized testing has existed for many years and will probably be for the foreseeable future. Testing was developed to compare students from different educational backgrounds and locations and to level the playing field for all students. Over the years, research has shown that the SAT and ACT can be good predictors of success at particular institutions. Since colleges and universities want to attract students who are a good fit for their institution, the tests have been a part of their admissions matrix for quite a while. Many colleges and universities have required either the SAT or ACT for admission for many years. However, since the pandemic, many universities have adopted different testing requirements, making it difficult to know what a particular school wants.

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Schools have adopted different testing requirements as part of the admissions process.
1. Test Optional for All – You may submit your scores, but you can choose not to submit your scores. Generally, these schools say to report scores if you think it will help.
2. Test Optional for some – Some schools require you to submit scores if you don’t meet minimum requirements or you are applying to specific schools within the college, i.e. STEM or Engineering
3. Test Flexible – These schools will allow students to submit AP scores instead of SAT or ACT scores.
4. Test Blind – These schools don’t look at any scores, even if submitted.
5. Test options/blind – These schools require the scores but will not look at them.

With all these variations, knowing whether to take the SAT or ACT is difficult. However, there are a couple more things to remember when deciding whether to take one of the tests. Many schools use the SAT or ACT to give our merit aid and scholarships. Additionally, schools are continuing to change their policies, even at the last minute.

In summary, To take the test or not to take the test…depends. However, if you take the test, all options may be open, but if you don’t, for whatever reason, be ok with some colleges no longer being an option for admission or not able to apply for merit.

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Expert tips for college success

A short discussion about SAT and ACT testing and college admission

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