The Scoop on SATs and ACTs

Happy October, and in my world, happy application season! 

Sophomores and juniors, this post is for you and your parents; I hope to demystify the ever-changing, somewhat confusing, landscape of standardized testing.

It has been almost five years since the pandemic forced hundreds of US colleges to adopt test-optional policies. While most schools have continued these policies, some have gone “test blind.” Others have returned to requiring test scores. As an applicant, it can be a lot to sort through: how is a student to know how much to prioritize testing? Here are some FAQs and tips to help you navigate the testing process. 

What does “test blind” (or test free) mean? 

Simply put, colleges with test-blind policies do not even accept test scores as part of the application. The University of California and California State systems fall into this category. 

Here is a complete list:

https://www.collegekickstart.com/blog/item/colleges-with-test-blind-score-free-admission-policies-2024-25

Which colleges are back to requiring test scores?

While most US colleges have continued their test-optional policies, some, including a few extremely selective colleges (Harvard and Stanford, for example), are back to requiring test scores:

https://testinnovators.com/blog/colleges-require-sat-act-test/

Should I even bother taking a standardized test if I think I’m only going to apply to test-blind colleges?

Yes! Keep your options open. You may decide down the line to apply to other schools that DO consider, and perhaps even require, test scores.

Which test is for me? ACT or SAT?

You won’t know until you take a baseline (practice) test of each type. Some students score significantly higher on the ACT than they do on the SAT - or vice versa. Focus on preparing for the test on which you perform better. Colleges that consider (or require) test scores do not favor one kind of test over the other. 

Is test-prep tutoring important?

Yes, and there are a variety of excellent options out there. Whether you’re looking for test prep that is in-person or virtual, private or group, you can find tutoring that ranges in cost and intensity. Here are a couple of companies that I recommend to families:

Denver Test Prep is popular with my Colorado clients, although they also do virtual tutoring all over the world: https://denvertestprep.com/

AJ tutoring is a go-to for my SF Bay Area clients: https://www.ajtutoring.com/test-prep-tutoring/

If paying for tutoring is not possible for your family, here are some free test-prep options:

Khan Academy (SAT):

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/digital-sat#v2-sat-math

ACT:

https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/free-act-test-prep.html

Bottom line: put in the time and effort to prepare. Most of the time, you get out of it what you put into it, so please do not go into a standardized test totally unprepared!

How many times should I take the test? 

If you have engaged in tutoring/prep, taking an official ACT or SAT twice during junior year is sufficient. Some college consultants will disagree with me on this, but I don’t think students need to take these tests more than a couple of times. After all, the stress and time you put into a test that is not required at most US colleges could be spent on other important endeavors, like your school work and extracurriculars! However, if you are applying to extremely highly selective colleges that require scores, you may feel you need to take it multiple times to attain a goal score. 

How do I figure out which test-optional schools to send my scores to?

Pay close attention to the average admitted-student test score range from the previous year, especially for highly selective schools. For example, Notre Dame reports that the middle 50% of their accepted, test-submitting students last season scored between 32 and 35 (composite) on the ACT, so this year, I would advise my students to submit a 34 or higher to Notre Dame. If their grades and course rigor were excellent, they could submit a 33, but anything below that is better left as a test-optional application.

Concluding thoughts. 

On top of everything else test-related, current high school students have had to navigate the transition to online, adaptive SATs and ACTs. Gone are the days of penciling in the bubbles!

At the end of the day, remember that you are so much more than your test score, so if testing is not your strong suit, remember that most schools still do not require them!

Reach out to me directly at celia@laurelcc.com with any questions about this or anything else regarding the college application process.