Test-Optional Admissions: Should You Submit SAT/ACT Scores?

With most colleges now test-optional, deciding whether to submit SAT/ACT scores is critical. Here's how to make the strategic choice.

Understanding Test-Optional Policies

What Test-Optional Means

Definition: Colleges don't require SAT/ACT scores for admission

You can apply without submitting scores
If submitted, scores ARE considered
No penalty for not submitting (in theory)

What it's NOT:

Test-blind (scores not considered even if submitted)
Test-flexible (alternative assessments accepted)
Automatic acceptance without scores

Why Colleges Went Test-Optional

Stated reasons:

Expand access for low-income students
Reduce test anxiety
Holistic admissions focus

Practical reasons:

Increase application numbers (rankings boost)
Improve average test score statistics
Legal pressure and lawsuits
COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)

Current Landscape (2024-2025)

Test-optional:

Most Ivy League (except Dartmouth, Yale - reinstating)
MIT (reinstated requirement 2022)
Caltech (reinstated requirement 2024)
Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, etc.

Test-required:

MIT, Caltech, Georgetown, Florida schools
Some state universities for merit scholarships
Many large public systems

Check individual schools: Policies change frequently

Should You Submit Your Scores?

The 25th-75th Percentile Rule

How it works: 1. Find college's middle 50% score range 2. Compare your score

Decision guide:

| Your Score | Action | |------------|--------| | Above 75th percentile | SUBMIT (strengthens application) | | 50th-75th percentile | SUBMIT (competitive) | | 25th-50th percentile | CONSIDER (depends on rest of app) | | Below 25th percentile | DON'T SUBMIT (likely hurts) |

Example: Yale SAT middle 50%: 1470-1560

Your score: 1500 → SUBMIT (within range)
Your score: 1400 → Don't submit (below 25th)
Your score: 1450 → Consider (just below 25th)

Other Factors to Consider

1. Strength of Rest of Application

Strong in other areas (high GPA, impressive ECs):

Can afford to not submit
Other factors carry application

Weaker in other areas:

Good scores can compensate
Submit if above 25th percentile

2. Test Score Trends

Superscore is strong:

Many schools superscore even test-optional applicants
Submit if superscore is competitive

Single sitting is strong:

Shows consistency
Better than multiple weak attempts

3. Academic Profile Match

Your score aligns with GPA:

4.0 GPA + 1500 SAT = consistent
Submit to confirm academic strength

Score doesn't match GPA:

4.0 GPA + 1200 SAT = red flag (grade inflation?)
3.3 GPA + 1550 SAT = underperforming (test-taker?)
Submit only if score is very high

4. Intended Major

STEM majors:

High math scores especially important
Consider submitting even if total is borderline

Humanities/Social Sciences:

Balanced scores valued
Reading/Writing score more important

Test-optional but major-specific requirements:

Some programs (engineering, honors) may expect scores
Check department policies

5. Demographic Factors

Underrepresented minorities:

Lower score thresholds for submission (study showed URM students benefit from submitting scores at 25th percentile)
Holistic review weighs context

High-income/Overrepresented groups:

Higher expectations
Submit only if above 50th percentile

First-generation/Low-income:

Context considered
Submit if score shows academic potential

6. Scholarship Opportunities

Merit scholarships:

Many require test scores
Check scholarship-specific requirements
May need to submit even if admissions is test-optional

Need-based aid:

Not affected by score submission decision

Common Mistakes

1. Assuming Test-Optional Means Test-Ignored

Reality: Submitted scores ARE considered Impact: Weak scores can hurt even if optional

2. Not Researching School-Specific Policies

Reality: Policies vary widely Impact: Missing scholarship opportunities or submitting to test-blind schools

3. Submitting Scores Just Because You Took the Test

Reality: Sunk cost fallacy Impact: Weak scores can undermine strong application

4. Believing "It Can't Hurt"

Reality: Below-range scores CAN hurt Impact: Admissions officers may question academic readiness

5. Not Considering Superscoring

Reality: Many test-optional schools superscore Impact: Missing opportunity to submit competitive score

How Colleges Actually Use Test-Optional Policies

What They Say

"We evaluate all applications holistically. Test scores are one factor among many."

What They Mean

For students with scores:

Scores are considered
Can strengthen or weaken application
Used to assess academic preparedness

For students without scores:

Other factors weighed more heavily
GPA, rigor, essays, recommendations critical
May disadvantage students at competitive schools

The Reality

Admissions bias (studies show):

Test scores still influential in decisions
Score-submitters have higher acceptance rates (correlation ≠ causation)
Test-optional benefits some groups more than others

Strategic advantage:

Colleges boost average scores (only counting submitters)
Rankings improve
More applications = lower acceptance rate = higher ranking

Decision Framework

Step 1: Research

Find college's middle 50% score range
Check test-optional policy details
Identify scholarship requirements

Step 2: Analyze Your Scores

Where do you fall in the range?
How does your score compare to your GPA?
Is your superscore significantly higher?

Step 3: Evaluate Rest of Application

GPA and rigor (strong or weak?)
Extracurriculars (distinctive or ordinary?)
Essays and recommendations (compelling or generic?)

Step 4: Make Decision

SUBMIT if:

Score is at or above 50th percentile
Score compensates for weaker application areas
Scholarship requires score
Score aligns with strong GPA

DON'T SUBMIT if:

Score is below 25th percentile
Score contradicts strong GPA
Rest of application is very strong
Applying test-blind

Step 5: Apply Consistently

Can differ by school:

Submit to schools where you're competitive
Withhold from reach schools where you're below range

Test-Optional vs. Test-Blind

Test-Optional

Scores considered if submitted
Not required
Can help or hurt

Test-Blind

Scores not considered at all
No advantage to submitting
Examples: University of California system (UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc.)

Strategy: Research each school's specific policy

Future of Test-Optional

Trends

Reinstating requirements:

MIT (2022)
Caltech (2024)
Dartmouth, Yale (2025)
Georgetown (never went test-optional)

Maintaining test-optional:

Most Ivy League
Many liberal arts colleges
Some large public universities

Expansion of test-blind:

UC system
Some state university systems

Why Schools Are Reinstating