What is the Future of Standardized Testing in College Admissions…
And Does Test Optional Really Mean Test Optional?
1. Optional Means Only Send “Top” Scores:
Each school releases statistics about their admitted students, including information about submitted scores of those students. You can easily find these ranges online. For example, Duke’s admitted class of 2020-2021 had score ranges in the 33-35 range, representing the 25th-75th percentile for that class respectively. Syracuse’s same year shows a range of 27-32 on the ACT. All this is to say that “top scores” means something different to different schools. We recommend sending scores at the top or above these stated ranges, which may mean sending scores to some schools and not to others.
2. The Stats We Do Have:
Most schools don’t release data about how many admitted students sent scores, but the ones who have show that scores are generally helpful, especially at the most selective schools. According to Duke’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Christoph Guttentag, 65% of admitted students (for the class of 2028) sent scores. Meanwhile, of Vanderbilt’s admitted students (the class of 2027) only 53.7% sent scores. For the most part, we don’t know what percentage of admitted students are sending scores to the most selective schools, and the schools mostly seem content to keep it that way.
3. The Return of Required Testing?
Georgetown and MIT already require scores. MIT has been clear that scores actually help them accept a more diverse student population. Dartmouth's announcement suggests that schools are considering a turn back to tests that allow them to better predict students’ college performance and give opportunities to students who do not otherwise have them. Dartmouth's new president, Sian Beilock, made this decision in response to a faculty study, which found that “standardized test scores are an important predictor of a student’s success in Dartmouth’s curriculum” regardless of a “...student’s background or family income. . . .” Test optional is nice for schools (encourages more applicants & inflates submitted scores), but we may see a continued shift back to the SAT and ACT in the years to come.
We continue to watch the trends in higher education so we can help you make thoughtful decisions with your child based on school lists, academic performance, and the time they have to devote to getting scores that will meaningfully help their applications. Book a call to chat more with a member of our team and come up with a personalized plan!
