College 101: Do Standardized Tests Matter for Colleges?

In this episode of The College Essay Guy Podcast from June 11, 2024, Ethan Sawyer, College Essay Guy founder, walks through the results of the report released by the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) regarding the factors that colleges deem important. Ethan is joined by Jay Rosner (Executive Director of The Princeton Review Foundation) to talk about standardized testing. In this episode, they get into:

• What are the origins of the SAT?
• What’s changed in the testing landscape in the last year or two?
• Does test optional really mean test optional?
• How much standardized tests matter for colleges?
• How do students figure out their preparation timeline and which test to take?
• Why might testing be considered problematic?

Trending towards less standardized tests

The majority of higher education institutions suspended or permanently discontinued testing requirements during the pandemic, and as of 2022, many schools still did not require students to submit SAT or ACT scores,” according to EAB’s Dean of Enrollment Management, Madeleine Rhyneer. 1

1 Survey of 5k Gen Z Students Highlights DEI Impact of Test-Optional Admissions

Recently, some national media outlets have pushed back against the test-optional / test-free model, and a small number of competitive colleges have reinstituted their testing requirements that were suspended during the pandemic.  FairTest.org issued a white paper arguing for college admissions remaining test-optional / test-free.

2080

Accredited, Bachelor’s Degree granting colleges and universities with ACT/SAT optional or test-free admission policies for students seeking to enroll in Fall 2025 or beyond

1995+ ACT/SAT Optional institutions and 85+ Test-Free Institutions*

*Data from FairTest.org

Do I need to take the SAT or ACT in order to apply to college?

No. However, some schools and programs may require or look favorably on the submission of these test scores. Whether or not you might choose to submit scores is dependent on the school or program to which you are applying. 

Why might I need to submit a test score?

If the specific program (eg. Computer Science or Engineering at UW) is highly selective, and your SAT scores are higher than the schools average or reported scores, then it might be worthwhile to submit the SAT or ACT scores to add additional evidence of your academic success to the application materials. 

Will I need to take an SAT prep class?

No. If you want to improve your scores, becoming familiar with the question types is a great way to start - and taking free practice tests is also a good way to practice. You may want to take a preparation class if you are aiming to submit scores to a specific program, and you want to improve your scores.

What is the difference between “test-optional” and “test-blind”?

Schools and programs that are “test-blind” don’t look at test scores at all. Programs that are “test-optional” will consider scores if applicants choose to submit them.