Do You Still Need the SAT or ACT? Understanding Test-Optional Policies
For decades, the SAT and ACT were considered essential steps on the path to college. Students planned their high school years around test dates, prep courses, and score goals. A strong result could open doors, while a weak one could feel like a setback. Today, however, the college admissions landscape looks very different. With the rise of test-optional and test-flexible policies, many families are asking the same question. Do you still need the SAT or ACT?
The short answer is. It depends. Understanding how test-optional policies work, why colleges adopted them, and how applications are evaluated without scores can help students make confident and informed decisions.
What Does Test-Optional Mean?
A test-optional college does not require SAT or ACT scores as part of the application. Students can choose whether or not to submit their scores. If they submit them, the scores are reviewed as part of the application. If they do not, the application is evaluated without any penalty.
Some schools also follow test-flexible policies. These institutions may allow students to submit alternative assessments such as AP exam scores, IB results, or other academic indicators instead of SAT or ACT scores. A smaller number of colleges have moved to test-blind policies, meaning they do not consider test scores at all, even if submitted.
The key takeaway is that test-optional does not mean test-irrelevant. It means students have a choice.
Why Colleges Moved Toward Test-Optional Admissions
The shift toward test-optional admissions accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students were unable to sit for standardized exams due to cancelled test dates and limited testing access. Colleges responded by temporarily waiving test requirements.
What surprised many institutions was what happened next. Application numbers remained strong, student diversity increased, and admitted students performed just as well academically as previous cohorts. As a result, many colleges chose to extend or permanently adopt test-optional policies.
Beyond logistics, colleges also recognized long-standing concerns about standardized testing. SAT and ACT scores often correlate strongly with access to resources such as tutoring, prep courses, and multiple test attempts. By reducing reliance on these exams, colleges aim to create a more equitable admissions process and focus on long-term academic performance rather than a single test day.
Do Any Colleges Still Require the SAT or ACT?
Yes. While many colleges are now test-optional, some institutions still require standardized test scores. Others may require scores for specific programs, honors colleges, or merit-based scholarships. Testing requirements can also differ for international students.
Admissions policies can change from year to year, so students need to research each college individually rather than relying on general assumptions. What is test-optional at one school may be test-required at another.
Benefits of Submitting SAT or ACT Scores
Even in a test-optional environment, submitting scores can still be beneficial for some students.
A strong SAT or ACT score can reinforce academic readiness, particularly for students whose high schools use nontraditional grading systems or offer limited advanced coursework. Scores can also help validate strong performance in core academic subjects.
In addition, many scholarships and merit awards continue to consider standardized test results. Students seeking maximum financial aid opportunities may benefit from taking the SAT or ACT, even if their colleges of interest are test-optional.
Finally, for students who perform well in standardized testing environments, submitting scores can boost confidence and add another positive data point to the application.
Reasons Some Students Choose Not to Test
For other students, choosing not to take the SAT or ACT can be a strategic decision.
Standardized test preparation requires time, energy, and sometimes significant financial investment. If a student already has strong grades, challenging coursework, meaningful extracurricular involvement, and compelling essays, test scores may add little value.
Some students also experience test anxiety or simply do not perform at their best under timed, high-pressure conditions. In these cases, submitting a lower score could weaken an otherwise strong application. Test-optional policies allow students to avoid this risk.
How Colleges Evaluate Applications Without Test Scores
When SAT or ACT scores are not submitted, colleges rely more heavily on other parts of the application. This holistic review focuses on long-term performance and personal development rather than a single exam.
Key factors include:
High school transcript. Grades over time remain one of the strongest indicators of college success. Admissions officers look for consistency and upward trends.
Course rigor. Challenging coursework such as honors, AP, or IB classes shows academic readiness and willingness to push beyond minimum requirements.
Essays. Personal statements and supplemental essays allow students to share their stories, values, motivations, and growth. These often carry increased weight in test-optional reviews.
Letters of recommendation. Insight from teachers and counselors helps colleges understand a student’s character, work ethic, and classroom contributions.
Extracurricular involvement. Depth matters more than quantity. Leadership, commitment, initiative, and impact are highly valued.
Special talents or portfolios. For students applying to arts or specialized programs, demonstrated skill may outweigh standardized testing entirely.
Should You Take the SAT or ACT?
There is no universal answer. The decision should be based on strategy, not pressure.
Students should consider:
The testing policies of their target colleges
Whether potential scholarships require test scores
Their academic strengths and testing comfort level
Time and resource availability for test preparation
Some students choose to take the SAT or ACT once, then decide whether to submit scores based on results. Others skip testing altogether and focus on strengthening other areas of their application.
What matters most is having a clear plan rather than defaulting to outdated assumptions.
The Role of Strategic Admissions Planning
As college admissions become more complex, students benefit from guidance that goes beyond test prep alone. Understanding when tests help, when they do not, and how to present a strong application in either scenario is critical.
This is where professional academic advising plays an important role.
How Growing Minds AAC Supports Students in a Test-Optional World
At Growing Minds AAC, students and families receive personalized, strategy-driven guidance designed for today’s evolving admissions landscape. Rather than treating the SAT or ACT as a one-size-fits-all requirement, Growing Minds AAC helps students determine whether testing aligns with their goals and how to position their applications accordingly.
Services focus on the areas colleges value most in test-optional admissions, including:
Academic planning that demonstrates rigor and progression
Thoughtful college list development based on admissions policies and student fit
Essay coaching that helps students articulate their story with clarity and authenticity
Extracurricular and leadership strategy that highlights meaningful engagement
Application review and positioning to ensure strength with or without test scores
For students who do take the SAT or ACT, Growing Minds AAC provides guidance on whether and where to submit scores. For students who opt out of testing, advisors ensure applications remain competitive by strengthening every other component.
The goal is not simply college acceptance, but the right college fit. One where students can succeed academically, grow personally, and feel confident in their path forward.
Final Thoughts
The SAT and ACT are no longer universal gatekeepers to college admission. Test-optional policies have created flexibility, opportunity, and new decision points for students. While standardized tests still matter in some cases, they are no longer the sole measure of readiness or potential.
By understanding admissions policies, evaluating personal strengths, and planning strategically, students can make informed choices about testing. With expert guidance and a holistic approach, success in college admissions is possible with or without SAT or ACT scores.
In a changing admissions world, clarity and strategy matter more than ever.
