Standardized testing - is it IN or OUT?

Test optional policy[1] has been the buzzword in US college admissions amidst the uncertainty presented by COVID-19. Yet, to everyone’s surprise, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced last month that they would again require SAT or ACT test scores for admission after dropping the requirement for two years.

Has the trend of waiving standardized tests changed? Is a high test score needed to get into a top US university?

Why US schools couldn’t replace standardized tests

As MIT admissions explained their decision to reinstate the standardized testing policy, “Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants..”. A top school such as MIT has to evaluate thousands of applicants every cycle, from within and outside the US. With each high school having a different set of grading policies and a variating degree of ‘grade inflation’(yes, we have seen way too many students with a 4.0 GPA and full IB score!), top schools need a way to assess students’ academic abilities uniformly, and standardized tests such as the SAT/ ACT give universities the valid data points required to predict academic success. 

The exceptions

While many top schools will follow MIT’s mandatory standardized testing policy, we expect some schools to continue to stick to a test-blind policy[2]. One great example is the University of California (UC), which in my opinion, will remain test-blind in the foreseeable admissions cycle.

The US college admissions journey is full of nuances. Different universities (private vs public schools, liberal arts colleges vs research universities) weigh course rigor, test scores, and student profile differently. A robust understanding of what each and every university is looking for will allow students to differentiate their applications.

SAT format changes and preparing in advance

A high standardized test score will remain a distinguishing factor for international students for US college applications. Collegeboard has been revamping SAT and will be offering a digital test at international test centers, including Hong Kong, in 2023. Students who are planning their US higher education should prepare in advance, including familiarizing themselves with the new format of the SAT.

Contact her at Tina.Wu@kaplan.com.

1  Test-optional policy does not require students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their college applications, but the scores will be considered if submitted.
2  Test-blind policy indicates a university would not consider any SAT or ACT score, even if the students them.