It seems like all we’ve done this past week is talk about testing, testing, testing!

But these conversations go beyond the College Board’s recent decision to cancel the SAT Subject Tests. The bigger conversation this cycle, just like the last cycle, will be about that ubiquitous “test-optional” designation. 

We’ve seen some students and families this year dismiss the “test-optional” language as a trap, going above and beyond to make sure their student is able to produce test scores for fear of being disadvantaged in the process. And we’ve also seen the other extreme - students who take “test-optional” at face value and neglect to test, even with easily accessible test dates. So who is right?

What does “test optional” really mean?

The short answer is, unfortunately, it depends. As we’ve documented over and over, admit rates have dropped to shockingly low levels this year at the most selective universities, in large part because the applicant pools were so much bigger than in previous years. Without a testing requirement, it became easier than ever to apply to these schools. Furthermore, students with high test scores were more likely to apply, because they felt their test scores would make them stand out, and students with low test scores were also more likely to apply - because they didn’t have to submit the scores! 

Less selective schools, however, are seeing the opposite effect. Our local neighbor George Mason was one of many institutions that extended its application deadline from January 15 to February 1. While this is a nice way to cut students some slack in a difficult time, it is also a sign that the school was low on applications. The University of Rochester saw early decision applications drop 47% year over year, leading them to extend their ED I deadline from November 1 to January 20. This is evidence that students who in previous years may have applied ED to Rochester instead chose to “shoot for the stars,” helping to make up the huge applicant pools at schools that are more selective.

All this to say, test-optional policies are going to be treated very differently at the high volume, highly selective schools than at the vast majority of institutions that are not seeing this increase.

Stanford, for example, has said that it will require test scores from the Class of 2022 if it is possible to do so, while Baylor and Penn State have already committed to remaining test-optional.

In the past 48 hours alone, two different Ivy League schools, Cornell and Columbia, have announced their plans to move forward with a one-year extension of test-optional admissions for the Class of 2022.

Cornell’s, as it was this past year, is actually more of a unique hybrid between test-optional and test-blind depending on the undergraduate division in question, but the school points out that the policy is only due to “the extraordinary circumstance” of the pandemic and students will face “increased scrutiny” with the rest of their application materials, including “evidence of commitment and effort to pursuing other challenging learning experiences” outside of school.

At Michigan, Swarthmore, and Rice, students will be able to self-report PSAT or pre-ACT scores - a sign that scores are still important to the admissions committees!

Northwestern’s website notes that they “will still find value in scores,” while Georgetown has similar language, noting that they “value the information provided by standardized testing.” At these schools, nearly every applicant is highly qualified, and those who submit test scores, even if test-optional continues, will have very high scores to report. Most high-scorers will still submit test scores to these institutions, and admission will be just as difficult, if not more so!

Selective state schools have more encouraging language for students who are unable to tesk, with Michigan and Wisconsin both specifying that students who do not submit scores “will not be disadvantaged” in the application process. These still-competitive schools will probably see strong test scores as an advantage in the process, but not submitting test scores will not be disqualifying for an otherwise strong applicant. For clients considering submitting scores, chat with us first and we can help you decide how to present the strongest application!

On a related note, we have heard about some exciting developments are on the horizon that relate to at-home testing. The ACT is currently beta-testing an at home, computer-based test, and while there is no date scheduled for wide release, the system could be operational as early as this fall. The SAT is also working on a computer-based model that will reroute a student to different questions based on previous performance, much like the GRE. This will certainly make test-taking strategies different in the future, but students have plenty of time to plan, as the test is not anticipated to be released until 2023. 

Bottom line: while testing will be very useful, there are also plenty of circumstances in which submitting test scores will not be the right choice.

So if it is truly impossible for you to take a standardized test without risking your health, rest assured that over 500,000 students this cycle were unable to test. The admit rate for students who didn’t submit test scores was roughly equal to the rate for those who did at most schools that have released that data so far, with the (somewhat substantial) caveat that we do not know any details about demographic differences between the two groups.

On the other hand, if you do have the option, make sure you consider all of the factors when deciding whether to submit your scores.

Overwhelmed by the decision? Book a Meet & Greet or Strategy Session to learn how we can help!