Why Are Colleges Becoming Test Optional?

Samantha Williams

Colleges Becoming Test-Optional

As college application season is upon us, many inquiring applicants may begin to notice the reoccurring “test-optional” choice while applying. This change in protocol, however, has not been implemented without reason. 

Students and admission officers, alike, have begun to notice that there is too much emphasis on standardized testing, when the real focus should be on how students perform day to day. According to NACAC’s annual survey of college admission officers, the majority agreed that grades are the most crucial element when analyzing a student’s performance. A three hour period in which test-takers are supposed to recall years of knowledge under immense pressure should not be compared to the four years of hard work previously completed. Realistically speaking, a student’s grade point average is much more representative of who they are academically and individually. 

The benefits don’t only extend to the students, though. Becoming test-optional can also help a college seem more selective or prestigious. This is because with the option, the school is likely to receive more applications, which results in a higher rejection rate and a lower acceptance rate. 

Furthermore, the students that do choose to submit often do so because they earned a high or average score. This benefits schools greatly because “When the school then calculates what its average SAT score is, it ends up artificially inflating it,” says Burd, an educational journalist. So while colleges present it as a gift to applicants, the decision to grant the new freedom of choice might simply be their newest strategy to raise their ranking. 

Whether you’re currently applying to college or plan to in the future, it is vital that you weigh both the pros and cons of being test optional. Deciding if sending or not sending your score will actually benefit you more than the school is the first step towards success in your advanced education journey.