Understanding Test-Optional Policies: Do SAT and ACT Scores Still Matter?

In the last several years, the US college admissions process has experienced some major changes. For the longest time, SAT and ACT scores were used as a reference point for students’ college viability. However, due to changing educational requirements, accelerated by the COVID pandemic, many schools decided to change their approach. 

Instead of focusing on these scores, colleges now look at the entirety of students’ accomplishments. They assess their characters and ability to work under pressure. Colleges are also placing a greater emphasis on enrolling underrepresented groups in an effort to make education more equitable.

So, do SAT and ACT still matter in 2025, or should we completely switch to other methods of student assessment? Read this article to find out! 

Explaining Test-Optional 

As the name suggests, schools now employ the test-optional model, allowing applicants to choose whether to submit or not submit their SAT and ACT scores. This is especially valuable for students who don’t perform well under duress or who didn’t have time to prepare for these tests. 

Basically, you can decide for yourself whether these scores increase or decrease your chances and act accordingly. The shift to test-optional started during the pandemic, as students were unable to gather in large numbers for the SAT/ACT. According to guidelines, test-optional methodology takes into account the following factors:

• High school GPA
• Honors, dual enrollment, and other coursework
• Personal essays
• Extracurricular activities and achievements 
• Letters of recommendation
• Life experiences
• Special talents

With this approach, admissions officers are looking at your potential beyond the usual grading system. In theory, excellence can come in many forms, and it would be counterintuitive to decline applicants because of their inability to perform in a single, specific environment. 

The shift to test-optional was also a result of increased inequality awareness. Data shows that students who have more financial means usually score higher on the SAT and ACT. These individuals simply have more resources for Ivy League admissions consulting and tutoring compared to those from impoverished neighborhoods. 

So, through test-optional methodology, colleges are able to:

• Minimize barriers to access
• Alleviate testing stress
• Increase diversity
• Place focus on all students’ achievements

The Recent Philosophy Shift

Although the test-optional approach is novel and egalitarian, it does have its fair share of flaws. As such, we’ve already seen colleges such as MIT and Dartmouth switch back to standardized testing in 2024/25. Here are a few reasons schools are going back to the previous framework:

• Transparency: After a few years of testing, some colleges began disputing the previous claim of equality, arguing that SAT/ACT scores are fairer. Unlike the test-optional method, where admissions officers have more leeway in evaluating students, this method places the best performers at the top. 
• Predictiveness: Furthermore, the SAT/ACT scores are much better predictors of college performance. Those who perform well on these tests usually have a much easier time during the initial few years in college, as they have a better understanding of basic and advanced concepts.
• Consistency: Using test scores as a measurement provides much more consistency across the board. This is especially important in this day and age, when thousands of foreign students apply to these programs. Given different backgrounds, it’s hard to evaluate all these prospects without proper benchmarks. 

Anyway, the US educational system is currently teetering between two extremes. The good news is that some schools are sticking with the ACT/SAT, while others have fully switched to test-optional policies. This allows students to prioritize colleges depending on their accomplishments, scores, and affinities. 

Do SAT/ACT Scores Still Matter?

The scores only matter if you decide to submit them. Alternatively, they are vital if you’re applying to a school that uses the “old” evaluation system. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t disregard them:

• Academic Potential

ACT/SAT scores are a powerful indicator of how a person will perform in college. This is especially true if you had limited resources or attended fewer courses. These scores are vital for evaluating international students and students who went to schools with inconsistent grading.

For example, if your school doesn’t have honors coursework, or your resume lacks IB/AP classes, SAT and ACT scores are the main starting point for admissions officers when evaluating a person’s academic eligibility.

• Scholarships

A good reason to submit your scores is so you can get a full or partial scholarship. Many colleges still rely on the traditional grading system for their scholarship criteria, even if they’re using a test-blind admission process. In other words, if you don’t submit these scores, you might miss a golden opportunity to reduce your education expenses.

In fact, certain schools will award scholarships exclusively based on a combination of test and GPA scores. Alternatively, these scores can be used for honors programs and various awards. 

• Enrollment Advantage 

Although schools have introduced a test-optional methodology to increase equality, those who submit SAT/ACT scores still get more spots in US colleges. This trend is especially common at Ivy League and other highly selective institutions.

While this doesn’t indicate that scores are a deciding factor, they can still make or break an application. Furthermore, they serve as additional go-ahead data that persuades admissions officers to give you a chance. 

• Undermatching

Undermatching is a phenomenon in which students from economically modest backgrounds choose less selective schools. This occurs because they believe that their GPA and achievements won’t be enough to get them into these elite colleges. 

SAT and ACT scores can handle this mismatch by identifying deserving students. In other words, those who would potentially downplay their worth during a test-optional application will rise to the top. 

Benefiting From ACT and SAT

Although the evaluation process has significantly changed in the last several years, SAT and ACT remain important benchmarks for admissions officers. Most notably, completing these tests with high scores is the best way to stand out among thousands of other students who haven’t completed them.