SAT/ACT: Test Optional/Blind

college admissions:
Test blind and Test Optional

Are the SAT and the ACT still relevant?

February 9, 2021

As with so many other aspects of education, the Covid-19 pandemic created havoc with testing – especially for the SAT and ACT exams.  Both College Board and ACT had to cancel many test administrations across the U.S. because of health concerns, leaving students in a lurch.  In response, many colleges and universities announced temporary changes to their test admissions policies – and now the new buzz words in college admissions are “test optional” and “test blind” for Fall 2021 admissions. 

As a result, many students, parents, and even educators are wondering, why should students bother preparing for and taking the SAT or the ACT right now?  Isn’t that just a complete waste of time and energy? 

The short answer is no!  It is not a waste of time or energy to prepare for the SAT and/or the ACT.

What do “Test Blind” and “Test Optional” mean?

Here’s a quick summary of what these new buzz words mean:

Test Blind: 
Test-blind schools do not consider the test scores at all in the admissions process.  Period.  That means students don’t need to send any scores to be considered for admissions and, if students do send their scores, those scores won’t be considered.  In a test-blind admissions scenario, the tests don’t exist and have no power . . . over the admissions decision (but financial aid may be a different matter entirely, so keep reading!). 

Test Optional: 

Optional for All:  Test-optional schools allow the applicant to choose whether or not to submit his or her test scores as part of the admissions process.  Scores that are submitted will be factored in to the admissions decision . . . which is actually one of the reasons why students should prepare for and take the SAT or the ACT (see below)! 

Optional with an Academic Threshold:  For some test-optional schools, the submission of scores is only “optional” if the applicant meets the academic threshold requirements.  In other words, any applicant who meets the academic criteria has the actual choice of whether or not to include test scores. An applicant who fails to meets certain criteria such as a certain GPA or class rank, however, must submit his or her test scores. 

Why Bother with the SAT or ACT now? 

Given that so many colleges and universities are test blind or test optional for the 2021-2022 school year, why should students continue to prepare for and take the college admissions exams? 

First and foremost, this test blind/test optional situation is temporary – and currently applies primarily to the Class of 2021 (in other words, the full-time applicants for Fall 2021 matriculation).  That means that students who are currently juniors or younger will likely not have the test optional/test blind situation (let’s at least hope this pandemic doesn’t continue to plague us that long!).  So, the safest strategy is to work on the assumption that, for the members of the Class of 2022 and beyond, their test scores are going to count for admissions.  These students need to be ready to make the most of the opportunity. 

So how can you respond when a parent or student says, “Why should anyone take the SAT or ACT?  It’s not even needed now!”?   Here are a few key questions for them to consider:

  1. Are you looking for financial aid in the form of need- or merit-based scholarships? 
    You’re likely going to need to submit your SAT or ACT score.  Most scholarships require you to submit your scores for consideration.   

  2. Do you want to play a college sport? 
    The NCAA (the National Collegiate Athletic Association) requires test scores to meet their eligibility requirements.  While the NCAA waived scores for the 2021-2022 academic year for Division I and II athletes, the situation with regard to the SAT/ACT could be back to “normal” for Fall 2022 admissions.

  3. Do you want to enhance your application? 
    If your scores will help your application stand out, send them!  Do you have one or more weak areas in your application (your GPA, your recommendation letters, or your extracurricular activities, for example)?  Your test scores can strengthen the competitiveness of your overall application  . . . in which case, you definitely want to send them! 

  4. Do you belong to the Class of 2022 or beyond?
    No one knows where things will stand in the coming years. It is definitely best to be prepared for the college admissions exams because scores just might be required when you’re ready to submit your applications!