Taking the SAT or ACT in a Test-Optional World

Over the past several years, hundreds of colleges have adopted test-optional, test-flexible, and test-blind admissions policies. For many students, that shift has brought relief. For others, it has created confusion. If colleges don’t require test scores, why take the SAT or ACT at all?

The reality is more nuanced. Test-optional does not mean test-blind, and for some students, submitting scores can still be an advantage. For others, skipping the test is the smarter choice. The key is understanding how scores are actually used and when they add value.

At test-optional schools, students can decide whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores. If scores are not submitted, colleges evaluate the application only using grades, course rigor, essays, recommendations, and activities instead. While that sounds straightforward, admissions officers are still trying to assess academic readiness, and standardized tests remain one tool that some colleges view as important for evaluating potential success in college.

One advantage of submitting scores is that a strong result can reinforce academic ability, especially for students whose transcripts may not fully show their potential. A solid test score provides an external point of comparison. It’s also important for families to understand that this is not a one-time, all-or-nothing decision. Students can choose to submit scores to some colleges and not others, using them strategically where they strengthen the application and opting out where they do not add meaningful value.

It’s also important to look at how test-optional policies play out in practice. For example, Duke University is test-optional, yet recent Common Data Set data show that roughly 85% of admitted students submitted SAT or ACT scores. That tells students that while scores aren’t required, most successful applicants felt their scores strengthened their applications. By contrast, Northeastern University reports that closer to 40% of admitted students submitted scores.

Test scores can matter beyond admission. Some colleges use SAT or ACT results for merit scholarships, honors programs, and academic opportunities, even if they’re test-optional. Policies vary by school, so skipping tests may unintentionally limit options.

That said, there can be real disadvantages to testing. Students with test anxiety, learning differences, or limited access to preparation may find their scores do not reflect their true abilities. In those cases, submitting scores can weaken an otherwise strong application.

The most important takeaway is this: choosing whether to submit test scores is not about gaming the system. It’s about making a thoughtful, strategic decision based on where a student’s strengths are and understanding that test scores are just one piece of a much larger picture.