Introduction
I just got back from the College Board Forum, and it was one of the most informative events I have attended in a long time. The sessions about access, testing, navigating the crazy times we’re in, and postsecondary readiness were full of questions that matter deeply to counselors.
One topic came up over and over again: testing. Probably not surprisingly because SAT and AP are a big part of how they help bridge high school to college. You would think they would be pushing testing, but most sessions were data-driven findings with balanced and unbiased guidance.
Since the pandemic, colleges have taken very different paths when it comes to test requirements. Some went test optional immediately. Some couldn’t wait to require them again for whatever reason. Others were already leaning that way, and the disruption gave them the final push. A few had already been test optional before 2020. Many launched three-year or five-year “test-optional trials,” which are now wrapping up. Some colleges have decided to stay test optional permanently, others have added another year, and a few are completing the trial before making a final decision.
No matter what policy a college follows, standardized testing seems to have made a comeback although test-optional definitely increased. As a result, one question keeps coming up for students and families: Should I send my test scores?
1. Where Things Stand Now
The testing landscape is still mixed, but colleges are starting to get a better handle on what works for them and their priorities and institutional needs.
Here’s a quick refresher on the main terms:
-
- Test Required: All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
-
- Test Optional: Students choose whether to send scores.
-
- Test Flexible: Colleges may accept other scores such as AP or IB in place of the SAT or ACT.
-
- Test Blind (or Test Free): Colleges do not look at scores at all, even if they are sent.
There are others like “Do no harm” but the four above are the most clear and common. The shift to test optional gave many students more confidence to apply, and many colleges have seen record application numbers as a result. Still, there is confusion about when scores help, when they do not, and how to make that call.
2. Should Students Send Their Scores?
This is one of the hardest questions counselors face, and there is no single right answer. Like most yes/no questions in college counseling… it depends.
For me, the best starting point is to look at the college’s middle 50 percent range for admitted students’ scores. This information is usually posted on the college’s admissions website or found in their Common Data Set. Now this is not perfect and at test optional schools tend to have misleadingly high scores because – as you can imagine – the kids with high scores opt-in and the lowest scores are more likely to opt-out… skewing the mid-50% high. Regardless, it’s the most common statistic that we have to work with.
-
- If a student’s score is in the upper half or above that range, I usually say yes, send it.
-
- If it is below the range, it will likely not help and could distract from stronger parts of the application… but there are exceptions.
-
- If it is right in the middle, that’s when it is worth asking the college directly.
Encourage the student to contact their regional admissions representative and simply ask:
“My score falls close to your mid-range. Would you recommend submitting it?”
Most reps will give a helpful answer. If not, it becomes a judgment call between the student, family… and maybe you, the counselor.
3. What We Know for Sure
One thing is certain: a strong SAT or ACT score never hurts.
Even at test-optional schools, good scores can help with scholarship consideration or provide additional context, especially for students whose GPA or school profile might be harder to interpret.
At test-blind colleges, however, scores truly do not matter. Students should save their energy for essays, activities, and academic performance.
Overall, colleges are learning how to balance test-optional policies with holistic review. Most of the colleges that I heard spoke said that they were admitting 50/50, which means that they really are giving equal treatment regardless of what the applicant chooses. We are moving from experimentation to adjustment, and many institutions now have enough data to know what works for their mission and applicant pool. Test optional is here to stay (at some colleges at least), but I still encourage my students to take tests, prepare, and do their best. As I heard many times this week: “it’s an additional data point that can be helpful for colleges to understand the your applicant.
If the answer still feels unclear after that, remind the student that no one decision will make or break their application. What matters most is whether their application tells a clear and consistent story of their strengths.
Closing Thoughts
Testing is only one piece of the puzzle. The move toward test optional has given students more flexibility, but also more decisions to make.
As counselors, our job is not to tell every student the same thing. It is to help them look at the data, understand the policy, and make a confident choice that fits their individual story.
And when in doubt, call the rep. A five-minute conversation can bring more clarity than hours of second-guessing.
