College admissions: The truth about test-optional policies

Test-optional college admissions: What three years of data reveal

Key takeaways

• Test-optional policies have changed the admissions process, but they have not automatically improved accessibility or fairness.
• Strong SAT or ACT scores, along with intentional application strategies, still matter, especially at selective colleges.
• Many colleges adopt test-optional policies for institutional benefits, including rankings and applicant volume.
• Advantages once tied to test scores often appear elsewhere in the application, frequently reflecting existing privilege.
• Deciding whether to submit test scores is now one of the most important strategic choices in college admissions.

Who this article is for

This article is designed for high school students, parents, and counselors navigating test-optional college admissions, especially at selective colleges where the role of standardized testing remains unclear.

Choosing whether to submit SAT or ACT scores has become a central part of the college application process. Since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of test-optional admissions, students and families are left asking the same question: Will submitting scores help or hurt my chances?

The answer is rarely simple. Test-optional policies affect admissions decisions, scholarship opportunities, and how students present their academic profiles. Because colleges typically offer limited transparency about how they evaluate applications, families often encounter conflicting advice. Looking at recent admissions data, application trends, and proven strategies can help students navigate test-optional college admissions with greater confidence.

Test-optional policies and college selectivity

Many selective colleges and universities now allow students to apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. While these policies are often promoted as tools to expand access, the data show a more complicated reality.

One of the most notable outcomes has been a significant increase in applications to selective institutions. During the 2021–2022 admissions cycle, data from the Common Application showed a 21% increase in applications to highly selective colleges compared to pre-pandemic levels. Some institutions, including Harvard, saw applicant pools grow by more than 40% in a single year, driving acceptance rates even lower.

Key insight: More applications without more seats means tougher competition for everyone.

As application numbers grow, students with strong academic profiles face longer odds. At the same time, it has become less obvious how applicants can differentiate themselves.

With test scores optional, admissions offices place greater emphasis on:

• High school grades and course rigor
• Extracurricular activities and leadership
• Personal essays
• Letters of recommendation

These components are inherently more subjective and often reflect unequal access to resources. Students with professional essay support, rare extracurricular opportunities, or strong institutional advocacy may gain an edge over equally capable peers.

Although test-optional admissions offer flexibility, competition at selective colleges remains intense. Holistic review now plays an even larger role, making it crucial for students to present a cohesive, authentic application across every component.

Application strategies and the role of testing

Test-optional policies have also fueled what many counselors call application inflation. In the 2022–23 admissions cycle, the average first-year applicant applied to more than six colleges, up from fewer than four less than a decade earlier.

Several factors drive this trend:

• Easier online applications
• Uncertainty around selectivity
• Widespread test-optional admissions

As a result, deciding whether to submit SAT or ACT scores has become a strategic calculation rather than a default step.

While most U.S. colleges are now test-optional or test-blind, data consistently show that students who submit strong test scores are admitted at higher rates at many selective institutions, even when grades and coursework are comparable.

Submitting scores can be especially helpful if:

• Your scores fall at or above a college’s middle 50% range
• You are applying to highly selective or STEM-focused programs
• Test scores are considered for merit scholarships or honors colleges

However, applying to more schools also increases the workload. Each institution weighs essays, recommendations, and demonstrated interest differently. Generic essays or rushed applications can weaken an otherwise strong profile.

The takeaway: If your test scores are competitive, submit them where they strengthen your application. Pair that decision with careful research and tailored materials for each school on your list.

Why colleges go test-optional (and why the details matter)

Colleges adopt test-optional policies for many reasons, and equity is only one part of the picture.

Rankings and reputation

Test-optional admissions often increase application volume, lower acceptance rates, and allow colleges to report only their highest test scores. All three factors can enhance positioning in rankings, such as those by U.S. News & World Report.

State and legal mandates

Some institutions change policies in response to legislation or legal action. The University of California system, for example, moved to test-blind admissions following court decisions and public debate.

Limited transparency

Despite major policy shifts, most colleges release very little data about how test-optional applicants are evaluated. Where information is available, applicants who submit strong scores often receive a modest, but real, admissions advantage.

Because colleges rarely explain how test scores factor into admissions or scholarships, families must piece together information from multiple sources. In some cases, contacting admissions offices directly is the most effective way to obtain clarity.

Greater transparency would enable students to make more informed decisions. Until then, thorough research at the school level is needed.

Equity, privilege, and the impact of test-optional admissions

Standardized testing has long been criticized for favoring students with greater access to test prep, tutoring, and multiple test attempts. Test-optional admissions were intended to reduce these inequities.

Early data shows some progress. For example, test-optional colleges saw an increase in first-generation applicants during the 2021–22 cycle. However, broader access has not consistently translated into increased enrollment of low-income or underrepresented students at highly selective institutions.

One reason is that privilege often shifts to other parts of the application:

• Professionally coached essays
• Exclusive extracurricular programs
• Stronger recommendations tied to school resources

Research suggests that the overall share of low-income students at elite colleges has remained largely unchanged under test-optional policies.

In response, some universities, including MIT and Yale, have reinstated testing requirements. They argue that standardized tests can help identify high-achieving students from under-resourced schools, particularly amid grade inflation and wide variation in high school grading standards.

Looking ahead, colleges will continue to reassess how they measure academic readiness. True progress in college access, however, will require more than admissions policy changes: it will demand better advising, fairer evaluation practices, and earlier investment in educational opportunity.

Key points for students and educators

Test-optional college admissions have reshaped the process, but they have not eliminated competition or inequality. At selective colleges, successful applicants continue to submit strong, well-supported applications, often accompanied by strong test scores.

Students can improve their outcomes by:

• Researching each college’s test-optional policy and recent admissions trends
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores when they strengthen the application
• Customizing essays and materials for every school
• Staying informed as policies continue to evolve

As admissions rules shift, the most important question remains: Are these changes truly expanding access, or simply redistributing advantage? Students and families who stay informed, remain adaptable, and employ strategic approaches will be best positioned to navigate today’s complex college admissions landscape.