The SAT and ACT still play an important role in the US university admissions process. Strong test scores are still an asset to a student’s application. However, if students discover through the diagnostic and test-prep process that the SAT or ACT does not adequately represent their academic potential, there are test-optional policies that may work in their favour.
Even before the Covid-19 Pandemic, many highly selective and excellent schools had test-optional or test-flexible policies. This means, students can submit applications without standardized testing results and still be highly competitive candidates. Since the pandemic started, even more schools have developed thoughtful test-optional pathways and have continued these into 2024.
One of the reasons schools have adopted these admissions pathways is that standardized testing has not correlated to strong performance at university. In fact, a student’s secondary school grades are the best predictor of future academic success. Also, these tests have been shown to be somewhat biased in terms of race and class. Because of these findings, many exceptional schools have adopted test-optional policies which emphasise other parts of the application.
They have information about which schools have test-optional and test-flexible policies which can help students and families make an informed choice.
Vela Education is happy to assist all students with their university applications. We have successfully helped test-optional applicants secure offers at their first-choice schools. Please reach out to us and schedule a Strategic Consultation to determine if this is the best way forward for you.