Should You Still Take the SAT?
Over 80% of four-year colleges won’t require the standardized testing for Fall 2023 admissions. In some cases, however, providing a test score with your application could help.
Matt Whittle, an education writer for Forbes Advisor, recently offered insight into the role that the SAT plays in today’s admissions landscape.
THE VARIOUS ADMISSIONS POLICIES, EXPLAINED
Nowadays, admissions policies on testing vary from college-to-college. Some schools are “test-optional” while others are “test-blind.” Whittle broke down what each of these policies means and what applicants can expect from each.
Test-optional essentially means that “schools do not require candidates to submit scores from standardized exams, instead allowing applicants to include test results if they believe the scores bolster their chances of admission.”
On the other hand, test-flexible schools still require scores, but applicants have the choice of providing results from Advanced Placement® tests, the SAT, or ACT.
Test-blind policies are less common, but these schools typically specific that applicants “should not provide ACT or SAT scores—even if they are strong—as their admissions departments will ignore the exam results.”
SO, SHOULD I TAKE THE TEST?
The short answer is yes, if you have time to prepare for it.
“While the time invested in preparing may be in vain if a test-taker becomes unsatisfied with their exam results, test-optional schools will never know about the applicant’s scores,” Whittle says.
If you’re applying to a test-optional school, your risk of taking the SAT is fairly low. And if you do end up with a strong score, it can only help your application.
“Strong SAT scores can boost a candidate’s chances of admission, especially if they have limited extracurricular activities or a low high school GPAs,” Whittle says. “Applicants who take the SAT or ACT and are unhappy with their scores can omit the results from their admissions materials for test-optional schools.”
Sources: Forbes Advisor, Forbes, Fair Test
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