I don’t agree, though, that it’s all about having internet and a quiet environment, or that unless you are unable to take the test, you are expected to take it.
I actually think that many schools have dabbled in the idea of going TO, and now is their chance to do it and see what happens.
I do think that if a school says that you won’t be penalized, then they have an obligation to consider the application without that data point and simply put more weight on the other date points. Trying to guess at the reasons why seems like a very slippery slope. (Also: exhausting. and nearly impossible to remove one’s own biases.)
On the other hand, there are some schools whose language is more: well we really prefer the test, but if you can’t do it, let us know why and we’ll let you off the hook. (As a side note, this kind of language is how some of the TO schools started out early in the process before going completely “test optional” later in the season.)
One other thing I’ll add is: for many applicants, the SSAT data point might not add new information. My DD3 (did not take SSATs) is a good test taker but not a stellar one. And she is a good student, but not the stellar OMG-years-ahead-in-math type of kid. SSATs would neither prove nor disprove the rest of her application if I had to guess. Amazing students who get high SSATs and have top recommendations and have interesting profiles and are great in the interviews and have rich essays – well they are just as dazzling with or without a test score I’m thinking.
I guess we will all know more soon!