Will Test Optional Extend past ‘21?

Test Preparation
1

Curious to hear from folks “in the know” if you think test optional applications will continue beyond 2021. Not necessarily due to access/availability of the tests but a potential shift in focus of what may
matter most.

2

I doubt anyone is “in the know” enough to predict the future. Some schools have announced test optional for 2 years. Others probably depend on how the pandemic evolves over the next 6 months or so.

3

Tonight was DD’s high school’s virtual college night and we just heard three separate admissions officers from different colleges each tell us that they don’t yet know if they will be TO in the next cycle. They told students to keep checking the web sites.

4

Thanks for the feedback. Of course it’s all speculative, I realize that. But wanted to see what folks have been hearing and whether that trend may remain.

5

I agree it’s too early to tell.

I do think that NCAA will go back to requiring a test score for athletic recruits…they waived the requirement for Classes of 2020 and 2021, but some TO schools even now are still requiring test scores for recruits.

6

Agree, too early to tell. A lot depends on the successes (or struggles) of the current freshman class. And since that’s compounded by covid limits, it’s going to be a challenge to figure out just what’s what.

I’m thinking this is a reason not to over-reach for fall of 2021.

7

Colleges will not know until later whether there will still be access issues for the SAT/ACT for the high school seniors applying to college in fall 2021 for fall 2022 entry.

Colleges will also presumably be tracking the academic progress for students who were admitted without SAT/ACT scores and comparing with that for students who did have SAT/ACT scores to see how much value SAT/ACT scores add to predicting academic progress of students at those specific colleges. Colleges that find the predictive value of the SAT/ACT scores to be low may choose to stay test optional or go test blind permanently, while those that find predictive value of the SAT/ACT scores to be high will likely revert to test required as soon as access issues are resolved.