SAT Scores Make a Comeback in College Applications Despite Test-Optional Policies
Why students are voluntarily submitting test scores when 95% of colleges don't require them
1First Post-Pandemic Increase in Test Submissions
Common App data reveals 779,300 students submitted SAT/ACT scores for 2025-26, marking an 11% year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, non-submitters dropped 5% to 748,028. This reversal comes despite only 5% of member institutions requiring scores, suggesting student-driven change rather than policy shifts. Before COVID, 55% of colleges mandated tests, plunging to 4% at the pandemic's peak.
2Optional Doesn't Mean Irrelevant
Admissions experts note students now understand 'test-optional' differs from 'test-blind.' Strong scores provide differentiation in increasingly competitive pools, especially amid grade inflation. When half of applicants submit scores, those who don't risk falling behind. Top colleges still use scores as key differentiators among academically similar candidates, making them strategic assets.
3Ivy League Leads Testing Requirement Revival
All eight Ivies plus Stanford and Caltech reinstated testing mandates for Fall 2027 admits. Public university systems in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and UT Austin followed suit. Dartmouth pioneered the reversal in early 2024, with Princeton and Columbia joining later. These high-profile decisions disproportionately influence applicant behavior beyond their formal policies' scope.
4Application Surge Intensifies Score Importance
Students now apply to 7.06 schools on average (up from 4.73 a decade ago), creating evaluation challenges. As Georgia Tech and UNC eliminate supplemental essays, standardized test scores gain weight as one of few comparable metrics across diverse high schools. This convergence makes scores increasingly valuable in overloaded admissions offices.
5Persistent Equity Gaps in Testing
First-generation and low-income students still submit scores at lower rates, though all demographics show increases. Fee waivers and free prep options from College Board/ACT aim to bridge gaps. Critics argue test-optional policies initially helped disadvantaged groups but may now disadvantage those who opt out as submission norms shift.
6Strategic Guidance for Applicants
Counselors recommend all students take the SAT/ACT at least once, then compare results against target schools' middle-50% ranges. Scores above a college's median should be submitted even if optional; those below may be withheld. Families should budget for testing fees and prep, exploring income-based waivers and affordable preparation resources.
72026-27 as Tipping Point
Whether the current 5% of colleges requiring tests grows will determine if this marks a lasting reversal. November's monthly data releases will show if 2025-26's crossover was anomalous. Observers particularly watch selective institutions, whose policies disproportionately influence broader applicant behavior and sector norms.
8Paradigm Shift in Admissions
The test-optional movement's potential reversal signals deeper reassessments of college access and evaluation. As application volumes overwhelm admissions offices, standardized measures regain appeal despite equity concerns. This tension between accessibility and selectivity may redefine meritocracy in higher education for years to come.
Original article: The College Investor — Üniversite Başvurularında SAT Skorları Yeniden Yükselişte