Why Test Required?
In the last few months, we have seen several announcements from major universities that they will once again require SAT or ACT test scores from applicants starting in the fall of 2024.
Tech-heavy schools like MIT, Caltech, and the IVY Leagues are some of the first to make these decisions, but it's possible that many schools will follow suit.
Why Is Test- Requirements Happening?
There are a few reasons that these universities have given that will likely continue to impact other schools in the next few years:
UT Austin
UT Austin mentioned in their statement last month that test scores allow them to identify students who will perform well more accurately and in what majors, as opposed to students who might need more academic support. When comparing the application process from the last three years versus the previous ten, grade inflation has made it more difficult to identify student aptitude, so test scores have proven to be crucial to admissions and student success.
Brown University
Brown University mentioned in its Report that it is adopting a "testing-in-context" approach, which regards test scores in relation to the student's high school rather than in relation to the entire country. This means that students from lower-performing or underfunded high schools will be able to look impressive by being at the top of their class, even if their scores are low or average in comparison to the rest of the applicant pool.
Their research suggests that their diversity and equity goals can be better met with test scores approached in this manner, as well as keeping the option to accept an application without test scores in a few very specific cases.
With the Supreme Court's decision against affirmative action in universities, many schools, according to this report from the New York Times, are becoming less accessible to the top 200 universities. With this in mind, many universities are looking for ways to meet their diversity goals with as much objectivity and openness as possible, and test scores have been identified as a way to do this effectively.
Dartmouth
Dartmouth made similar statements, arguing that test scores are a better predictor than grades for student performance at a top institution. They said in their statement, "There are hundreds of less-advantaged applicants with scores in the 1400 range who should be submitting scores to identify themselves to admissions, but do not under test-optional policies."
With a test-optional model, students have been hesitant to submit test scores unless they were nearly perfect. However, many students would look more impressive to top colleges by submitting their slightly lower scores because it would demonstrate how they have performed in comparison to the rest of their high school class.
Yale
Yale is taking a slightly different approach. They are shifting to a "test-flexible" model which requires some kind of standardized test–including AP and IB tests, as well as SAT and ACT– but students can pick the ones that look the strongest.
This could end up being an attractive model for universities that don't want to risk driving away applicants by requiring tests but who do need a way to make admissions decisions outside of inflated GPAs.
How To Prepare?
Overall, the general trend is that the schools that care most about international performance metrics and student success rates are very interested in data that helps them be confident about their admissions decisions. Schools are trusting post-pandemic grades less and less.
Additionally, the consensus is that, even at test-optional schools, student applications will benefit from some standardized test scores to add weight to their academic performance. Any high score- performing compared to a student's high school—will be beneficial, even if it isn't high-performing by national standards.
Students who plan to apply in the next few years should be prepared to submit test scores in the event that more universities follow this trend.
Whether you’re preparing for the ACT or the SAT, Higher Scores Test Prep has got your back- along with all the resources you need to achieve delightfully brag-worthy scores.
And if you have any questions, don’t wait until the last minute to ask the experts. Contact us now and let us help!
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