For years students across the country have been trained to think that high scores on the ACT or SAT lead to easy acceptance into selective schools, but as the pandemic leads to canceled tests, they are left wondering how they will stand out in the highly competitive application process. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has left some students unable to take standardized tests, many colleges and universities have opted to establish a “test optional” policy on their applications. Although this decision was initially in response to the pandemic, many schools have decided to extend this policy for the next few years, and in some cases, even permanently. 

Now that standardized testing is offered again, are students still expected to take the SAT or ACT? Unfortunately, test optional is not the same as test blind, so omitting scores from your application could possibly put you at a disadvantage. Although some schools have committed to not hold the absence of test scores against a student, many simply do not require test scores in their application. In this case, in a pool full of applications, some with high test scores and some with no test scores, those with the higher scores will stand out because they provide another component for colleges to consider. 

The decision to submit test scores should completely depend on where those scores fall among the average scores submitted to the school you are applying to. It is in a student’s best interest to submit scores that fall on the higher side of the average. If standardized testing is not your strong suit, omitting test scores from your application is completely OK. This just means that other components of your application will be viewed with higher value. A strong GPA, academic rigor, letters of recommendation, extracurriculars, etc. can make up for an absence of test scores and set you apart from other applicants. 

Another factor to consider is that higher test scores can help you gain merit-based scholarships. Many colleges hand out scholarships to applicants with the highest scores, so if you tend to perform well on tests, consider submitting your scores for a chance to reduce the cost of tuition. 

Although the true definition of “test optional” remains unclear, students can remain sure that standardized tests have not lost all value. As schools adopt these new policies, applicants have the opportunity to choose to highlight different parts of their application, whether that is high test scores, strong extracurriculars or academic rigor. Throughout these policy changes, one thing remains clear: your test scores do not define who you are as a student.