Does your student want to avoid taking a standardized test? Do they bomb them every time they take them? Are you hesitant to pay for a test prep tutor? Good news. There are hundreds of schools, large and small, who will use the SAT or ACT for placement only or other minimal requirements.

Due to the 2020 pandemic, most colleges became test-optional because students were unable to take standardized tests. Rumors abound that this will have a future impact on the value colleges place on standardized tests or eliminating the test requirement altogether.

What is a “test optional ” college?

It is a college and/or university that de-emphasizes the use of standardized tests and picks a substantial number of applicants who are recent graduate U.S. high schools without using the SAT or ACT.

Other colleges exempt students who meet grade-point average or class rank criteria from submitting ACT or SAT scores, while others require scores but claim to use them only for placement purposes or to conduct research studies.

Test optional colleges have long been a controversial topic. When a college allows students to opt out of reporting their standardized test scores, do they have an ulterior motive? Many college counselors and admissions experts have accused them of trying to either raise their application numbers or viewing students differently who chose not to submit scores. Human nature makes it natural to wonder why a student made the decision to not submit scores, and that could subconsciously affect college admissions officers’ decisions about accepting a student.

Historically, many of the colleges who chose the test-optional approach have been smaller institutions like Allegheny College in Pennsylvania or Bryant University in Rhode Island. Colleges like these were able to keep close tabs on the results and determine whether this practice affected student performance. These small colleges search for qualified applicants using other admission criteria.

But a recent change in the test-optional landscape came when the University of Chicago decided to add their name to the list offering the class of 2018 the option. It is the first highly ranked university to do so, which means that other colleges will be watching closely to see if this decision affects admission numbers or student performance.

The university made the decision after spending time evaluating admission files of students who underperform at their college, James G. Nondorf, Dean of Admissions, told the Chronicle of Higher Education. After identifying what parts of the application could have indicated a student might struggle, Nondorf said, “It certainly wasn’t testing.” He explained: “The transcript tells such a powerful story for us. We went from department to department to see who the stars were. Does testing tell us who’s going to be the best art historian? The answer is no.” The college made the decision to follow their research and make the move to test-optional.

Do test scores truly predict student success?

Colleges that use SAT or ACT scores to evaluate a student’s ability to succeed in college argue that the scores help them separate the strong students from the ones who might not succeed in a college environment. But according to the University of Chicago’s own research, that may not be the case. Is it time to evaluate students based on their overall application: academics, extracurriculars, essay and recommendations and drop the testing altogether?

Some colleges and admissions advocates disagree. They believe the test is a good indicator of academic performance. They use those scores to draw a line in the sand and attract what they believe are the top students. But is a student’s ability to take a test and score well an indicator of their ability to achieve success? Many believe a test score should not define a student. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, over 1,000 colleges have chosen to take the test-optional path and are listed at sites such as FairTest.org and PrepScholar. For many students, these colleges offer hope for college acceptance and a future. Could one of these colleges be the best choice for your student?

Why test optional colleges might be too good to be true

Although colleges claim to be test-optional, it may sound too good to be true. It is. Even though colleges may claim to be test-optional, they still use test scores when evaluating applicants. Failure to submit test scores sends up a red flag to colleges.

Jane H. Dane, associate vice president for enrollment management at Old Dominion University in Virginia, whose first test optional class arrived on campus last year, explained how this works in an article for US News. She noted that “applicants to ODU and elsewhere who don’t submit scores will be particularly scrutinized for other evidence of potential for success, like challenging course work and leadership skills. The more well-rounded you are, the better your chances of impressing without scores.”

So test scores – or a lack of them – may still be used to make a decision regarding admission. You should also know that even test-optional colleges may require scores to award merit aid and determine class placement. This will affect your financial aid package and leave you no choice but to submit scores.

Why do colleges provide this option?

This option benefits the college. Instead of spending a large amount of their marketing budgets on recruiting and advertising to boost enrollment, they promote the fact that they are test-optional. After a college promotes their test-optional status, the number of applications increases, according to a Politico report. But more applications also mean more rejections. If a college can report more rejections, its exclusivity rankings go up.

Colleges did tell Politico, however, that test-optional applications make their applicant pools more diverse.

Should you submit your test scores to test-optional colleges?

Even though collegSes tell students submitting scores is optional, it signals the college that the student has something to hide. Colleges typically assume these students have low test scores. If your scores are within range, it’s better to submit the scores than to risk the college making this conclusion.

If a college were entirely test optional, admissions officers would tell students to not submit their scores under any circumstances. These scores would not be used for admission decisions or financial aid awards. But no college has taken that stand. So, try to do your best on the ACT or SAT, perhaps with the help of a test-prep course, and then use other parts of your college application to sell your strengths.

Test optional is a great idea in theory, but until colleges deeply commit to it and don’t require or ask for test scores, it is too good to be true.