During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities suspended their requirements for applicants to submit standardized test scores. Post-pandemic, standardized testing requirements have gradually returned. As we enter the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, many of the most selective colleges in the country, including Cornell, Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania, will require applicants to submit an ACT or SAT score.
Standardized test scores are just that – standardized. While questions of test bias have been raised in recent years, the fact remains that these scores provide colleges with a helpful gauge of a student’s academic abilities and potential. Further, high school transcripts may exhibit grade inflation, meaning that an A average alone may not truly reflect academic strength. When high grades are corroborated by a high standardized test score, an admissions officer can be more confident of a student’s academic ability. Indeed, data collected by the College Board suggests not only that students submitting test scores are academically stronger, but also that they are more likely to be academically successful in their first year of college.
TO SUBMIT OR NOT SUBMIT? THAT IS THE QUESTION
Colleges are required to share their mid-50% range for standardized test scores in their Common Data Set. Common Data Sets make it easy for prospective students to gauge whether they are below, within, or above the testing range for a school on their list. For students applying to colleges that require standardized test scores, the decision has been made for them. However, a number of colleges remain test optional, and for students applying to these institutions, the “submit or not submit” question can be less straightforward. Here, we provide some general guidance to assist students in making this decision.
WHAT IS A GOOD SAT SCORE?
What do you do if you fall into the “it depends” category? The reported mid-50% ranges are composed of scores from students who were happy enough with their scores to submit them. Therefore, a student just below this mid-50% might choose to withhold on the basis of falling below, when in fact a college would have found their scores to have been a helpful data point supporting their candidacy. Further, by choosing not to submit, an admissions officer reading a file may erroneously assume that the student’s scores are even lower than they actually were.
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Feedback from college administrators tells us that students who submit testing are accepted to colleges at higher rates than those who do not do so. For example, the admit rate for Yale is three times higher for students submitting test scores as compared to those who opt not to submit (6% vs. 2%). Unless your scores are significantly lower than the published mid-50% range, you will typically stand a better chance of being admitted if you submit your scores. If you fall into the significantly lower category, then you may be best off withholding your scores, but do so with the knowledge that the most competitive applicants will submit scores, and these scores will be within or above the mid-50% range.
TTA Top Tip: Unsure how to find average SAT or ACT scores at top colleges? We’ve made it simple; just click to see the list of schools.
Keep in mind that many top U.S. colleges use holistic review, and standardized test scores are just one component of many that factor into the admissions decision. Strong grades and academic rigor, thoughtfully crafted essays, excellent letters of recommendation and involvements beyond the classroom, also matter quite a bit. Still have questions about whether to submit your scores for a school on your list? Our experienced team can help you strategize!
ADDITIONAL STANDARDIZED TESTING RESOURCES
- SAT vs. ACT: Which is Your Better Test?
- Digital SAT or Enhanced ACT? Your Questions Answered
- SAT Fast Facts & FAQs
- Average SAT Scores at Top Colleges
- The Enhanced ACT: What Students and Parents Need to Know
- Average ACT Scores at Top Colleges
- ACT Fast Facts & FAQs
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