When Test Optional Isn’t Really Test Optional

Many of our clients come to us with the mistaken impression that test scores don’t matter because so many schools are now test optional or test flexible.

Though it is true that on paper, more schools are test optional, a 2014 NACAC survey of colleges showed that in terms of percentile rank of admissions factors (“Considerable to Moderate Importance”), 92% of colleges said that “Grades in college prep courses” fell into this category followed by “Grades in all courses,” “Strength of Curriculum” and then “Admission test scores” — 88%.

This means that 88% of colleges are still reporting that testing is of considerable to moderate importance. Why then do we keep reading about test optional schools (you can see the full list at Fairtest.org)? According to Fairtest.com, almost a third of 2,300 four-year colleges do not use the SAT or ACT for admissions purposes.

Yet that does not tell the whole story – the vast majority of these schools are non-competitive (“open enrollment”), religious institutions (like Bible colleges), technical and fashion schools, performing arts/creative arts schools or state schools that use formulas. Once we take out all those colleges, we are left with only 5% of the original list. And even with these schools, the majority of applicants still submit scores.  Take Bowdoin for example – though it’s score optional, the majority of students do submit scores, their admission rate is only 15% and their average CR/M SAT is 1440!!

The bottom line is that test optional benefits the college more than the students. How so? Becoming score optional increases the total number of applicants and increases the average test scores as only higher scoring kids submit scores while low scoring ones suppress. As a result, rankings rise as the school becomes more competitive (lower admit rate and higher average scores).

What about subject tests? Parents tell us all the time that their students don’t need to take subject tests because some schools will use the ACT in place of subject tests.

Though it is true that “only” 47 colleges require (22) or recommend (25) subject tests, keep in mind that these colleges are almost all the competitive colleges our students want to attend! Not to mention the fact that even those colleges that technically do not require subject tests still USE subject tests to a student’s advantage in admissions.

Subject tests are only an hour long and are CONTENT based unlike the SAT and ACT. We find that our students typically do better on subject tests so these scores can offset a slightly lower ACT or SAT score. The Math II exam is much higher level than the SAT math so it’s more aligned with what students need to know for competitive colleges.

In short, we always recommend that our students take as many subject tests as possible. Though the “minimum” at most top colleges is 2-3 that are required (note that Georgetown requires 3), most students who are accepted have 5+.

Do you want to apply with the bare minimum or do you want to apply with what most accepted students have and make it easy for admissions officers to say YES? We suggest studying the actual data to make that decision and it clearly shows that the more high subject test scores, the higher the odds at the most competitive colleges, period.