To Test or Not to Test? The Pressures of Standardized Testing

The world of college admissions  fluctuates, particularly when it comes to standardized testing. On college applications, students can input the following choices: SAT, ACT, or “test-optional.” This daunting decision is a massive debate among students across the U.S. as if scores truly improve their application.

In the past, most students either took the SAT or ACT, but colleges recently added a “test-optional” choice, which allows students to not submit standardized tests. Although it sounds great, students in rigorous environments such as the School wonder if choosing that path has a detrimental impact on their application.

Although standardized test scores can be important for the top 20 colleges, it is not all about a high score. Senior Topher Sah, who aimed to take the SAT but switched to the ACT to earn a higher score, agreed: “For some schools, for sure. But others, definitely not, and I think the essays and teacher recommendations are more important, but it can’t ever hurt to have a good score.”

While the process for which test to take can be tedious, there are some clear differences between the two. The ACT is faster-paced, includes more questions, and has a Science section that examines graph interpretation and data synthesis. Senior Akhil Pullela, who took both tests, related to this, saying, “With the SAT, if you make a single mistake, it kind of drops your score by a lot. I think the ACT is a wiser choice because you can get away with mistakes.” 

The SAT is slower than the ACT and dives into more critical thinking in its English and Math sections. The College Counseling Office (CCO) added, “It depends on the student. What we have heard from students is that the pacing of the two exams can feel different. Some people may like the ‘less bouncing around from different subjects’ and some may not.”

With this new option of going “test-optional,” numerous colleges have adapted and are allowing students to apply without submitting a standardized test. For students like senior Aissa Manga, she wanted other parts of her application to be more prominent. Manga commented, “I took the digital SAT in France, and I didn’t like my score. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t really add to my application and I felt like I looked stronger without it.”  Although submitting a test score is not always necessary, highlighting the other parts of an application when not submitting a test score is essential to creating a competitive application.

The choice between the SAT, ACT, and “test-optional” process for an application remains a hot topic for high school students, especially in the School where SAT and ACT preferences only have a 3% difference. While everyone around you may have different opinions, it all comes down to your personal preference. It is important to remember that the option you choose should align with the strengths you want to display to colleges. 

Remember, the School is always here to assist you with deciding which path to pursue and help you achieve your dreams. Ask a CCO officer, advisor, parent, or friend to learn more about which test would suit you best.