College applications: a daunting and stress-filled process for Liberty High School’s newest seniors. Add in testing center closures and a pandemic into the mix and you’ll create an even more stressful and unpredictable college application process. But with social distancing orders and SAT/ACT test center closures, seniors are left figuring out whether to try to take tests as colleges go either “test-optional” or “test-blind.” Let’s break down the standardized testing requirements, and what they mean to the Class of 2021.
So what does “test-optional” mean? When a college uses the word “test-optional”, it means that students do not need to submit a test score in order to receive eligibility for admission. This also means that students can submit scores if they have them. Colleges that go test-optional will still consider standardized tests in their review process, if sent.
“Your safety is more important to us than a test score,” states the UCLA admissions website, who went test-optional for the Class of 2021. “Optional means optional.”
Brooke Hanson, who runs the popular YouTube channel SuperTutorTV, predicts in a recent video that average standardized test scores for colleges who go test-optional will rise, since students with lower scores will hesitate to send scores. She recommends students look at test score percentiles of admitted students using the Common Data Set. If your score ranges above the 50th percentile, submit your scores, since it means that you scored higher than half of admitted applicants. If you score below the 25th percentile, it’s probably best to not submit them.
On the other hand, when a college goes test-blind, this means they will not consider standardized test scores in their review process. Even if students find a way to submit them to a college, the scores will not be used at all. Test-optional does not mean test-blind. The California State University, the largest four-year college system in the country, went test-blind in April.
“Campuses and programs designated as “impacted” may utilize higher “a-g" GPA thresholds for applicants, as well as identify supplemental criteria and their relative weights, in making admission decisions,” noted the California State University. “However, in no case will standardized test scores be utilized in making admissions decisions for applicants during the 2021-2022 academic year.”
But what about the University of California system? Well, that’s where things get a bit tricky. For starters, the UC went test-optional for the Class of 2021 and Class of 2022, but test-blind for the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024. The UC said for the Class of 2021 and 2022 that each application will receive “full consideration” whether or not students send in a test score. They also said that campuses may use test scores for course placement, scholarship consideration, and statewide eligibility for guaranteed admissions.
However, certain individual UC campuses have decided to take a different approach to standardized testing requirements. The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley’s student newspaper, said in May that their Chancellor announced “a pilot study to measure the academic success of students admitted on a test-blind basis throughout their undergraduate careers.” UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz also went test-blind for the Class of 2021, diverging from the UC test-optional policy.
This leaves UC Davis, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Merced, and UC Riverside with their test-optional policy. However, a recent court ruling by an Alameda County judge states otherwise. Since students with disabilities cannot test with new guidelines set by testing centers, plaintiffs argued that they do not have access to proper testing centers. The judge ruled that the UC system as a whole cannot use standardized test scores at all in the admissions process.
“University admissions officials and faculty are best positioned to determine appropriate admissions decisions and procedures” stated the UC, in which they are seeking legal counsel. The UC still claims itself as test-optional despite the ruling.
So when deciding on what to do with standardized testing, know where the college stands on the SAT or ACT. Take into consideration whether testing still holds value for your application, or if it is worth risking your health over.
Cover photo courtesy of Berkleyside.
About the writer:
Gavriel Curameng is the 2020-2021 Editor-in-Chief for The Lion's Roar. You can learn more information about him by clicking here.
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