Four months into 2024, major ivy league universities have announced the comeback of standardized tests such as ACT and SAT in their admission criteria. In the wake of the pandemic, many premium institutions decided to either require SATs or make them optional, much to the relief of students all over the world. This represented a significant shift from the admissions process’s long-standing reliance on standardized testing.
Which Universities are Bringing SAT Back?
Colleges across the US are revisiting their admission processes and adopting diverse approaches to incorporating standardised tests. While some are reintroducing standardised testing requirements, many are still keeping it optional.
Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities like Yale and Harvard introduced test-flexible policies where Yale accepted IB and AP scores in lieu of SAT or ACT. Harvard was one of the many institutions to put test-optional policies in place due to limited access to testing as a consequence of COVID-19.
“Standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond.” says Harvard Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi E. Hoekstra in his stand on standardized tests.
It is important to note that these decisions are subject to change given the continuous reassessment of test-optional approach to SATs across many universities. Following is an overview of some of the top colleges:
- Brown University (extended through class of 2028)
- Columbia University (extended indefinitely)
- Cornell University (extended through class of 2028)
- Dartmouth College (extended through class of 2028)
- Harvard University (extended through class of 2030)
- Princeton University (extended through class of 2030)
- Florida Atlantic University
- University of Georgia
- Yale University (extended through class of 2028)
- University of Tennessee
- University of Florida
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Georgetown University
What was the previous scenario?
Following the outbreak of the pandemic, there was limited access to test infrastructure, and, therefore, the mandatory policy around standardized tests had been thoroughly revised. A number of the oldest universities eliminated their need for applicants to take the SAT and ACT. Columbia University, being one of the first to adopt the test-optional policy, said that their decision comes from a place of providing more opportunity and flexibility to students:
“We designed our application to afford the greatest possible opportunity and flexibility for students to represent themselves fully and showcase their academic talents, interests, and goals..We will continue to evaluate all submitted information within an individualized application review process that considers the unique combination of circumstances shaping each applicant’s journey.”
– Columbia University
The removal of SAT from mandatory admissions criteria was also welcomed by many as a step towards reducing the unfair advantage granted to more affluent or well-off applicants who could afford expensive resources to prepare for the SATs.
Why are standardized tests coming back?
As international admissions become more competitive by the year, ensuring a level playing field for all applicants has become the need of the hour especially for the disadvantaged segments of students who could benefit from submitting their standardized test scores.
“Our research and experience with tens of thousands of applications over the past four years have demonstrated that when an application lacks testing, admissions officers place greater emphasis on other elements of the file. For students attending well-resourced high schools, substitutes for standardized tests are relatively easy to find: transcripts brim with advanced courses, teachers are accustomed to praising students’ unique classroom contributions, and activities lists are full of enrichment opportunities. A policy that results in increased emphasis on these elements, we found, has the effect of advantaging the advantaged.”
–Jeremiah Quinlain, Dean of undergraduate admissions and financial aid, Yale University
Admissions officers at many universities, such as the University of California have asserted in the past that making tests mandatory is primarily intended to eliminate any potential racial and socioeconomic disparities in admissions as well as to assist students who experienced undue cancellations or disruptions in their admission process. Statistically speaking, standardized tests are more likely to predict success in college outcomes.
The University of California faculty leaders prepared a comprehensive report recommending the continuity of SATs and ACTs, predominantly citing that standardized tests actually encourage more enrollment from disadvantaged students. University of California’s faculty leaders also depreciated the role of standardized tests in causing any kind of disparity in the process.
“We did not find evidence that UC’s use of test scores played a major role in worsening the effects of disparities already present among applicants.”
University of California Report, 2020
The above assertion however was met with opposition due to allegations that the tests discriminated against minorities and low income applicants, culminating in a withdrawal during 2021.
The New York Times conducted another thorough evaluation of the SATs to refute the widely held notion that they actually encourage inequality and unfairness by favoring privileged candidates. The report’s conclusion was that the SATs are a more accurate and reliable indicator of college success than the grade point average.
It has also been believed that by introducing standardized tests, the chance of high-scoring students to surface is highly likely, who might have gone unnoticed or undetected, as discovered by Harvard economist Susan Dynarski.
Colleges now believe that high SAT scores are directly proportional to higher college GPAs as well. It is a true measure of their abilities. Additionally, SAT results are also a more fair and equitable measure of a student’s academic worth due to the test’s standardized format.
Universities like Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown discovered that their applicant pool became significantly less diverse after making the SAT optional. This was because individuals from different racial or socioeconomic backgrounds were less likely to apply, believing they had not been tested adequately or justly. This has made it much harder to access students from less advantaged backgrounds, as they have trouble understanding their transcripts and finding the confidence to turn in their scores.
Although the consideration of SAT scores in evaluating applications has long been frowned upon, colleges are beginning to see how valuable they are in leveling the playing field for candidates. It also allows students with lower grades to prove their actual intellectual potential in the test scores if tutored well.
What does this really mean for you as a student?
It is in no way a bad thing that SAT is returning. In the college admission scenario, essays are already being scrutinized for plagiarism and authenticity issues in the age of artificial intelligence. Hence, the SAT proves to be a more solid and reliable benchmark for measuring a student’s abilities. Furthermore, it is only advantageous to attempt the SAT at least once before giving up out of fear due to its optional nature and flexible testing policies across several universities.
It is also important to remember that the SAT is heavily reliant on your academic performance and curriculum. If anything, your score serves as a reliable gauge of your readiness and the amount of knowledge you have acquired in school. It is a realistic reflection of your general preparedness for college admissions.
However, given a number of real-world considerations, it goes without saying that standardized tests can be daunting. The cost for each attempt is high, and for those giving multiple attempts, it ends up becoming an expensive ordeal altogether. The expenses associated with taking the SAT extend beyond the test itself. A significant amount of money is spent on test preparation, tutoring, and coaching, all of which can be very costly for students and their parents. Test preparations are always difficult given the academic requirements of school and the ongoing extracurricular activities. All of these things require equal attention, which can be stressful for many students. To top that off, competing for international admissions in the current competitive landscape can be a highly anxiety-provoking process. Test anxiety is as real as all the resources that go into preparing for tests. But, there is no mountain that is unsurmountable with adequate preparation.
WHAT NEXT?
By following a few effective habits, you can get a firmer grip over this process. We recommend the following:
- Start preparing early: It is a good thing that the news of the comeback of SAT is already out, giving you the chance to prepare well in advance and be more attentive to the developments in the field.
- Collect your resources: Be on the lookout for online communities and college websites to collect the relevant resources required for your admissions process.
- Gather academic resources: Khan Academy provides a comprehensive repository of standardized tests that can equip you better for SATs and ACTs. There are many other platforms that can provide you with similar resources for preparation.
- Join study groups: You are not alone on this battlefield of tests, you will find many like yourself who are competing for these exams. Reach out to high schoolers around you and organize or join study groups, which are the most ideal places for sharing skills, knowledge, and resources.
- Prepare a college list: Now is a good time for 2024 applicants to start preparing a college list with a variety of test optional, test mandatory, test flexible, as well as test blind universities. Ensure that your college list has a good variety, which enhances your chances of admission to the college of your choice.
The debate over standardized testing in college admissions reflects broader societal questions about equity and excellence in higher education. Despite criticisms, evidence suggests that test scores play a significant role in identifying promising students from all backgrounds, contributing to both diversity and academic achievement in elite institutions.
Based on our observations, students who take the SAT are more confident when applying to more selective universities and have a more positive application process. Furthermore, it makes even more sense to take on this challenge head-on given that STEM-related careers are the ones flourishing in the US.
Good luck!
