Is this Goodbye to the SAT?

You may be one of the thousands of students that will be taking the SAT exam on March 13. Congratulations on making it this far! It has been a bumpy road to the testing room. Months of COVID-era test delays, location changes, and interrupted study plans were stressful. After all this uncertainty, some students may worry that they won’t show their best ability on test day. Some might wonder if the SAT is even necessary. After all, so many colleges went test-optional or test blind for applications.

Will the SAT changes will affect your future college chances? It may have been easier to get into a great 4 year-college during the pandemic…but what about next year? This blog post will bring you up to speed on the latest SAT news and hopefully reduce your stress levels.

Test-Optional or Test-Blind Colleges

Going to college is the surest way to become rich and successful. So, we want to know how, if, and when SAT scores will matter for college admission. This year, the SAT might not matter very much.

The National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest) counted over 1,350 colleges and universities across the United States that have gone test-optional for Fall 2021 and Fall 2022 admissions. In other words, more than half of ALL four-year schools have dropped standardized tests for admissions. Check which schools have test-optional applications for 2022 through the FairTest database.

But what exactly does “test-optional” or even “test-blind” mean?

TEST-OPTIONAL

A “test-optional” college lets you decide to include your SAT scores. The school will consider your application based on the rest of your materials. Yet, you can still choose to send your SAT scores for consideration. In that situation, the SAT score will be part of the review process. There has been some debate if test-optional campuses still prefer to see your exam scores. These schools went test-optional to be as fair as possible. They will not penalize students for their choice to include (or not include) their scores.

TEST-BLIND

“Test-blind” is different from test-optional. A test-blind school will not consider standardized testing scores at all for admission. A test-blind committee will even ignore a perfect 1600 score.

Test-blind admissions are not a new concept. Most community colleges do not need SAT or ACT scores already. What is new, though, is how many 4-year colleges have shifted to test-blind admissions since the COVID-19 pandemic began. According to FairTest in February 2021, 69 campuses moved test-blind. This includes the prestigious and enormous University of California (nine campuses) and California State University systems (23 campuses).

As a result of test-optional and test-blind changes to admissions, the number of students submitting SAT scores for college applications has plummeted. As of February 2021, only 44% of college applicants using the Common Application submitted their SAT (or ACT) scores. Before coronavirus though, about 77% of applicants using the Common Application submitted them.

What will colleges and universities look at in place of SAT scores?

What will colleges look at?

Schools typically use a “holistic” approach to their application. This means, they look at the “whole” picture of your college readiness and there is no single factor that can make or break your acceptance. The SAT (and other standardized tests like the ACT) are just one piece of your application. that shows reviewers that you are ready for college-level work.

Schools that have dropped standardized tests may shift their focus to other criteria. Your grades, the types of classes you took, AP tests, and so on may become more important. This will differ at each college. For example, the California State University (CSU) system does not look at extracurricular activities, personal essays, or other awards. In light of the SAT changes, Cal State Fullerton’s Office of Admissions said they are making grade-point averages a higher priority. For 2021–2022 incoming freshmen, the admissions cut-off rose from a 2.0 average GPA to a 2.5 GPA. If you need to raise your GPA to reach new college requirements, make sure to sign up for a free online tutor through UPchieve.

Also, the College Board removed the SAT essay section just before the pandemic. College admissions teams had to change the way they assessed college-ready writing. They may now place a higher priority on your application essay, for example. They may focus on your grades in Social Studies, History, or English Literature. These courses all rely on evidence-based essay writing and shed light on your writing skill. Here are our tips on writing your personal statement for the Common Application.

College admissions committees may look more heavily at your grades instead.

Will the SAT matter in the future?

The short answer: yes

1. High schoolers should still do their best on their SAT exam. Some states make the SAT or ACT exam a requirement for high school graduation.
2. Some universities are still using SAT results to make general cut-offs. The University of Washington in Seattle uses SAT results to make waiting list decisions. SAT results can be similarly adapted for out-of-state acceptances. They can also be used to balance applications for high schoolers who did not meet a GPA cut-off. Each college is different so make sure to check the requirements carefully even if they are broadly “test-optional.”
3. Many of these policy changes are only temporary exemptions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Presumably, admissions offices will require standardized testing when the pandemic is under control. You may still need to submit SAT scores if you start at a community college and transfer to a four-year campus. The community college may be test-blind but the four-year campus may ask for it. In other words, always check the most recent requirements for your applications.
4. Your SAT score can help you qualify for scholarships. Your UPchieve college mentor online can help you check qualification requirements.
5. If you are applying to a test-optional school, a great SAT score can help you stand out. This may be especially helpful since the pandemic canceled so many activities. Instead of sports, volunteer work, or clubs, a student can highlight their SAT success.

The long answer: maybe not

There has been a gradual movement to get rid of standardized tests for good. Critics have pointed out that standardized tests do not accurately assess someone’s academic ability. Moreover, the system unfairly benefits higher-income students. Income gaps overlap with racial demographics in the United States due to our complex history of racial discrimination. Hence, there is a significant gap in standardized testing scores between white and black students. Due to these concerns, colleges and universities have been moving away from the SAT for the last fifteen years.

The UC and CSU campuses already voted to remove exam requirements by 2025. This move has the potential to influence the entire nation. CSU is the largest higher education system in the country. Over 484,000 students enroll in a CSU each year. The UCs are large as well, enrolling over 226,000 students last year. Both systems are seeing record-breaking enrollment numbers and are expected to continue growing.

The UCs are especially influential. Prestigious campuses such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego attract competitive applicants from all over the world. Many high schoolers may no longer feel incentivized to take the SAT to enroll in a UC or CSU. This may encourage other colleges to drop standardized testing as well. But until that happens, it is not quite “goodbye” to the SAT just yet.

For more individualized college advice, make sure to connect with a free, online tutor through UPchieve.org. Our tutors are available 24/7 and free for qualifying high schoolers.

Originally published at https://upchieve.org on March 5, 2021.