“What did you get on the SAT/ACT?” This is a question many high school juniors and seniors know all too well. For some, the answer is a source of pride; for others, it’s a point of anxiety. But do standardized test scores truly reflect a student’s potential?
SAT/ACT scores have long been crucial to college admissions. However, disruptions from COVID-19 in 2020 led many institutions to reassess their reliance on these tests. According to FairTest, Over 2,100 accredited colleges and universities have opted for test-optional or test-free policies for students applying in the fall of 2025 and beyond. While some schools remain permanently test-optional, others, including “top-ranked” institutions, are reconsidering or reverting to test-required policies.
Below are the pros and cons of standardized tests for college admissions.
CONS of Standardized Tests for College Admissions:
Standardized tests often fail to reflect a student’s true potential, disadvantaging those who struggle with anxiety or poor testing conditions. Rachel Pastor ‘25, committed to NYU, shared a similar experience despite months of studying: “I do not believe that my score represented me as a student just because I think I’m more of a critical thinker about different topics.” FairTest critiques standardized tests for failing to measure skills like creativity and creative thinking reliably.
FSS senior Will Matrai, committed to Middlebury College, added, “Tests shouldn’t play an important role in the selection process because for some people who are good at testing, maybe it’s a great way to demonstrate their abilities, and just demonstrate more of their character however for someone who isn’t good at testing they might want to highlight other parts of their application.”
Another major critique of standardized tests is their tendency to favor wealthier students who can afford private tutoring and resources, creating inequalities. The increasing number of college applicants since 2019 has made admissions more competitive, but this trend disproportionately benefits wealthier students from the start. Those with financial means can access private college counselors and test prep services, giving them a distinct advantage. According to Rachael Polton, Friends Select’s Associate Director of College Planning, “It is important to think about access with test prep. Test prep can require resources, time, and an understanding of the role it can play in the admissions process. There have always been inequities around it.”
Affluent students often rely on SAT/ACT prep to boost their scores, giving them an edge in competitive admissions. Colleges typically expect target scores, disadvantaging bright students without access to costly tutoring.
Maddie Mickelberg, a junior at Friends Select School, shares, “I would say I’m stressed about knowing that other kids have more access to different resources such as private tutoring, but I am fortunate to know I have the support from the school and college counselors.” While Friends Select students have access to two very hands-on college counselors, not all students have access to hands-on college counselors.
Additionally, standardized tests can heighten anxiety, causing students to doubt their abilities and discouraging them from applying to colleges for fear of not achieving a high score. According to Kids Health, test anxiety is “focusing on potential negatives that increase anxiety, which can worsen your performance and affects countless students.” This anxiety heightens when students’ futures hinge on a single number.
“I spent so much time studying and doing stuff for the SAT,” says Kai Marut ‘25, a senior. “I was stressed for weeks and weeks, I didn’t get any sleep, and it wasn’t worth it in the end because I just can’t handle standardized testing, like, I can’t be in that environment.”
PROS of Standardized Tests for College Admissions:
While there is clear evidence that standardized tests bring out issues in equity, some argue that standardized tests provide a consistent, some argue standardized tests provide a consistent, objective measure for evaluating students from diverse educational backgrounds. Unlike GPAs, which can vary widely due to differences in grading scales, curriculum, and teacher standards, standardized tests offer a uniform “benchmark” for comparison. This creates a level playing field, ensuring all applicants are assessed using the same criteria.
FSS senior Ozzy Spiker ‘25 stated, “Standardized tests are a really good metric to compare across schools because it’s the same test.”
In addition, the president of Brown University has argued, “Standardized test scores are a much better predictor of academic success than high school grades.”
A study conducted by three scholars analyzed admissions records and first-year grades from Ivy-Plus colleges (2017-2022) to examine how standardized test scores and high school grade point average (GPA) relate to academic success in college. Their findings included:
- Finding #1: “Students with higher SAT/ACT scores are more likely to have higher college GPAs than their peers with lower scores.”
- Finding #2: “High school GPA does a poor job of predicting academic success in college.”
- Finding #3: “Students from different socioeconomic backgrounds who have comparable SAT/ACT scores receive similar grades in college.”
While these findings suggest standardized tests may be an effective tool for predicting academic success, it’s important to note the study focused on Ivy-Plus colleges, and results may not reflect outcomes across all institutions.
My Takeaway
After extensive research, I believe colleges should establish permanent test-optional policies because test-optional policies allow students to showcase their abilities more holistically, creating a fairer and healthier admissions process. While standardized tests offer consistency, they often fail to reflect a student’s potential and can exacerbate stress and inequality. Choosing not to submit my scores relieved some of my anxiety and allowed me to focus on other strengths of my application. If a student feels strongly about taking the test, they should have the ability; however, it should not be a requirement.
