I agree that when a school says they are test optional, they are truly test optional. A good score is nice, but those not submitting won’t be penalized.
I am pretty sure that at some point this year, there will be several opportunities to take the test. I wonder if colleges might allow students to submit late test scores? As long as the rest of the app is in, it seems that even if the college is TO, a college can factor in test scores for their data even if they arrive after the app deadline.
They are already doing so, for recruited athletes doing prereads this summer.
They may not “require” it but they can “recommend” students submit it.
For example, most colleges “require” at least two years of a foreign language but many selective colleges “recommend” 3 or 4 years. So the prudent student would be wise to do 3 or 4 years of a foreign language even if it’s not “required”.
The reality is that the ACT/SAT was only unavailable for a few months (mid-March to mid-June) and students had plenty of time to take it before the pandemic and now can take it this summer or fall.
Colleges want the maximum number of applicants applying and likely the real reason they are TO optional this year. Kids that only took it once and didn’t get the score they wanted might not apply if the college didn’t go test optional but that doesn’t mean that colleges don’t care about test scores within their historical range. They certainly do and I can’t help thinking they will favor applicants who submit a good application with a test score within their range. Applicants who don’t submit a score will be a little bit more of an acceptance risk.
Will be interesting to hear back from adcoms in the next 6-9 months about their review process and how applicants who didn’t submit tests were treated this year.
Maybe I don’t like to leave anything to chance but if my kid was capable of a good test score, I would highly encourage him/her to prep for and take the test(s) when available.
@socaldad2002 – I agree with trying to test, but your statement of a 3-month gap in testing is not accurate.
SAT’s last test was in mid-March (and even that test was cancelled many places) and it’s not offered again until August – and likely not everywhere (see below).
ACT was completely down from March to mid-June – but the June test was VERY spotty. 40% of test sites in my state were cancelled! In some states there were zero tests offered! Most predict the July sitting will be equally spotty – many districts have completely closed their buildings for the whole summer. All these cancellations, some at the last minute, mean there’s pent up demand and it’s hard to even get a testing seat.
I think the soonest we’ll see a ‘normal’ testing day is September and even that is by no means certain. So really it’s at least a six month break not three – which puts a lot of pressure on Class of 2021 kids, especially those with zero or 1 test under their belt where in years past many kids would be rounding the corner toward their 3rd or even 4th attempt by Fall.
@AlmostThere2018 I completely agree with you.
@socaldad2002 your numbers are off. You are assuming that the kids will have the opportunity to take a test. You are basing your assumptions on pre-Covid circumstances. Of course a school would want you to produce a top score and would admit a student with a top score over someone who didn’t produce a score in a test-optional circumstance.
However, with Covid, all of those assumptions are out the window. Schools cannot require students to produce a test when testing is unavailable. My son has been studying for both the SAT and ACT since last Fall. He has not been able to take tests from March through July. In our area, the SAT seats sold out this Fall and there are no more seats available. I spent 6 hours refreshing my browser on 3 different computers trying to sign him up for a test. My last hope is trying to get him an ACT seat in September but that won’t be available until late July. If I can get him a seat, he will resume test prep. That assumes that September will be a go.
It is a supply and demand issue. If he doesn’t have a seat, he can’t be punished for not producing a score.
He is planning to apply ED1 to a school and is not going to delay his application if he can’t produce a score. He will list in the Covid sections all of the dates that were cancelled and the sold out dates.
The reason the schools have gone test optional is to allow kids like my son the opportunity to apply and to not be punished because of lack of testing sites available.
From everything I have read from the elite schools, the kids will receive the same level of consideration whether or not they produce a test score.
@kanfly – ugh, sorry for your stress. My kid got one ACT test back in Feb. He’s got a seat for July but we’re worried it will be cancelled.
I think folks who don’t have a kid going through this cycle may not realize what a complete cluster this season of testing has been, and how stressful it is for kids.
Some kids for the June ACT were notified right b4 that while the site was open their seat had been cancelled in order to de-densify the test room. I understand why from a public health standpoint, but it’s just another sign of how messed up this year’s testing is!
Hang in there!
@AlmostThere2018 He didn’t sit for the Feb test since he was at the state DECA conference. The March test was cancelled the night before. At least we knew ahead of time for April and May. His June ACT was cancelled the night before. I had called the testing center and they told us that the state would not allow any testing all summer so I presume July is cancelled. It’s hard to keep your kid motivated to study when 6 times I a row it is cancelled, especially at the last minute.
This is the exact reason the schools are test optional to try to alleviate the stress and so the kids know it won’t count against them.
I don’t think it would be fair to give the kids with a score a leg up because they were able to take it the same way they can’t punish the kids who weren’t able to take it. I am certain he is not alone that there are a lot of kids who simply cannot take the test for reasons out of their control.
When people post that the kids need to continue to study to produce a score, it creates more anxiety and stress as I don’t think they realize that it is simply not even possible.
Yes, total cluster!
Sorry for the all of the stress your S is under re: testing. I hope he gets a test in, is the HS trying to schedule an in-person school day test in the Fall?
Separately, I do encourage you to ask directly whether the ED school is going to limit TO acceptances.
@Mwfan1921 We have not heard anything from the district regarding a Fall test. It’s not looking good as his in class school will be very limited.
Last Fall his PSAT was on a re-take day because of Fall Break. So the day he was supposed to take it was a snow day. These kids just can’t catch a break!
Regarding his ED1, we are looking into it. He has a very strong hook for the school which gives him hope. The rest of his application is well within the range. Without the hook I would be much more concerned. He has been in close contact with the AO as well and they are aware of the situation.
@Kanfly We were just having this conversation with a friend whose D’s in the same boat. I could be wrong, but I think kids who have the grades/rigor, great rec’s, ECs, and a great personal statement will be fine. I don’t think the lack of a score can be a hindrance or the whole TO would be a lie! And, it’s hard to write a great personal statement (I have twins who have very different abilities and can see the difference). I think, this year, the statement mat become a differentiator for lots of kids. But, that’s just me, guessing. And, you’re in touch with your AO, who knows he hadn’t been able to test. Seems like the perfect TO app.
I think Dartmouth explained it best.
““Optional” is not a trick word. It is not a wink that signals a continued institutional preference for the upcoming admissions cycle. This is not a moment for euphemisms or gimmicks; there should be no parsing of intent with this amended testing policy. It is a clear response to an unprecedented moment that requires admission officers to reimagine some of the elements we have historically required as we reassure anxious students about their upcoming applications. Worries about oversubscribed test sites, anxiety regarding limited registration access and the incongruity of test prep during a quarantine can be set aside.”
Our TX public school’s March 25th in-school test was cancelled. I sincerely hope AOs would not assume that the test was taken earlier and not submitted due to a low score (as some on the thread have speculated).
Is anyone considering submitting their PSAT score until the SAT scores come in?
“I know both of the tests well. The math is only up through trig and, even then, very few questions are trig. The writing section on both tests just requires learning a bunch of grammar and punctuation rules that either the kids learned in middle school or need to review. The reading sections require the kids to read really quickly and then the questions are written specifically to make them second guess themselves.”
A lot of people on c/c think the tests are easy, but for many kids, they’re not of course. First is that they’re scaled so even if everyone knows grammar and algebra, there will be a curving down on that test, and they’re timed.
"The writing section on both tests just requires learning a bunch of grammar and punctuation rules that either the kids learned in middle school or need to review. "
Well both tests require good vocabulary to do well which should have been picked up by figuring out what a word means by context, among other methods, but it’s not like every hs English class is going to that.
The expectation of “learned in middle school” and “read really quickly” to be blunt, smacks of privilege.