Do I still have to take the SAT ACT for college applications?Since the start of the pandemic, some U.S. universities have stopped taking standardized SAT ACT scores as a required submission.
Although the pandemic has passed, more and more American universities continue to make the SAT ACT a mandatory requirement.
More than 1,900 universities are not required to submit standardized tests in the 2022-23 application season, of which more than 1,800 are test-optional and more than 80 are test-free, and more than 78% of U.S. universities will extend standardized test optional policies until the 2023-24 application season or beyond.
Standardized testing has long been controversial and has sparked heated discussions. Proponents argue that standardized tests are an objective, unbiased form of assessment that provides comparable data and benchmarks that facilitate comparisons and evaluations between schools and students.
Required Tests, Optional Tests, No Tests, Test-Based Scholarships, SAT vs. ACT, Self-Report Tests, Fee Waiver, Extended Tests, Digital Testing, ......One needs an assessment degree to make sense of it all.
In no less than 80% of four-year colleges, students can decide if they want their standardized test scores to be considered as part of their application.
Some schools simplify this uncertaintyThe SAT ACT has been removed altogether in favor of test-free admissions, such as at Caltech, and even removed the consideration of advanced courses (AP).
Do you want to submit it if it is optional?
For universities and colleges that still allow students to choose whether to submit or not to submit, how should applicants handle this decision
In a recent admissions blog, Rick Clark, Georgia Tech's vice provost and executive director of undergraduate admissions, used the lyrics of the song "Back to the Beginning" by country star Tim McGraw to illustrate the changes in standardized testing.
Clark told the applicant,Look beyond the face value of the numbers provided by the Faculty and emphasise the importance of asking the right questions to the school, while doing a good job as students and researchers.
While I don't usually like Clark's love of the country, another song of this genre seems to me to be a more appropriate metaphor for standardized testing.
Lyrics suggested in the iconic song "The Gambler" by Country Hall of Fame artist Kenny Rogers (written by Don Schlitz):
If you're going to play games, kids, you have to learn to play right. ”
If you don't participate, you can't win."
Although I'm not a gambler, the adage seems to make sense.
For most students, it makes sense to take at least one SAT and/or ACT.
Even if it's not a formal administration – there are many free practice diagnostic tests that can give students an idea of their exam abilities.
By mid-11th grade, most high schools will organize the PSAT and or PRACT (practice versions of each test). Try once or twice and then decide how to play your cards well.
According to data released by the Common App in January this year, the proportion of students submitting standardized scores has decreased significantly in the past two years compared with before the epidemicHowever, 47% of applicants still insisted on submitting standardized scores.
Do you want to take the test?
Overall, in the 2023-2024 filing season, U.S. applications will still be subject to submission, standardized, optional, and non-considered.
However, SAT ACT scores are still one of the important requirements for applying for admission to the United States, and they are an important part of the demonstration of academic ability.
As for whether or not to take the SAT ACT, you need to refer to the following suggestions according to your goals and your own situation.
Target Top 10 Universities
For students who aim for TOP10 universitiesThe suggestion is that the standardized test is compulsory, and the test must be high!
Target top 20-30 universities
There are two suggestions for students from the top 20 universities:
If you already have a desired TOEFL score (e.g., 110+), you can consider scaling it up and then decide whether to submit it based on your score.
If you haven't gotten the desired TOEFL score, it's a good idea to prepare for the TOEFL first.
Target top 30-60 universities
For this part of the students, the most important thing at present is to get the ideal language score, and to see if they can further improve the school scores, and the standardized test can not be considered.
Regardless of policy changes, the core requirements for selecting students at U.S. universities remain the same, with academic ability being a crucial component.
Therefore, in the highly competitive application battle for prestigious schools, the submission of standardized scores is a necessity for Chinese students, and the standardized scores with ultra-high scores are even more conducive to competition**.
If you really want to skip this hurdle, you can consider not submitting a standardized school, but other aspects of the score are very important
Attached: 2024 standardized score requirements of the top 50 colleges and universities in the United States