If you’re exploring different colleges to apply to, you may have heard the terms “test optional” or “test blind.” By understanding more about what these terms mean, you can build a better college list and improve your chances of finding a school that is perfect for you. Unfortunately, many college applicants don’t know what these terms mean, or may be (understandably) skeptical, and unsure how to proceed.
Like, when they say “optional,” do they really mean … optional? Really? (Answer: Yes. But you still might need to submit scores for other things—more on that below.)
So what do the terms “test optional” and “test blind” mean? How might they change your testing and application approach? And which schools are actually test optional or test blind? Keep reading to discover the answers!
What does “test optional” mean?
The term “test optional” refers to schools where students do not have to submit SAT or ACT test scores as part of the application for admission. Students themselves can choose whether or not to submit scores, and deciding not to submit a score does not negatively reflect on the student’s application.
For the most part, schools that decide to become test-optional apply that metric to all applicants to all programs. However, it’s always worth checking “the fine print” to discover whether or not a particular program you are interested in at the school actually does require you to submit a test score.
Because test optional schools leave it up to students to submit their scores or not, each student must decide for themselves whether they wish to send scores in. Typically, the students who withhold their scores are worried that the scores will negatively affect their application (more on that in a minute). That makes test optional schools attractive to applicants that have difficulty with standardized tests or generally have lower test scores.
Should I submit SAT or ACT scores to test optional schools?
If you apply to a test optional school, whether or not you submit SAT or ACT test scores is entirely up to you—again, they really mean it when they say “optional.” So how do you decide? It depends on a few different factors:
Did you test?
Obviously, students who haven’t taken the SAT or ACT (possibly due to a lack of testing dates/cancellations, or a lack of time, or a lack of funding) have no option: they must apply without scores.
How did you do?
Some students who have taken the tests choose not to submit scores because they feel their score is too low or perhaps that it doesn’t showcase their actual skills (this is especially true for those who experience test anxiety). In cases like these, applicants may withhold their test scores because they want the admissions committee to focus on other achievements (which may range from a solid high school GPA to a rich history of extracurricular activities).
How do you know if your SAT or ACT test score is low for the school you’re applying to?
Use the school’s Common Data Set. Most schools publish data on their applicants, with things like demographics info or types of degree sought, and (especially useful if you’re reading this guide) what average test scores and GPAs were for past applicants. Simply do a Google search (or Bing, or whatever) for “[school name] Common Data Set” and it’ll almost always be the first result that pops up.
For example, here’s Stanford’s Common Data Set from 2021/22. 25% of its applicants (who submitted) scored a 1560+ on the SAT and a 35 composite on the ACT. 75% of applicants scored 1470+ or a 34. So if you wanted to apply to Stanford, and your scores were below those … submitting test scores probably doesn’t help your chances.
Who generally decides to submit their scores to test optional schools?
The answer here goes back to that Common Data Set, and why it’s so useful—students who scored well often choose to submit, especially when their standardized test scores are more impressive than their GPA.
On a related note, certain homeschooled students may choose to submit test scores because their homeschooling program was unaccredited.
For what it’s worth, the vast majority of applicants (around 80% of them) to test optional colleges still submit their scores. This may help you answer that most Shakespearean of questions: “to submit or not to submit.”
What schools are “test optional”?
A growing number of colleges throughout the country are test optional. Below, you can discover some of the top schools* in the country that do not require you to submit test scores!
These are just a few of the best test optional colleges you can apply to. If you want to check out a full list, head to FairTest to discover all of the institutions you wish to apply to!
*By “top schools”, we’re referring to things like US News rankings. But to be blunt, we think those ranking systems are pretty bad, and not a good way to figure out where you should actually go to college. If you want to read about why you may want to reframe how you think about college rankings, check out that link.
What does “test blind” or “test free” mean?
When a school is test blind (sometimes called test free), it means the schools will not consider student test scores under any circumstance. Students are still free to submit the scores, but the scores will not be considered as part of their application.
Sometimes, students are surprised to discover that test free colleges exist. It’s one thing for test optional schools to make scores just one of the optional things that they might review. But why would a school refuse to even consider test scores when a student submits them?
The short answer is that these schools believe other parts of your application provide more valuable information than your test scores. Or they may think that tests are biased or problematic in some way (for example, test scores tend to correlate strongly with family income).
In this way, such schools (like the UC system) echo the sentiment that many students have expressed over the years: that students are more than just their test scores, and that test scores should not be a limiting factor when it comes to someone’s chance at getting a college education.
At test blind/test free schools, your essays—both your main personal statement and your supplemental essays, or your PIQs for the UCs—will be especially important in helping your admission readers understand what sets you apart from other applicants.
Oh, and to clarify the “test blind” vs “test free” thing—many people feel that referring to something as “blind” is problematic, since in everyday life people often use “blind” to mean things like “unaware” or “ignorant” (though in this case, not considering test scores might be viewed as a positive thing) and thus that “test free” is a more inclusive term.
What schools are “test blind” or “test free”?
Generally speaking, there are fewer test blind colleges than test optional colleges, but you still have plenty of options to choose from. As always, it’s important to contact the admissions department of the colleges you are interested in. Some of the following institutions are permanently test blind, while others are currently test blind and reserve the right to change that status at a later date.
These are just a few of your options when it comes to test blind colleges. By checking out the full list, you are sure to find some colleges that pique your interest!
So should I still take the SAT or ACT?
Between test optional and test free schools, you now have plenty of places where you can apply for higher education without submitting test scores. And that brings us to the big question: if you are considering applying to these schools, should you bother prepping for the SAT or ACT and taking the test?
In general, we recommend that prospective students go ahead and take the SAT or ACT. The primary reason for this is that it gives you more options for both college admission and financial aid. If you are absolutely, positively certain you’re only applying to test blind/free schools, then you’re good. Otherwise …
For example, once you have test scores in hand, you can apply to schools whether or not they require test scores. This is especially important in states such as Florida, where all 12 public universities require first-year students to submit ACT or SAT scores as part of their application. (So if you need more resources for raising your score, check these out.)
Even if you apply only to test-optional schools, you can wait to see what your test scores are and decide whether or not the scores make your application stronger or not. Since applying to colleges can be so stressful, giving yourself additional options can provide you with some peace of mind.
Finally (and this is a big last note), many scholarships are awarded based on SAT or ACT scores. So even if you end up going to a test optional or test blind school, you may want to (or have to) take a standardized test in order to qualify for as many scholarships as possible.
With all that in mind, best of luck filling in those bubbles. Or not filling them in.
Special thanks to Chris Snellgrove for writing this blog post.
Chris Snellgrove is an English Professor at Northwest Florida State College who specializes in literature, rhetoric, and business writing. As a freelance writer, Chris specializes in sales, marketing, pop culture, and video games. He has a B.A. in English from Troy University and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Auburn University. When he’s not writing or talking to others about writing, Chris loves reading books, playing video games, watching horror movies, and disappearing into a comic book. He currently lives in Northwest Florida and would probably rather be at the beach right now.
Top values: Diversity / Equality / Social Justice
