When they say “optional,” they don’t really mean it… right? No? Maybe?

The confusion and skepticism is understandable. Over the last several years, many schools have changed their policies on testing. The UCs, for example, have dropped the SAT entirely. MIT, on the other hand, will again require SAT scores after not doing so during the height of the pandemic.

Because plenty of schools have gone test-optional or test-blind, we want to clarify those terms. And because other schools seem likely to also shift their policies, we’ll highlight some ways to help students think through their choices. 

TEST OPTIONAL VS. TEST-BLIND/TEST-FREE

“Test-optional” means that a school allows students to decide whether to submit test scores, and if a student chooses not to do so, it won’t be counted against them. According to the College Board, about 80% of applicants chose to submit test scores to test-optional colleges.

“Test-blind/free” is what you’re probably thinking it is: Test scores won’t be considered by a school in the evaluation process (even if a student submits them). Here’s a list from FairTest of test blind schools.

So what should students do? As Akil Bello frames it in this conversation, that varies by goal and circumstance, but these three questions can help students think through it:   

Should you prep? Should you test? Should you submit?

Should you prep?

Generally yes, unless you are absolutely certain you are only applying to schools (like the UCs) that don’t want test scores. Spend some time prepping just to see if the test will help your chances as an applicant. Download a free practice test. If you crush it, awesome. Doing so on the real thing will probably help you.

Should you test?

If you’re applying to schools that require test scores, then (obviously) yes. If every school you’re applying to is optional, whether you should test depends on whether doing so will strengthen your application—if you’re scoring solidly above the average applicant at a school, that can work in your favor. (You can easily search for average test scores at different schools.)

Which basically answers the third question: Should you submit?

If doing so helps your application, or is required by the school, then yup.

It’s also important to keep in mind that plenty of scholarships require test scores, so even if a student is planning on applying only to schools that don’t require or don’t take test scores for the application process, they may still want or need to take an SAT or ACT.