Report: ACT/SAT Test Scores Actually Make College Admissions Fairer
A lot of would-be college students probably applauded when numerous quality schools made the ACT and SAT exams an optional part of the admissions process. For students who don’t “test well” under pressure, the idea of skipping those exams can seem like a true blessing – and make the admissions process seem fairer.
As it turns out, however, the elimination of ACT and SAT testing may have accomplished the opposite goal, with educators saying that the atmosphere among admissions officers is now often described as “stressful” and outright “chaotic.”
Why Did the Elimination of Test Requirements Cause Problems?
Essentially, the elimination of test score requirements at the more selective institutions opened the floodgates to applicants who wouldn’t have otherwise attempted to apply. That’s left admissions officers struggling under the sheer volume of the applications they have to sort through.
Second, the absence of the objective data that test scores supply about a student’s abilities has made every decision admission officers make more subjective. While some educators lauded the ending of test requirements as a step toward better diversity in higher education, repeated studies over the last two decades have shown that’s not an emerging reality.
What Other News About Test Scores Is Shaking Up the Admissions Process?
The pandemic has had numerous problematic effects on the education system as a whole – including how well students are faring on the ACT. A new report indicates that the average composite score has dropped below 20 for the first time in 30 years.
A deeper dive into the situation reveals that many hopeful university students simply aren’t ready to handle college-level work. Admissions officers are not oblivious to the fact that test-optional policies help students hide a lack of preparation for higher education studies. That fact alone may give students who take the SAT or ACT an edge over their competition.
What Does This Tell You About Test-Optional Policies?
Admission officers have admitted that it’s difficult to overlook strong ACT or SAT scores when they’re reviewing applications, test-optional policies or not.
Because the admissions officers do have so much subjective room for their decisions – and because they’ve long been accustomed to taking those scores into account, many admit that good test scores in the file do weigh on their minds. Others admit, “If the standardized test is there in the file, it might bias you in ways that you’re not aware of. It’s an anchoring bias.”
What this tells you is that – no matter how test-optional a school is trying to be – students would be wise to continue to prepare for and take the ACT or SAT (or both) and submit their scores with their applications. In an admission atmosphere where you want to bring every possible advantage you may have into play, you don’t want to overlook the realities of the situation. Your test scores could be the deciding factor between you and another applicant with a similar transcript.
If you were hoping that the admissions process would be a breeze since the school you hope to attend has gone test-optional, you may want to reconsider your approach. Learning more about the assistance that’s available to you can help you make your college dreams a reality.