A record number of colleges and universities do not require applicants to submit their ACT and SAT test scores, according to a new report from the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest).
For years, both the ACT and SAT have been integral parts of the college admissions process. High scores on either test could propel students to being accepted by some of the nation’s most prestigious schools, but as time as gone on, many schools are now making that portion of the admissions process optional.
That’s because many schools don’t view standardized tests as the best way to predict student success.
Those in favor of a test-optional policy say a student’s grade-point-average, which is a culmination of their performance throughout all four years of high school, is a better way to see how well they’ll perform in the long run.
The SAT first hit the testing scene in the 1920s. Over the last century, it has been modified several times. The test includes reading, mathematics and essay sections which were all worth 800 points until 2014, when the essay was made optional and the test was reverted back to its original 1600-point scale.
Nearly 2 million high school graduated took the test in the class of 2015.
The ACT was introduced in the late 1950s and consists of English, reading, mathematics, science and an optional writing portion. The test is scored on a scale of 1-36.
For many years, both tests dominated the college admissions scene, but the movement against high-stakes testing has pushed back in recent years.
According to FairTest, over 870 accredited schools nationwide do not require all or many applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores. Half of the national liberal arts schools ranked in the “Top 100” by the recently published U.S. News “Best Colleges” follow the same protocol.
Several Florida colleges and universities are part of the “test-optional” group. Some of those schools, like Rollins College and Stetson University, are some of the top regional universities in the South.
Other Florida colleges made the list of top institutions with a test-optional policy. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, St. Thomas University in Miami, Tampa’s St. Leo University and Boca Raton’s Lynn University also made the list for test-optional schools in Florida.
Bob Schaeffer, FairTest Public Education Director, said college admissions staff were recognizing a shift in what it means to accept the best students to their universities.
“Admissions offices increasingly recognize that they do not need ACT or SAT scores to make good decisions,” he said. “That’s why more than 70 schools have adopted test-optional policies in the past three years. We are particularly pleased by the sharp growth at both selective liberal arts colleges and access-oriented institutions.”
Schaeffer explained applicants, too, benefit from the flexible test policy.
“The test-optional surge gives applicants more control in the admissions process,” he said. “Teenagers regularly tell us that they are attracted to schools where they will be treated as ‘more than a score."
To see the full list of test-optional schools, click here.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
