When applying to American universities in 2023, whether to submit standardized test scores is of great concern to prospective college students. The goal of standardized tests such as SAT/ACT is to reflect the academic abilities that top universities attach great importance to. Therefore, SAT/ACT test scores are a universal standard for evaluating students’ academic standards and an important indicator of the understanding and application of basic subjects. Therefore, they have become a distinguishing factor among thousands of students. Important criteria for tens of thousands of applicants.
As far as the current situation is concerned, there are differences in the standardized test score requirements for American university applications, and naturally the discussion on this issue in the field of college admission counseling is becoming more and more heated. Specifically, American university applications are mainly divided into four principles based on whether to submit standardized test scores:
➤Test Required
Some American universities regard the SAT/ACT test as an important criterion for assessing students' academic ability. The Test Required principle mandates that students must submit standardized test scores as necessary information for university admission applications. For example, Stanford University requires students to submit SAT or ACT scores, and encourages students to provide all available standardized test scores.
In addition, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) also announced that it will adopt the Test Required principle again after adopting the Test Optional principle for two years. Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Florida and other schools are also representative examples of the Test Required principle.
➤Test Optional
American universities that adopt this principle have decided to let applicants choose whether to submit standardized test scores. This policy is designed to provide more flexibility and allow students to demonstrate more aspects and strengths beyond academic aspects. Harvard University adopts the Test Optional principle, but despite comprehensive consideration, reliable sources indicate that SAT or ACT scores are still an important guarantee for admission applications.
Currently, the University of Chicago implements the Test Optional principle, and Bard College also allows applicants to decide whether to submit standardized test scores. This reflects that American universities may be trying to reduce their reliance on standardized tests, conduct assessments more comprehensively, and give students more autonomy. In fact, 80% of the total number of universities in the United States, and more than 60% of the top 50 top universities, all adopt the Test Optional standard!
➤Test Flexible
As the name suggests, this is a relatively flexible principle, and applicants can submit other alternative standardized test scores, such as test scores other than SAT and ACT, to meet admission requirements. The Test Flexible principle demonstrates an open attitude towards multiple assessment methods, giving students greater flexibility so that they can submit test scores that best demonstrate their abilities based on their strengths and interests, and also encourages students to demonstrate different types of academic and professional Achievement.
New York University (NYU) adopts the Test Flexible principle, allowing students to choose to submit any one of SAT, ACT, AP exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams or other standardized test scores in their applications. The University of Texas at Austin also implements the Test Flexible principle and accepts SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP exams, IB exams and other standardized test scores.
➤Test Blind
Light and shadow complement each other, Test Blind is the complete opposite of Test Required. This policy is intended to reduce reliance on standardized testing by not accepting SAT or ACT scores and emphasizing other areas of academic and non-academic achievement. Even if applicants submit test scores, admissions officers will not include them in the admissions assessment, which reflects a more comprehensive assessment of students' comprehensive qualities.
The well-known Caltech and University of California systems have implemented the Test Blind principle, and some colleges at Harvey Mudd College and Cornell University have also adopted the Test Blind principle. The Test Blind principle of standardized test scores pays more attention to students' comprehensive abilities and potential.
➤Develop the most reliable application competitiveness - get your SAT scores!
Top universities in the United States have given different answers to the question of whether to use standardized test scores and the necessity of SAT/ACT scores. The coexistence of multiple principles reflects that the American college application environment is encouraging students to demonstrate other academic and non-academic strengths to create a more inclusive admissions model. Therefore, taking into account the specific principles of each university is key when formulating admissions strategies.
However, despite the emphasis on comprehensive assessment and the openness of students to showcase their strengths in other areas, standardized test scores still provide an objective, comparable indicator that helps differentiate when applying to top U.S. universities with higher admission standards. The differences between applicants are a rare and powerful card for applicants. Impressive SAT/ACT scores can not only enhance the competitiveness of applicants, but also help sometimes obtain better overall evaluations.
In addition, standardized test scores may also affect scholarship and financial aid allocations! Many American universities consider test scores as part of scholarship eligibility, and students with high scores are more likely to receive generous scholarships. Overall, submitting excellent standardized test scores remains an important requirement for admission and scholarships. Applicants to American universities should be committed to fully preparing for the exam. If you have trouble with college admission counseling or need to prepare for standardized tests, you may wish to contact AEI to learn more!
Do I need to submit SAT/ACT scores?
Understand the four principles at once:
| type | in principle | example |
| Test Required | Mandatory submission of standardized test scores | MIT Georgia Institute of Technology University of Florida University of Georgia Georgetown University |
| Test Optional | Optional submission of standardized test scores | Harvard University Yale University Stanford University University of Chicago Columbia University bard college |
| Test Flexible | Flexibility in submitting standardized test scores (Other results can be substituted) |
New York University University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan, Ann Arbor University of Rochester |
| Test Blind | No need to submit standardized test scores (Even if submitted, it will not be considered) |
California Institute of Technology University of California System Harvest College Cornell University* |
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