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The menu of choices continues to expand

It's 2024, and we live in a tutti-frutti world of standardized testing policies and options.

The COVID pandemic had transformed traditional testing requirements into a variety of options designed to serve students, as well as college Admissions Offices tasked with evaluating applicants' preparation for success at their schools.

Prior to COVID, hundreds of schools practiced test-optional admissions, reviewing SAT or ACT scores if submitted but not requiring them. Test-optional policies center around the belief that strong academic potential is not necessarily reflected in standardized testing results.

However, as more and more colleges began to waive testing requirements during the pandemic years, the vast majority have remained test-optional. Today, according to FairTest, the leading advocate for eliminating SAT and ACT testing in college admissions, there are nearly 2000 colleges and universities in the US offering some flavor of test-optional admissions.

So what does "test optional​ " mean?

Today's testing landscape offers a varied menu of policies. To navigate this diversity, here are some common test-optional approaches:

test optional -- SAT or ACT scores are not required at time of application. For the entering Class of '25, nearly 2000 colleges plan to maintain a current test optional policy. 

test free, score free or test blind -- SAT or ACT scores are not considered at time of application, even if an applicant submits a score. A few examples of schools that do not review test scores include: 

The University of California system

The California State system

Worcester Polytechnic

Loyola University New Orleans

test scores required for all -- the traditional admission requirement. Today, some of the growing number of schools that require the SAT or ACT as part of the application for admission include: 

Georgetown

University of Florida

Florida State

University of Tennessee

Indiana University - main campus

Purdue

test scores required for certain programs   -- these often include engineering; nursing; specialty programs such as combined law or medicine

Quinnipiac

University of Cincinnati

Union College - Schenectady

permanently test optional:

Vassar

Champlain

the SUNY system

exemption policies  -- these apply to applicants meeting a GPA or class rank minimum

Pace University

Auburn University

University of Scranton

Shifting sands

Note that some schools that had been test optional or test free are now back to considering or requiring scores:

MIT -- scores now required

Dickinson College -- scores now considered after suspending a test free policy

Variability within the system

Among state systems, there can be variability as to testing requirements school to school.

As an example, the University of Georgia system has extended its waiver of testing requirements however excluding flagships such as UGA, Georgia Tech, Georgia College and State University.

And international applicants may have different test requirements at any college, usually furnishing TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores as evidence of English-language proficiency.

Bottom line

As testing policies continue to morph, students will need to keep an eye on updates so they can put their best foot forward at the time of application.