When to Take-- and if to Take-- Standardized Tests Depends on Your Goals and Your Level of Preparation

You may be ready to take admissions tests as early as freshman or sophomore year if you have completed the math through Algebra II (including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II) and are a strong test taker. If you are sitting for a test soon, review my test-day checklist. 

If I Am a Junior, When Should I Take the SAT or ACT Exams?

If you are going to prepare for and take tests, I recommend that juniors who can prepare ahead sit for at least one test before winter break. We have fewer test options after that until spring, and by then many juniors are overwhelmed with AP test prep and activities. 

You Should Consider Whether Testing Is Right for You: Test Optional and Test Blind

The vast majority of US colleges and universities have been test optional-- or even test blind-- for the past two admissions cycles. Some schools have announced a several-year trial period, while others have completely eliminated testing requirements going forward. The University of California schools are test blind, for example, and schools including Bowdoin, University of Chicago, Franklin & Marshall, George Washington, and Sarah Lawrence have announced a permanent test-optional admissions policy. 

Will the Test Optional/Test Blind Movement Stick Around? 

Test optional admissions is so favorable to higher ed-- it allows a school to recruit whom it wants, from athletes to under-represented students-- that I anticipate the trend is here to stay for the vast majority of schools. That said, Purdue announced in Fall 2022 that testing would be required for the Class of 2024. I don’t think this moves the general trend, but I predict that STEM-oriented schools and majors will continue to prefer testing from students.

Should I Take Standardized Tests at All?

Because most schools are now and likely will be test optional for the foreseeable future, students have the freedom to decide whether to take the tests. The bottom line for admissions is that if you can obtain a score at or above the median for a school’s admitted student population, you should submit scores. If not, you probably should keep them to yourself. You also may decide, based on your assessments, that testing is not right for you. 

How Do I Figure Out Which Test Is a Better Fit for me, SAT or ACT? 

I never recommend that students take official tests with no preparation because not every school superscores. Pull down a real SAT and ACT from the web (I have several available here), take them both under timed conditions, and compare your results. The SAT and ACT are equally widely accepted and valued, so the relevant question is only which test is a better fit for you. 

CTK Pro Tip: The best news in college admissions today is that students who don’t test well don’t need to spend time and money on test prep anymore. Take the time to assess yourself at the outset to ascertain whether this is the right path for you. 

You can book a free consultation with CTK College Coach anytime to discuss whether testing is right for you and to ask all your questions about the college admissions process.