Everything you Need to Know About Standardized Tests and College

As standardized tests evolve, so too do students’ and parents’ questions about them. For tests that have been around for a combined 114 years, the SAT and ACT still bring with them uncertainties about their importance and role in the college application process. Below are answers to some common questions regarding how standardized tests influence colleges’ decisions. In addition, you should reach out to guidance counselors, tutors, college admissions representatives, and college coaches for further answers; exploit all the resources that are out there to ensure you maximize the value of your scores.

Do I need test scores?
The short answer is not necessarily. More and more schools each year are making the submission of test scores optional. Still, around 70% of colleges do use these tests as major factors in their decisions. Georgetown, for instance, considers the SAT a vital measure of a student’s academic ability. However, if you have not had great success with testing or if you feel your scores will not be a benefit to your college acceptance chances, it’s worthwhile to check out the growing number of schools that don’t require you to submit scores. You can find a list of these “test-optional” schools here:

http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional

Which test should I take?
Sixty years ago, this wouldn’t even have been a question: the SAT was the test you took. Today, however, you have options. Both the SAT and ACT are accepted by most colleges and universities. Both tests have their similarities and differences, and deciding which ones (or if both) work for you and your skill set is important in preparing for the college application process. A chart delineating the differences between the two tests can be found here:

http://www.studypoint.com/ed/act-vs-sat/

What is superscoring and score choice?
One of the most common questions we hear is “do I have to submit all my scores?” The answer is, for the most part, no. A great deal of schools will allow you to submit only the scores you choose so you can send out only your best results. Additionally, many schools allow “superscoring,” which means you can submit the best combination of your scores from a particular test that you’ve taken more than once. For instance, if you’ve taken the ACT four times and have a higher reading score on one test, a higher English score on another, a higher math score on another, and a higher science score on yet another, you may take those four numbers and submit them together as one ACT composite score. It sounds confusing, but it gives you the best chance to show a college your strongest results, and gives you the best chance of receiving an acceptance letter. A list of college that superscore the ACT can be found here:

http://blog.prepscholar.com/colleges-that-superscore-act-complete-list

For the SAT, see this link:

http://brandcollegeconsulting.com/which-colleges-superscore-the-sat/

What’s the deal with the essay?
You’ve probably heard that both the SAT and the ACT essays are “optional,” but what does this really mean? Can I blow off the essay and leave the test early? Unfortunately, though the test makers term their essays “optional,” most schools see them as mandatory. If you submit your score without the writing component, you run the risk of your application being considered incomplete. So it is definitely important that you do a good job on your test’s essay; however, it’s fair to say that the multiple-choice sections are what truly drive a school’s decision. Again, that doesn’t mean don’t try on the essay, but rather see it as a necessary but slightly less important component. For more information and samples of the ACT essay, look here:

http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act-educator/about-the-act/act-plus-writing.html#writingtestscores

For the SAT, click here:

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/essay

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/essay

If you are a student getting ready to take standardized tests and apply to colleges, you have some decisions to make. Knowing how these tests work and what part they play in the college application process is vital in giving yourself the best chance to end up at a school in which you will thrive.

Written by Phil Lane

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