Test Optional Admissions: How Will They Affect the Class of 2021 and 2022?

In the last year, a ton has changed with regard to testing and college admissions. In case you’ve been far too preoccupied with everything going on in the world to follow every new development with colleges going test optional, we’re here to help with a brief rundown of what you need to know about test optional admissions.

Class of 2021 (current seniors)

What’s Happened: Just about every college in the U.S. has gone test optional or test blind for the Class of 2021. Among the few remaining holdouts still requiring tests are public colleges in the state of Florida (UF, FSU, etc.) and the military academies.

What it Means for You: At the vast majority of colleges, you will not need to submit SAT/ACT scores. Check out this article to decide if you should submit your test scores.

Class of 2022 (current juniors)

What’s Happened: A small number of colleges have gone permanently test optional or have instituted three-year test optional pilot programs. As for the rest of the colleges, many have already extended their test optional policies to cover the Class of 2022. There will surely be some holdouts that still require tests (state universities in Florida, for example), but we expect the majority of colleges will eventually go test optional for this year.

Keep in mind that colleges often do not review or adjust their admissions policies until the end of the current application cycle, so it’s possible that some won’t announce an update until late spring/early summer.

As for testing availability, we’re starting to enter a period of more certainty. Spring 2020 SATs and ACTs were cancelled nationwide. Summer 2020 SATs and ACTs were offered in select locations and often cancelled last-minute. In Fall/Winter 2020, some test centers cancelled all SATs and ACTs, while others held tests every month. It’s still not perfect—the College Board and ACT have been slow to notify students about cancellations—and it might be a little messy, but ultimately most juniors WILL have the opportunity to take multiple SATs or ACTs.

What it Means for You: Plan to take the SAT or ACT. You want to be prepared, just in case some of the colleges you’re interested in do require test scores for the Class of 2022.

It is also worth noting that very few test optional colleges are test blind (meaning test scores will not be considered if submitted). Strong test scores, even at test optional schools, will almost always benefit your application.