# More College Applicants Submit Test Scores Despite Test-Optional Policies

College applicants submitted standardized test scores at higher rates this cycle, with a 10% increase compared to the previous year. This shift occurs even as most selective colleges maintain test-optional admissions policies that allow students to apply without SAT or ACT results.

The trend reverses years of declining test submission rates. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many colleges dropped testing requirements to expand access. Universities including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford adopted test-optional approaches. These policies aimed to reduce barriers for low-income and first-generation students who faced disrupted test preparation and limited test date availability.

Yet students are increasingly choosing to submit scores anyway. College counselors report students fear that omitting test results puts them at a disadvantage in competitive admissions pools. Even with official test-optional policies, the perception persists that submitted scores help applications stand out.

The 10% increase suggests students believe test scores remain valuable. Data from admissions offices shows that applicants submitting strong scores often receive preferential consideration. This creates a paradox: policies claim tests are optional, but competitive pressure pushes students toward inclusion.

This development concerns equity advocates. Low-income and minority students take standardized tests at lower rates than their affluent peers. When test-optional becomes de facto test-expected, gaps widen. Students without resources for expensive prep courses or multiple test attempts face disadvantages.

College Board and ACT Inc. have reported higher registration numbers this year, aligning with the surge in submissions. The shift also reflects economic recovery allowing more families to afford test fees, typically $50 to $70 per attempt.

Some colleges have begun requiring transparency about testing demographics in their admissions data. This pressure may influence whether institutions maintain test-optional policies long-term or revert to testing requirements.

The rising submission rate signals that messaging