If a School is Test Optional, Should I Submit My Scores?
With a wave of schools adopting test optional policies through Covid-19, the question then arises whether to submit your own scores when applying. Today, there are over 900 test optional schools in the US, and chances are, many schools you will apply to are test optional.1
The most important factor in submitting your test score is what the 50% range is of the school you are applying to. The 50% range is the range between the 25th and 75th percentile of admitted/ current students. Most schools publish these figures online, so a bit of research can help you get a clearer picture of what that range is for your school.
The rule goes as follows: Generally, if your score is in or above the 50% range, it is most likely advantageous to submit test scores.
However, there are also other factors to consider.
If you are applying to highly selective schools (< 30% acceptance rate), not submitting a test score can more likely hurt your application, especially if the rest of your application is not as strong.
If you feel your GPA and AP scores are more reflective of your academic ability and your standardized test scores are not up to par, you also might not want to submit scores
Ultimately however, not submitting scores gives schools one less thing to evaluate your candidacy. Based on recent reporting, most schools have a higher acceptance rate among students who did submit test scores, meaning it is often not advantageous to be “test shy.”
[1] Test-Optional Colleges: Complete List of 900+ Schools · PrepScholar
