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Navigating the Mixed Policies of ACT/SAT Requirements for the 2024-2025 School Year

The landscape of college admissions testing is continuously evolving, with the 2024-2025 school year presenting a mix of policies regarding ACT/SAT requirements. Understanding these changes is critical for students aiming to optimize their applications and prepare effectively at least 2-3 years out from freshman year. This blog post explores key changes to the tests themselves, how students can prepare, and specific policy changes across various prestigious institutions. 

We will break down the varying policies on ACT/SAT requirements and offer our insights on how they could impact students' college admissions strategies. 

For some, standardized test scores remain a critical component of their application, while some might focus more on other aspects like extracurricular activities, essays, and GPA. These mixed policies also have broader implications for equity and access, potentially affecting underrepresented groups who may have less access to test preparation resources.


What Students Can Do to Prepare

Given the diversity in policies, students must keep up to date with stay informed about the specific requirements of the colleges they are interested in. Here are some steps they can take:

  • Stay Informed: Regularly check the admissions websites of prospective colleges to understand their testing policies.
  • Effective Test Preparation: Utilize official practice tests from the ACT and SAT websites. Consider joining test prep courses or hiring a tutor for personalized guidance. Developing a personalized study plan that targets weak areas can be highly beneficial.
  • Alternative Application Strengthening: Focus on enhancing other aspects of the application, such as participating in meaningful extracurricular activities, crafting compelling personal essays, and maintaining a strong GPA.

Key Changes to the Tests Themselves

Recent changes to the ACT and SAT formats have also influenced how students should approach these exams. 

  • ACT Changes 

    • Transition to a digital format, making it crucial for students to gain exposure to practice questions on both digital platforms and on paper. 
    • Introduction of section retesting, allowing students to retake only specific sections of the exam. 
  • SAT Changes 

    • Implementation of adaptive testing – What is adaptive testing? 
      • Adaptive testing is a method used in assessments or exams where the difficulty of the questions presented to a test-taker is dynamically adjusted based on their performance on previous questions.
      • To learn more about the digital format and how adaptive testing is implemented, click here. 
    • Shortened testing time, reducing the duration of the exam and requiring more focused preparation.

We suggest that students familiarize themselves with these new formats to adjust their preparation strategies accordingly. Resources available to use include official ACT and SAT practice tests, and digital test prep tools to help students adapt to this ever-changing policy. 

Specific Policy Changes

Be on the lookout as the 2024-2025 school year sees a mix of test-required, test-optional, and test-blind policies across colleges: 

  • Colleges Returning to Test Requirements:

    • Some institutions have reverted to requiring standardized test scores, (SAT or ACT) for admissions. This emphasizes their belief in the importance of these exams in assessing academic readiness.
    • Examples:
      • Dartmouth College
      • Princeton University
      • Yale University 
      • Columbia University
  • Colleges Maintaining Test-Optional Policies:

    • Test-optional policies allow applicants to choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Many colleges continue with test-optional policies, providing flexibility for students who may not have access to testing or prefer to highlight other strengths in their applications.
    • Examples:
      • University of Southern California (USC)
      • Cornell University
      • University of Michigan
      • Harvard University
  • Differentiating between Test-Blind and Test-Optional Policies: 

    • Test-blind (Score-free) policies mean that a student's SAT or ACT scores are not considered at all in the admissions process. 
      • Institutions with said policy do not review or consider standardized test scores, even if the student chooses to submit them. 
      • Why? Test-blind policies are often used to reduce reliance on standardized tests in the college application process. The university directs its focus toward other indicators of academic potential and personal achievements. 
    • Test-optional policies allow applicants to choose whether or not to submit their standardized test scores as part of their application.
      • Institutions with this policy also consider other aspects of the application, and let the student choose if they think their SAT or ACT score would stand out, or hinder their chances of acceptance. 
      • Why? Test-optional policies aim to provide flexibility for students who may perform better in other areas or if standardized testing is not their strong suit. 

Bottom-Line

Understanding the mixed policies regarding ACT/SAT requirements for the 2024-2025 school year is essential for students aiming to navigate the college admissions process effectively. At Invictus Prep, we're dedicated to supporting students through these changes, providing guidance to help them build strong and competitive applications.

We explored test-optional policies in an earlier blog post, An Ever-Changing Landscape: Understanding Test-Optional Policies, in which we explored the initial shift toward these policies and how they have evolved over time. Stay updated with the latest changes in college admissions by subscribing to our blog

If you have any questions about how to prepare, or where to start, our Invictus Prep team is here to support you. Schedule your FREE trial call with one of our college readiness experts today and take the first step towards your future success!

Navigating the Mixed Policies of ACT/SAT Requirements for the 2024-2025 School Year
Leah Goodman July 11, 2024
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