What the Current Data Is Really Showing

Across more and more colleges, students who submit strong test scores are being admitted at higher rates, gaining access to competitive majors, and receiving more merit aid.

• At Boston College, applicants who submitted scores were admitted at meaningfully higher rates than those who did not.
  At Georgia Tech, the vast majority of admitted students still submitted scores.
  At Notre Dame and many similar institutions, most admitted students included test results.

This pattern repeats across highly selective private universities and flagship public campuses. Test optional did not remove the value of scores. It simply made the advantage quieter and easier to misunderstand.

For families, this matters because admissions is no longer just about meeting requirements. It is about standing out in pools where many students look academically similar.

Why Scores Are Carrying More Weight Again

Grade inflation has reshaped the admissions landscape. More students than ever graduate with GPAs above 4.0, particularly at rigorous high schools. Transcripts that once differentiated applicants now blend together in large, competitive pools.

Admissions officers are not dismissing grades. They are trying to interpret them.

A strong test score helps colleges do several important things.

• It confirms the rigor behind a GPA.
• It differentiates students with similar academic records.
• It signals readiness for demanding majors.
• It supports confident decisions around merit aid.

In a system where grading standards vary widely by school and district, test scores provide a shared reference point. When families choose not to submit scores, they remove one of the clearest signals colleges still rely on.

The Misunderstanding Behind Test Optional

Many families interpret test-optional as advice. They hear it as a signal that testing no longer helps strong students.

That is not how admissions offices use the policy.

Test optional was designed to reduce barriers for students with limited access to testing or extenuating circumstances. It does not mean that strong scores are ignored. When admissions officers see a high score, it still strengthens the application.

In a fast-moving review process, clarity matters. A clear academic signal can quietly reinforce confidence in a student’s readiness from the very first read.

The myth is not that test-optional exists. The myth is that it removes advantage.

Who Is Most at Risk When They Skip Testing

High-achieving students often lose the most by opting out of testing.

These are students in advanced coursework, students aiming for selective majors, and students applying to colleges that receive tens of thousands of applications. When these students skip scores, they remove a data point that could have reinforced everything their transcript already shows.

Parents often say, “My student is not a strong test taker.” That concern is real. It is also a reason to start earlier, not to avoid testing altogether.

Students who begin testing in early junior year have time to build familiarity, reduce anxiety, and improve steadily. Confidence grows through repetition and support, not last-minute pressure.

One of the most common reflections families share after the cycle ends is simple.

We should have started sooner.

A Calmer, Smarter Approach to Testing for 2026

A thoughtful plan changes how testing feels for students and families.

• Start with diagnostics. Have your student try both the SAT and ACT. Most students clearly prefer one format. Choose the better fit and stay with it.
• Plan for two test dates. The second test almost always goes better. Familiarity reduces stress and improves performance.
• Create a steady routine. Two to three hours per week of consistent practice is enough to see progress over time.
• Practice realistically. Use timed sections. Take full length practice tests. Make test day feel familiar before it arrives.
• Retest strategically if needed. Most students improve with feedback and repetition. Even modest gains can meaningfully strengthen an application.
• Submit scores with intention. Compare results to the middle range at target colleges and submit when scores add strength to the file.

This approach is not about chasing perfection. It is about keeping options open.

The Bottom Line

Test-optional remains the headline policy at many colleges, but the advantage goes to students who test.

Skipping the SAT or ACT may feel easier in the short term, yet it can quietly narrow choices in a cycle defined by high GPAs, selective majors, and record demand. A strong score helps colleges see readiness clearly and confidently.

Your student does not need a perfect score.

They need preparation, time, and support.



Testing early and with intention is one of the simplest ways families can protect flexibility and opportunity in the 2026 admissions cycle and beyond.