As high school students begin deciding their postsecondary plans — whether it’s the military academies, further education or scholarship applications — standardized testing requirements have slowly returned to their previously prominent status following the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 4 million high school students took either the SAT or ACT in 2024.
Schools increasingly shifted to test-optional or test-blind policies for the SAT and ACT during the pandemic. Under test-optional policies, students choose whether to submit their test scores, while test-blind colleges do not consider scores at all for admission. Some institutions allow students, in specific cases, to submit alternative standardized tests, such as AP or IB scores.
According to The College Board, which administers the SAT, at least 21 public colleges and 42 private colleges, including all military academics and three colleges in California, have kept or returned to a test-required policy — a number expected to grow as institutions readjust application requirements in future cycles.
Some colleges that reinstated testing requirements cite research suggesting standardized test scores can better predict college academic outcomes than high school GPA and help identify high-performing students across socioeconomic backgrounds. Others argue the tests favor students with greater access to tutoring and test-preparation resources.
THE TESTS
The SAT is a fully digital exam that assesses students’ reading, writing, and math skills across two sections. Students spend time reading short passages and are assessed on their comprehension, analysis, and composition skills.
The ACT, offered in either a paper or digital format, has separate sections for reading, English, and math and includes optional science and essay sections.
Both tests assume knowledge at approximately the Algebra 2 level, as well as prior study in geometry and basic trigonometry, probability, and statistics. Each test cost $68, with additional fees for optional ACT sections, though fee waivers are available.
STUDY TIPS
Many free preparation resources are available online. The College Board offers free SAT practice tests on its application software and partners with Khan Academy, which provides official practice questions organized by assessed skill. The ACT website offers two practice tests and a daily practice question, while other free sites and resources are available online.
Taking a practice test can identify the sections or the specific skills in each section students should target further. For example, through Khan Academy, students can focus their practice on a particular geometry theorem or a grammar concept. Utilizing official and/or certified practice questions ensures students are practicing with questions reflecting the style and concepts assessed by the actual test.
Some schools offer an on-campus weekday testing sessions, sometimes free, and may also host the PreACT, aimed at sophomores, and the PSAT, which can qualify juniors for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN CA
In 2020, the University of California and California State University systems adopted test-blind policies, citing COVID-19 testing disruptions and concerns about fairness for low-income students. Since then, test scores have only been used for possible course placement and scholarship consideration — not for admission.
CSU permanently adopted its testing policy in 2022. UC initially explored creating its own admission test, but no alternative has emerged.
THE FUTURE
As colleges and scholarship programs annually update their application requirements, preparing for the SAT or ACT can help students keep options open and stay informed while considering different opportunities.
Testing requirements are not intended to implement strict score cutoffs. Instead, standardized test scores are one of many components used to provide context in a holistic review of a student’s application.
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