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Tag: SAT

  • Test Optional and Test Blind for Admission Cycles

    Test Optional and Test Blind for Admission Cycles

    Understanding Test Optional and Test Blind for Admission Cycles

     

     

     

     

     

     

    To Test or Not to Test in 2023-24?

    What Does it Mean to be Test-Optional (2023-24)?

    Many Universities in the US are remaining Test-Optional for the upcoming application season (2023-24). Recently, Columbia University was the first Ivy League to no longer require SAT/ACT testing as of 2023-24 and will be test-optional permanently. Many Universities & Colleges across the US are continuing with their test-optional policy in 2023-24, with only a handful confirming that they will resume testing policies for 2023-24.

    Would you benefit from submitting a score to a test-optional university?

    It depends; you should submit your score if it falls in the top 25th percentile of admitted students to that college in the previous year. On the other hand, if you have a lower score you should work hard to enhance your profile with good quality extra-curricular activities, recommendation letters, college application essays, and your school GPA. The universities focus on a holistic review while selecting a diverse group of an incoming undergraduate class. The students will not be disadvantaged if they do not submit their test scores(yippee).

    Prioritize Academic Fit When Choosing a College or University

    Here is a list of some Top research universities that are test optional for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle:

    Understanding Test Optional and Test Blind for Admission Cycles

    Here is a list of some Top Liberal Arts Colleges that are test-optional for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle:

    Some Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Mandate SAT/ACT Testing

    There are some top universities and liberal arts colleges that require you to submit your SAT/ACT scores. Some of the schools that still require testing include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgetown University (DC),  Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Florida, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, New College of Florida, Fisk University (TN), and New College of Florida.

    With insights provided by education writer Jeff Selingo and information from various colleges and universities, we have created the following table to give you an overview about submitting test scores.

    On the face of the above information, it would appear that including a test score greatly increases your chances of acceptance. However, Common App data reported a 20% surge in applications which suggests that they are receiving applications from students that might have been put off applying when a test score was a requirement.
    Read More: Public versus Private Universities

    Were you aware that some universities have adopted a “test-blind” approach?

    Test-blind means that a college or university will not consider your SAT/ACT score as part of their evaluation process, even if you submit it. The University of California, for example, would only use your scores for course placements after you enroll.

    Here is a list from FairTest of some universities and colleges that are test-blind:

    • California Institute of Technology

    • California State University system (permanently at all 23 campuses)

    • Cornell University (through fall 2024 at the schools of Agriculture, Architecture, and Business)

    • City University of New York system (11 campuses, extended through Spring 2023 admissions)

    • University of California system (9 campuses)

    • Washington State University (4 campuses)

    • University of San Diego

    Is your high school profile competent enough or do you need to submit your score to the test-optional universities? If you need further guidance contact the Ivy Central team.

  • All Change for the SAT… But Not Yet.

    All Change for the SAT… But Not Yet.

    New SAT-Changes Announced

    The SAT, together with its near relation, the ACT, has been a feature of college applications for many years. As a result of the COVID pandemic most US colleges have moved to a ‘Test Optional’ application format, meaning that applicants can choose whether to submit an SAT or ACT score without it affecting their chances of acceptance. This test-optional format remains in place with most colleges for the 2022/23 round of applications and some colleges, including some of the most prestigious, have already announced that this will be the case for the following two application rounds.

    All of this has led to questions being asked about the future of standardised tests and if they are needed. The University of California colleges announced last year that they will no longer consider ACT or SAT good scores when making application decisions and an increasing number of colleges have followed a similar route.

    In an attempt to reinvigorate the SAT, the College Board, which owns the SAT, announced at the end of January that, following a trial in November 2021, they are going to make significant changes to the SAT and the way it is administered.

    What’s changing?

    • Going digital – the new SAT will be administered digitally meaning that those taking the test will be able to use their own computers, devices in schools or one issued by the College Board for the purpose of taking the test. The test will continue to be administered in school or a test centre, there will not be an option for students to take the test at home.

    • Format – when the new test is introduced it will take around two hours to complete, rather than the three hours required by the current test. The reading passages in the test will become shorter and the range of topics will become broader to better reflect what students read in college.

    •  Calculators – The maths section of the current test contains one section where calculators are allowed and a second where they are not. The new test will allow students to use calculators across the whole maths section of the test, indeed a graphing calculator will be built into the testing app.

    • Test security – the current pencil and paper test has come in for criticism when whole testing cycles in countries have been scrapped because the test has been leaked. The new digital test will enable each student to be set a test that is unique to them while retaining the same level of difficulty. This means that it will be virtually impossible for students to share answers or for questions to be leaked beforehand.

    • Results – sitting, waiting to find out what score you achieved in the SAT will still be there, but it should only be for days, rather than the current couple of weeks.

    • Flexibility – as a digital test there will no longer be a need for the SAT to a pre-set schedule. Currently there are six SAT administrations on dates that are set months in advance. The new test will enable schools and test centres greater choice of when, where and how often they administer the test.

    What’s not changing

    • Rigour – there is no suggestion in what the College Board has said that the test will become any easier. The SAT will still seek to assess the ability of the student to meet the challenges of study at college.

    • Scoring – The SAT will continue to be scored out of a total of 1600, 800 for the English section and a further 800 for the maths section.

    When does this happen?

    The new style SAT will be phased in over two years. Students taking the test in international centres will start using the new digital test from March 2023, while students in the US will take the new test for the first time in March 2024.

    Further information on the revamped SAT can be found on the College Board website.