The testing question
SAT, ACT, and test-optional: how scores are actually evaluated
How admissions officers read test scores
Here's something most test prep companies won't tell you: your score isn't evaluated in a vacuum.
Admissions officers consider scores individually and in the context of your environment. A 1400 from a student at a well-resourced school with test prep access is read differently than a 1400 from a student at an underfunded school in a rural area with no prep courses available.
This doesn't mean lower scores are automatically forgiven if you're from a disadvantaged background. It means admissions officers are trained to recognize what a score represents given the opportunities you had.
They're also comparing you to others from your school and region. If your high school's average SAT is 1050 and you scored 1350, that tells a different story than if your school's average is 1450 and you scored 1350.
What "test-optional" really means
Most selective schools are test-optional now. That means: - You choose whether to submit scores - If you submit, they'll consider them - If you don't submit, they won't hold it against you
In practice: At highly selective schools, most admitted students still submit scores. Test-optional gives flexibility to students whose scores don't reflect their ability, but strong scores still help.
What it doesn't mean: "Tests don't matter anymore." At competitive schools, a strong score is still an asset. Test-optional shifted the question from "what did you score?" to "does this score help your application?"
Should you submit?
The general rule
Submit if your scores are at or above a school's middle 50% range.
The middle 50% is the range where half of admitted students' scores fall. If a school's range is 1450-1550 and you have a 1480, you're in range. Submit.
Where to find the numbers
- School websites (look for "Class Profile" or "Common Data Set")
- College Board BigFuture
- Niche.com
Decision framework
- You're at or above the 25th percentile for that school
- Your score is consistent with your grades
- The score adds information the transcript doesn't
- You're below the 25th percentile
- Your grades are significantly stronger than your scores
- Testing conditions affected your performance
Gray areas exist. Just below the 25th percentile but with strong hooks? Might submit. Strong score but weak grades? The score might help balance. First-gen or low-income with slightly lower scores? Context matters, and you might still submit.
Scores in context: what admissions officers consider
When reviewing your score, readers might think about:
Access to preparation: - Did your school offer test prep? - Could your family afford private tutoring? - Did you have time to study, or were you working 25 hours/week?
Testing conditions: - Did you take the test multiple times? - Did you have testing accommodations if needed? - Were there disruptions (pandemic, illness, testing center issues)?
School and regional context: - What's typical for your high school? - What's typical for your region? - How does your score compare to peers with similar resources?
This is why the "submit if above the 25th percentile" rule isn't absolute. If your context adds information, it might shift the calculation.
Test-optional vs. test-blind
Test-optional: They'll look if you send scores, won't penalize if you don't.
Test-blind: They won't look at scores even if you send them. UC schools, Caltech, and a few others fall into this category. Don't stress about tests for these schools.
The Digital SAT (2024+)
The SAT went fully digital in 2024. Key changes you need to know:
- Shorter: 2 hours 14 minutes (down from 3 hours)
- Adaptive: The second module's difficulty adjusts based on your first module performance
- Calculator allowed throughout: Built-in Desmos graphing calculator, or bring your own
- Faster scores: Results in days, not weeks
- Taken on computer: Your own laptop/tablet or school-provided device
The test has two sections: Reading/Writing and Math. Each section has two modules of about 30 minutes each. You must do well on the first module to unlock the harder (higher-scoring) second module.
Practice with Bluebook: Download the College Board's Bluebook app to take official practice tests in the actual digital format. Paper practice helps with content, but you need screen practice for the real experience.
SAT vs. ACT
Colleges don't prefer one over the other. Both test similar skills. The differences:
| SAT (Digital) | ACT | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Digital only, adaptive | Paper or digital (depending on state) |
| Length | 2 hours 14 min | 2 hours 55 min (plus optional essay) |
| Math | Calculator allowed throughout, Desmos built-in | Calculator on one section only |
| Science | None | Yes (it's really data interpretation) |
| Reading | Shorter passages, one question each | Longer passages, multiple questions |
How to choose: Take a timed practice test of each. Most students score similarly on both, but some have a clear preference. If you prefer a shorter, adaptive test with built-in calculator tools, try SAT. If you don't mind the science section and prefer traditional passage-based reading, try ACT.
How much prep is realistic
Typical improvement
Most students improve 50-150 points on the SAT (or 2-4 points on the ACT) with reasonable prep. Dramatic 400-point jumps usually start from a low baseline or involve changes in testing conditions, not just prep.
What actually works
- Diagnostic test to find your baseline
- Identify weak areas: Is it content (you don't know the math)? Timing (you run out of time)? Strategy (you know it but miss questions)?
- Practice with official materials (Bluebook app for digital SAT, ACT.org for ACT)
- Review every mistake: Why did you get it wrong? What will you do differently?
- Simulate real conditions: Timed, no phone, on a computer for SAT
Don't just practice on paper. The digital SAT has built-in tools (highlighter, calculator, flagging) that take getting used to. Practice in the Bluebook app on the same device you'll use on test day.
What doesn't work
- Doing hundreds of problems without reviewing mistakes
- Only practicing your strengths
- Cramming the week before
- Expensive prep courses (if you won't do the homework)
Timeline
Start 2-3 months before your test date. 1-2 hours a few times a week beats weekend marathon sessions.
When to test
Typical timeline: - Fall junior year: PSAT (practice, National Merit) - Spring junior year: First SAT or ACT - Summer before senior year: Retake if needed - Fall senior year: Final attempt if necessary
How many times? 2-3 for most students. After that, you're probably at your ceiling. Your time is better spent on essays.
Superscoring: Many schools take your highest section scores across multiple test dates. Check each school's policy.
For students who don't test well
Testing ability and academic ability aren't the same thing. Some strong students freeze during standardized tests. Some have testing anxiety. Some have learning differences that affect timed performance.
If your scores don't reflect your abilities: - Don't submit them. Focus on the parts of your application you can control. - Your grades, essays, activities, and recommendations can tell the story without a test score.
If there's a specific reason your scores are lower (documented learning difference, testing circumstances, limited access to prep), you can mention it briefly in the additional information section. Keep it factual. Don't make excuses-provide context.
Working with a tutor
Self-study works for some students. Others benefit from structured practice with feedback.
If you've been studying on your own and your score isn't moving, outside help might identify what you're missing. Good tutors diagnose why you're getting questions wrong, not just drill more problems at you.
Our consultation page covers test prep questions alongside broader application strategy-we're not a test prep company, but we can point you in the right direction or work with you directly depending on your needs.
The short version
Test scores are evaluated individually and in the context of your environment. Submit if your scores strengthen your application for that specific school. If they don't, use test-optional as intended and let the rest of your application speak.
Prep smart, test 2-3 times max, and don't let testing consume your life. It's one factor among many.
Questions about your testing strategy? Book a consultation to talk it through.