For years, students have heard that standardized tests are becoming progressively less vital to the college admissions process. Test-optional policies have become more universal, letting students apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores. However, some colleges are now reimplementing testing requirements. So, what is the ideal role for testing in college admissions?
One recent example comes from Yale University. In May, Yale announced that it would again require first‑year and transfer applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. Yale’s review found that standardized test scores can provide information about a student’s academic preparation and help predict future academic performance.
Yale’s decision is especially interesting due to the fact that a majority of students were already submitting test scores. Yale reported that 90% of students who entered the fall 2025 semester submitted an ACT or SAT score. For the class entering this fall, that number rose to 92%.
These recent changes stem from the fact that the American secondary education landscape is extremely varied. A student’s grades can be hard to compare because schools have different courses, grading systems, and levels of difficulty. Standardized testing gives colleges a much-needed measure to compare the academic standings of students across schools.
A test score cannot fully represent everything about a student. Yale’s Presidential Council on Yale College Admissions acknowledged as much, stating that standardized testing is just one aspect of understanding a student’s academic potential. A score cannot measure qualities such as creativity, leadership, curiosity, or how someone contributes to a community. Thus, college admissions must also look beyond test scores.
Moreover, there are concerns about access to test preparation. Some students have opportunities to take preparation courses, work with tutors or take the test multiple times. If colleges place too much importance on test performance, scores could reflect differences in resources. College admissions risk disproportionately aiding applicants with superior socioeconomic status.
Bringing tests back should not mean making test scores the center of an application. Instead colleges can use scores as one piece of information while still considering grades, activities, essays, and other parts of a student’s background. College admissions should aim to balance all aspects of a prospective students’ application during the admissions process.
The return of testing also means students need to be aware of changing college policies. A student who once planned to not take the SAT or ACT may now need to reconsider depending on the colleges the student is interested in.
Standardized tests do not have to be viewed as either completely fair or completely unfair. Tests can give colleges information but they also have limits. As more colleges reconsider their testing policies, the goal should be to use tests as one part of understanding an applicant rather than reducing a student to a number.
