The post-pandemic college admissions environment introduced widespread test-optional policies that fundamentally changed how students should think about standardized testing. Six years into that change, the empirical picture is clearer than it was in 2022: test-optional remains the dominant policy, but submitting a strong score continues to produce a measurable admissions advantage at selective institutions, and students with the capacity to perform well should generally test.
The first decision is whether to test at all. For students applying to highly selective institutions — top 50 universities and top liberal arts colleges — submitting a strong score (typically above the institution's 75th percentile for admitted students) provides a meaningful advantage in admissions decisions. For students applying to less selective institutions, the marginal benefit is smaller, though strong scores can still unlock merit scholarship opportunities at many private and out-of-state public universities.
The second decision is which test to take. The ACT and SAT measure overlapping but distinct skill sets, and most students perform meaningfully better on one than on the other. The ACT places greater emphasis on speed and breadth across English, math, reading, and science reasoning. The SAT places greater emphasis on careful reading and on math problem-solving with somewhat fewer questions per minute. Most students should take a diagnostic version of each test and then commit preparation effort to whichever produces the stronger initial score.
Both tests underwent significant changes in 2024 that students should understand. The SAT moved to a fully digital, shorter, adaptive format administered through the Bluebook app. The ACT also moved to a digital option (with paper still available), shortened the test, and made the science section optional. The content tested remains similar to prior versions, but the test-day experience is meaningfully different and should be practiced in the format students will encounter.
Score scales remain unchanged. The SAT runs from 400 to 1600 (composite of math and verbal sections from 200 to 800 each). The ACT runs from 1 to 36 (composite of four sections from 1 to 36 each, averaged). Score concordance tools published by the College Board and ACT allow direct comparison between the two scales.
What constitutes a competitive score varies by institution. For Ivy League and equivalent institutions, the 25th-to-75th percentile range for admitted students is typically 1490 to 1570 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. For strong second-tier private universities and top state flagships, the range is typically 1380 to 1500 SAT or 31 to 34 ACT. For solid mid-tier institutions, the range is typically 1200 to 1380 SAT or 25 to 31 ACT.
Preparation patterns matter. Students who score in the top tier on these tests typically prepare for 60 to 150 hours over a six-to-twelve month period using a combination of official practice tests, focused content review, and structured analysis of missed questions. Cramming in the final two weeks before a test date produces meaningfully smaller improvements than sustained preparation over several months.
Commercial test preparation varies dramatically in quality and cost. The most effective approach for most students combines free official practice materials (College Board's Khan Academy partnership for the SAT, ACT's official practice materials), with a high-quality test prep book ($30 to $60), and one or two focused tutoring sessions to address specific weaknesses. Full-service tutoring at $150 to $400 per hour is appropriate for students with specific learning differences or specific score gaps to close, but is rarely necessary for the majority of students.
Test-optional decisions should be made strategically. The rule of thumb that emerged from the 2020-2024 admissions cycles: submit your score if it is at or above the median of admitted students at your target institution; consider withholding if it is below the 25th percentile. The middle range — between 25th and 50th percentile — is genuinely judgment-dependent and benefits from conversation with a knowledgeable counselor about the specific institution and student profile.
For students who are seriously preparing for selective college admissions, the testing decision is one of the most controllable parts of the application. Strong testing performance is achievable through structured preparation for the substantial majority of academically prepared students, and the modest investment of time typically produces meaningful returns in admissions outcomes and scholarship eligibility.