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The short answer: it depends. The ACT is not universally required for college admission, but that doesn’t mean skipping it is always the right move. With test-optional policies now widespread — and shifting — understanding when the ACT is required, when it’s optional, and when it’s truly unnecessary is one of the most important strategic decisions a student can make early in the college application process.
Here’s what veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger and the team at Great College Advice want families to know.
Is the ACT Required for College?
Not at every school — but at many, yes. College testing policies currently fall into three categories:
Test required: Some colleges, particularly certain public university systems and highly selective institutions, require either the ACT or SAT as part of a complete application. These schools will not review your application without a score on file.
Test optional: A growing number of colleges allow students to decide whether to submit scores. Going test optional gained significant momentum after COVID-19, and many schools have maintained these policies. However, “test optional” does not mean “test blind.” As Jamie notes, when scores are not submitted, admissions offices will weigh other credentials — grades, essays, recommendations, extracurriculars — more heavily. It’s a higher bar, not a lower one.
Test blind (or test free): A smaller number of schools will not consider test scores at all, even if submitted. These are the only schools where taking the ACT has no bearing on your admissions outcome.
To check whether a school on your list requires the ACT or SAT, visit that school’s admissions page directly. FairTest.org also maintains a running list of schools that do not require standardized tests.
Should You Still Take the ACT Even If It’s Optional?
For most students, yes — and Sarah Farbman, senior admissions consultant at Great College Advice, puts it directly: “For most students, I would advise that you at least take one test — at least one SAT or one ACT.”
There are two practical reasons why getting scores on file makes sense even when you’re targeting test-optional schools.
First, policies change. A school that is test optional today may reinstate a test requirement by the time a sophomore becomes a senior. Having scores already on file means you won’t face a last-minute scramble to register, prepare, and test if requirements shift.
Second, your college list may change. Students who start with a test-optional list in 10th grade often expand or shift that list by 12th grade — sometimes toward schools that do require scores. If you’ve already tested and earned a competitive score, your options remain open. If you haven’t, they narrow.
There’s also a financial argument for testing. At many colleges and universities, merit-based scholarships are closely tied to ACT and SAT scores. A few additional points on the ACT can translate to thousands of dollars in aid. For families considering merit scholarships, investing in test preparation often pays for itself many times over. Learn more about scholarship opportunities.
Who Might Be Better Off Not Testing?
Not every student should sit for the ACT. Sarah Farbman identifies one clear scenario: students who have taken a diagnostic practice test and found a significant gap between their current performance and the score they would need to submit competitively to their target schools. For those students, time and energy may be better spent strengthening other parts of the application.
The key is knowing your numbers before you decide. Take a full-length diagnostic in a timed, test-like environment first. Many test prep companies offer these free of charge. If your diagnostic score falls well below the middle 50% range at the schools you’re targeting, that’s important information. If it’s within range — or above — testing is almost certainly worth pursuing.
One important caveat: many highly selective schools now require test scores and the typical middle 50% ACT range is 34-35. Unless you have a hook, test scores at those institutions function as a minimum threshold that helps admissions officers evaluate thousands of applicants with otherwise similar academic profiles. For those highly selective schools that are test-optional, submitting a competitive test score can improve your admission odds.
ACT or SAT — Does It Matter Which One?
Both tests are accepted at every major U.S. college and university, and neither is preferred over the other. The question isn’t which test is better — it’s which test is better for your student.
Because students vary in how they perform on each test, Jamie recommends taking a full practice test of both — in timed, test-like conditions — before committing to one. Some test prep companies offer free diagnostic sessions as part of their enrollment process. Students who prefer science-heavy content and straightforward math may find the ACT more comfortable; students who perform better on evidence-based reading and data analysis may prefer the SAT format.
Once your student identifies their stronger test, the first official attempt should be scheduled for winter or early spring of junior year. That timeline creates room for a second attempt if the initial scores fall short. Learn more about building a testing plan.
What About the ACT Writing Section?
The ACT Writing section (the optional essay) is no longer a meaningful concern for the majority of students. While the SAT eliminated its writing section entirely, the ACT still offers it — but only a small handful of schools require it. If you have a specific school that requires the writing section on your list, check that school’s current requirements directly, as these policies change frequently.
For most students, skipping the ACT Writing section is the right call.
What Happens If You Don’t Submit Scores to a Test-Optional School?
This is one of the most common misunderstandings families have about test-optional admissions. Choosing not to submit scores doesn’t hurt you directly — but it does shift the weight of your application onto everything else. Admissions offices at test-optional schools still need to evaluate applicants comparatively, and without a test score, your GPA, course rigor, essays, and recommendations carry even more of that burden.
One community member in the Great College Advice Facebook group put it plainly: “We assumed test optional meant the test didn’t matter. Our counselor helped us understand it actually meant our essays had to be that much stronger.”
If your scores would help — meaning they fall within or above the middle 50% range at your target school — submit them. If they fall below that range, withholding them is often the right call but like most everything in life, it depends. A college counselor can help strategize your test submission plans if, for example, your ACT score falls below the 50th percentile for a university but your math component is above it and you’re applying to the School of Engineering. For help thinking through that decision alongside the rest of your application, see college planning for test-optional schools.
Get Expert Help for the ACT
The decision to take the ACT is strategic, not just logistical. Here’s how to think about it:
Most students benefit from taking at least one standardized test, even if their target schools are currently test optional. Testing policies shift, college lists evolve, and strong scores unlock scholarship dollars that test-optional applications cannot.
Students who perform significantly below competitive thresholds on diagnostics may be better served focusing their energy elsewhere — but that determination should come after a real diagnostic, not before one.
The ACT and SAT are equally accepted everywhere. Take both diagnostically, then commit to the one that gives your student the best result.
For students pursuing merit scholarships or aiming at selective schools, strong scores remain functionally important regardless of stated policy.
Navigating testing strategy is one of the areas where working with an experienced admissions counselor makes the biggest difference early. If you’d like guidance specific to your student’s profile and college list, Great College Advice is here to help. Book a free consultation with one of our experts to get started.
