One of the most anxiety-inducing decisions in the modern college application process is not whether to take the SAT or ACT, but whether to submit those scores once you have them. With hundreds of colleges now offering test-optional policies, families face a strategic calculation for every school on the list: does this score help, hurt, or make no difference?
Veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger and the counseling team at Great College Advice guide families through this decision every application season. See what they recommend with real-world examples.
When Should a Student Go Test-Optional Instead of Submitting a Below-Median Score?
The short answer is: it depends on how far below the median the score falls, what “hooks” the student brings, and what role test scores play at that particular school.
As the Great College Advice Family Handbook explains, not all colleges require SAT or ACT scores. Since the onset of the Covid pandemic, a growing number of colleges and universities have adopted test-optional policies, meaning students can decide whether they want to submit their scores. However, there is an important tradeoff: “If test scores are not submitted, the admissions offices at these schools will weigh other credentials more heavily.”
That is the crux of the decision. When a student withholds scores, their GPA, course rigor, essays, extracurricular activities, and recommendation letters must carry the full burden of proving academic readiness. For a student whose scores fall significantly below a college’s typical range, that tradeoff may be favorable. For a student whose scores are only slightly below the middle 50%, removing a data point may actually weaken the application.
Tip from Great College Advice: We advise that families evaluate score submission on a school-by-school basis rather than making a single blanket decision. The same score might be a strong asset at one college and a liability at another. For example, a student of ours applied Early Decision to WashU and submitted her 1500 SAT, which is slightly below the middle 50% range for the university. However, her math score was in the range. She was accepted ED.
What Is the “Middle 50%” and How Should Families Use It?
Understanding the “middle 50%” is essential to making an informed decision. Colleges and universities report the score range of their admitted students, typically as the 25th to 75th percentile. If the middle 50% ACT scores of admitted students at a particular college ranges from 24–31, then 25% of admitted students scored 23 or below, while another 25% of students scored 32 and above.
This framework provides a clear decision-making tool.
- If your student’s scores fall within the middle 50%, they are in a good range for that school and should almost always submit.
- If scores are above the 75th percentile, the student is in a strong position, and submitting is a clear advantage.
- If scores fall below the 50th percentile, the question becomes more nuanced. And that is where strategic guidance matters most.
If the results are below this range, then their chances of acceptance may be lower. But “lower” does not mean “zero.” Students with compelling hooks (recruited athletes, first-generation college students, legacies, or underrepresented backgrounds) are often admitted with scores below the 50th percentile. For these students, submitting a below-median score can confirm baseline academic readiness without being the deciding factor.
Does Applying Test-Optional Hurt Admissions Chances?
At genuinely test-optional colleges, choosing not to submit scores should not penalize your application. But the reality is more complex.
As one admissions officer shared with the Great College Advice team: “Test scores matter less than you think they do, but more than you want them to.” This quote captures the tension at the heart of test-optional policies. Schools may sincerely not require scores, yet admissions officers—especially at the most selective institutions—still value having that data point.
Besides AP and IB scores, colleges have no other uniform measure to assess applicants who come from different schools and varying communities, and that at the most selective schools, test scores are a sort of ‘minimum requirement’ that help admissions officers sort through the thousands of applicants with similar credentials.
It is also critically important to distinguish between test-optional and test-blind policies. A knowledgeable member of the Great College Advice community, reminds families of this distinction regarding the University of California system: “They are not test optional. They are test blind.”
At test-blind schools, scores are not considered in admissions at all—even if you submit them. In fact, attempting to include SAT scores in other parts of a UC application could signal that a student does not follow directions. Another community member offers a direct recommendation for UC applicants: “Omit it.”
How many times should I take the SAT? How many times should I take the ACT?
Like mentioned earlier, the vast majority of schools are test optional. However, reporting a SAT or ACT score that is above average for a college will increase your odds of being accepted.
So, how many times should you take the SAT or ACT? As many times as necessary until you feel that you are not making any material improvement. If you score a 1400 on your SAT but your goal is the Ivy League universities then you will likely need to take it again as almost all of the Ivies require test scores. The average SAT score at the Ivies is the mid-1500s so, unless you have a hook, take the SAT again. As you can ‘superscore’ your SAT and ACT results’ for almost every college, these schools will have no idea how many times you took the exam.
However, if you are aiming for less selective colleges, a 1400 is a fantastic SAT score to report. Don’t waste your valuable time taking the SAT again unless you could be eligible for merit aid with a higher SAT score. If you are applying to liberal arts colleges that are truly test optional, then don’t take the SAT again unless you are convinced you can materially increase your score. Your time is best spent elsewhere on sharpening other aspects of your application like GPA and activities.
Holistic Review vs. Clear Standards
College and universities, both private and public, emphasize (even before the pandemic) that they perform a “holistic review” of students for admission. Supposedly, no one criterion is is make or break for a student. The admissions officers look at everything before rendering their decision. These factors include both objective and subjective indicators. But the only objective ones are test scores, AP scores, class rank, and level of awards earned from international down to local.
Moreover, in poring over the many messages on other professional information exchanges, it becomes apparent that some schools will still see scores even if the student elects on the application to go test optional. This is because the colleges control what they download from the Common App. If the student enters the scores into the application, then an admissions officer at a test optional school may still be able to see those scores.
Even if the student has asked that the scores NOT be considered, the reader of the application cannot really “unsee” the scores.
While I’d like to believe that an admissions officer will duly take the student’s wishes into account, if the score is on the application I am still going to assume that the admissions officer will somehow, someway take these scores into account in the “holistic” review—even if they promise not to. If it’s on the application, it will be taken into account—even informally or subliminally. You can’t unsee a score that is staring at you on the page.
When Does Submitting a Below-Median Score Actually Help?
There are several situations where submitting a score below the median can strengthen an application rather than weaken it.
Scenario 1: Slightly below the 50th percentile with a hook
The Family Handbook addresses this directly when discussing Early Decision strategy: “If your test scores are slightly below the 50% range, do you have a ‘hook’ that makes you appealing to admissions? To be specific, are you a first-generation college student, recruited athlete, or the child of an alum?” In these cases, a slightly below-range score confirms academic preparedness without being the deciding factor—the hook carries the admissions case.
Scenario 2: Strong section scores for specific programs
A student with a 1380 composite SAT but a 760 math score applying to an engineering program may benefit from submitting. Engineering admissions offices focus heavily on quantitative ability, and a strong math section can offset a lower reading/writing score. Community members in the Great College Advice group have noted that engineering programs “only care about math—you definitely need close to 800 if not 800” for competitive programs.
Scenario 3: The score is at or above the median for that specific school
Remember that what is “below median” at one school may be above median at another. A 1350 SAT may warrant a test-optional approach at a school with a middle 50% of 1450–1540, but the same score is a strong submission at a school with a range of 1250–1400.
How Does the Test-Optional Decision Affect Merit Scholarships?
This is where the financial stakes become real. At many colleges and universities, merit-based financial awards (or scholarships) are closely keyed to ACT and SAT scores. Thus, for families that seek merit scholarships, it is worth trying to raise scores in order to win a bigger scholarship. Investments in test preparation can really pay off, as a few more points can mean thousands more dollars in scholarships.
Sarah Farbman, senior admissions consultant at Great College Advice, explains the financial landscape clearly: “Merit-based aid is what we like to think of as a discount. It is a recruitment tool to attract strong students or attract the type of students that they want to see on their campus.” She notes that many high-quality institutions “regularly offer students $20,000–$35,000 off” their sticker price. But to unlock those awards, families need to understand each school’s merit criteria—and many schools factor test scores into their scholarship formulas.
The practical implication is this: a student who applies test-optional to a school that ties merit aid to test scores may receive an acceptance but miss out on significant financial aid. Even a score that is “below median” for admissions purposes may be strong enough to trigger merit scholarships, especially at schools where the student is a strong academic match overall.
Expert Recommendation: We help families build college lists that include generous merit-aid institutions. As Farbman puts it: “If you really are looking for that merit-based aid, the number one best thing that you can do is to write the correct college list.” Including schools known for generous merit awards—and submitting scores to those schools—can dramatically improve the return on your test preparation investment.
Are There Programs Where Submitting Scores Matters More?
Absolutely. The testing policy at the university level does not always reflect the expectations at the program level. This is one of the most common traps families fall into.
Engineering, business, nursing, and computer science programs frequently have higher score expectations than the university-wide averages suggest. One parent in the Great College Advice community shared their experience with the University of Michigan’s engineering program: even though Michigan is technically test-optional, community members observed that the school “strongly encourages a test score, and for Ross and Engineering, you’re going to need a top score.” This highlights a critical point: a university can be test-optional while specific programs within that university effectively expect scores. Families should research the middle 50% for their specific program of interest, not just the university as a whole.
Note: Similarly, for students considering UK universities, testing expectations differ. Most selective UK universities have minimum test requirements, they are not test-optional. US students applying to programs at schools like St. Andrews or Edinburgh should plan on having qualifying AP or IB scores.
Real-World Examples: When to Submit vs. When to Withhold
Below are illustrative scenarios based on patterns the Great College Advice counseling team—a group of six counselors with over 100 combined years of admissions experience—sees regularly. (These are composite examples, not individual student cases.)
Example 1 — Submit: Score within the middle 50%. A student has a 1380 SAT and is applying to a university with a middle 50% of 1300–1450. The score falls comfortably within the admitted range. Submitting confirms academic readiness and may contribute to merit aid eligibility. Recommendation: Submit.
Example 2 — Withhold: Score well below range for a competitive program. A student has a 1400 SAT and is applying Regular Decision to a top engineering program where the middle 50% is 1480–1560. The student has no compensating hook. Submitting a score 80 points below the 25th percentile is unlikely to help and could signal academic mismatch with the program. Recommendation: Apply test-optional.
Example 3 — Submit for financial reasons: Score unlocks merit aid. A student has a 1350 SAT and is applying to a school where the middle 50% is 1250–1400. The score is above the median for this institution and could trigger a significant merit scholarship—potentially $20,000 or more per year. Even though the student might receive admission test-optional, the financial benefit of submitting is substantial. Recommendation: Submit.
Example 4 — Mixed strategy: Customize by school. A student has a 1420 SAT. They are applying to eight colleges. At five of those schools, the 1420 falls within or above the middle 50%, so they submit. At two reach schools where the 25th percentile is 1490, they apply test-optional. At one test-blind UC school, scores are irrelevant. Recommendation: Customize school by school.
Example 5 — Submit section scores strategically: Strong math for STEM. A student has a 1360 composite but a 770 math score. They are applying to computer science programs that prioritize quantitative ability. While the composite is below the 50th percentile at several target schools, the math score alone is competitive. At schools that superscore, the math section may combine with a future stronger reading score. Recommendation: Submit, especially if the school superscores, and check if programs evaluate section scores independently.
Quick-Reference Decision Framework
To help families navigate this decision efficiently, Great College Advice recommends asking these questions for each school on the list:
- Where does the score fall relative to the middle 50%? Within or above the range—submit. Well below the 50th percentile—lean toward test-optional. Slightly below—evaluate further based on hooks, program, and financial aid.
- Does the student have a “hook”? Legacy, recruited athlete, first-generation, underrepresented background. Hooks make slightly-below scores more viable.
- Is this for a specialized program? Engineering, business, nursing, and CS programs may have higher expectations than the university-wide policy suggests. Research program-level data.
- Does the school tie merit aid to test scores? If the family is seeking merit scholarships, withholding scores could mean forgoing significant financial aid. Check each school’s merit criteria.
- Is the school test-optional or test-blind? At test-blind schools like the UC system, scores are irrelevant to admissions. Do not submit them or reference them anywhere in the application.
Get Expert Guidance on College Admissions
The test-optional vs. submit decision is not a single choice, it is a strategic calculation that should be made school by school, based on where the score falls relative to the admitted range, the student’s overall application strength, the specific program, and the family’s financial aid goals. As our team at Great College Advice consistently advises clients: once testing is complete, the counselors will help with “the decision about which scores to send, if any,” tailored to each college on the student’s list.
If you are navigating this decision and want personalized guidance from a counselor who understands how admissions offices evaluate applications with and without scores, schedule a consultation with Great College Advice. With six experienced counselors and over 100 combined years of admissions expertise, the team can help you build a score submission strategy that maximizes your student’s chances—and your family’s financial outcomes.
