Standardized Testing

11 March 2024

Brown Reinstates Standardized Testing Requirement for the Class of 2029

Posted in Standardized Testing

brown logoBrown announced this month that it will reinstate standardized testing requirements for most applicants beginning with the class of 2029.  

Exceptions will be permitted for some applicants where the IB or a national exam may be substituted, and the school will continue to be test-optional for student veterans, transfer applicants, and Resumed Undergraduate Education students

Click here for the news article, and here for more details.

05 February 2024

Dartmouth Requires Standardized Testing for Class of 2029

Posted in Standardized Testing

dartmouth logoDartmouth College announced today that the submission of standardized test scores will be required for a student's application for admission.      

Click here for the news release.

 

30 August 2023

Colleges with Test-Blind/Score-Free Admission Policies for the 2023-24 Cycle

Posted in Your College List, Standardized Testing, Class of 2028

testbrokenpencilWhile the vast majority of institutions in our coverage universe offer some form of test-optional admissions, some have completely eliminated standardized testing from consideration—even if you submit scores.

Click on Continue Reading to see our list of schools offering test-blind/score-free admissions for the 2023-24 cycle. For your convenience, we've included admit rates, test score ranges and links to each school's standardized test policy details to help you find suitable candidates for your college list.

College Kickstart subscribers, this is automatically updated and visible as part of the requirements view.

28 October 2022

Selective Colleges with Low Test Submission Rates

Posted in Your College List, Standardized Testing, Class of 2027

testbrokenpencilAs you evaluate whether or not to submit test scores with your application, consider not only the strength of your score(s), but also the degree to which colleges of interest have embraced students without test scores.

While the colleges themselves have not been particularly forthcoming about the impact of test score submission on admission rate, the latest version of the Common Data Set (CDS) does make it possible to get a sense for the mix of the Fall 2021 entering class that submitted test scores. If 90% of the entering class submitted test scores, applying test-optional may be risky. On the flip side, if 10% of the entering class submitted test scores, you can feel pretty comfortable that applying test-optional won't put your application at risk.

This post focuses on selective, test-optional institutions where a low percentage of the Fall 2021 entering class submitted test scores. In other words, places where you can feel more comfortable applying test-optional.

Note: because the Common Data Set reports the percentage submitting SAT and percentage submitting ACT but NOT the percentage submitting both, we report the results in the form of a range and an index that represents the midpoint of that range. Each school listed has an admit rate of 50 percent or less and an index of 33 percent or lower.

Click on Continue Reading to see the list.

28 October 2022

Selective Colleges with High Test Submission Rates

Posted in Your College List, Standardized Testing, Class of 2027

testbrokenpencilAs you evaluate whether or not to submit test scores with your application, consider not only the strength of your score(s), but also the degree to which colleges of interest have embraced students without test scores.

While the colleges themselves have not been particularly forthcoming about the impact of test score submission on admission rate, the latest version of the Common Data Set (CDS) does make it possible to get a sense for the mix of the Fall 2021 entering class that submitted test scores. If 90% of the entering class submitted test scores, applying test-optional may be risky. On the flip side, if 10% of the entering class submitted test scores, you can feel pretty comfortable that applying test-optional won't put your application at risk.

This post focuses on selective, test-optional institutions where a high percentage of the Fall 2021 entering class submitted test scores. In other words, places where you may need to think twice about applying test-optional.

Note: because the Common Data Set reports the percentage submitting SAT and percentage submitting ACT but NOT the percentage submitting both, we report the results in the form of a range and an index that represents the midpoint of that range. Each school listed has an admit rate of 50 percent or less and an index of 67 percent or greater.

Click on Continue Reading to see the list.

23 September 2022

Colleges with Test-Blind/Score-Free Admission Policies for the 2022-23 Cycle

Posted in Your College List, Standardized Testing, Class of 2027

testbrokenpencilWhile the vast majority of institutions in our coverage universe offer some form of test-optional admissions, some have completely eliminated standardized testing from consideration—even if you submit scores.

Click on Continue Reading to see our list of schools offering test-blind/score-free admissions for the 2022-23 cycle. For your convenience, we've included admit rates, test score ranges and links to each school's standardized test policy details to help you find suitable candidates for your college list.

College Kickstart subscribers, this is automatically updated and visible as part of the requirements view.

26 August 2021

Colleges with Test-Blind/Test-Free Admission Policies for the 2021-22 Admission Cycle

Posted in Your College List, Standardized Testing, Class of 2026

testbrokenpencilWhile the vast majority of institutions in our coverage universe offer some form of test-optional admissions, some have completely eliminated standardized testing from consideration—even if you submit scores.

Click on Continue Reading to see our list of schools offering test-blind/test-free admissions for the 2021-22 cycle. For your convenience, we've included admit rates, test score ranges and links to each school's standardized test policy details to help you find suitable candidates for your college list.

College Kickstart subscribers, this is automatically updated and visible as part of the requirements view.

20 March 2020

College Board Announces Plan to Offer At-Home AP Testing for 2019-20

Posted in Standardized Testing, Class of 2025

downloadThe College Board announced today that it is actively developing a new at-home Advanced Placement test option in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

  • For the 2019-20 exam season only, students will be able to take a 45 minute exam at home
  • Two different testing dates will be made available for each AP subject

Click here for the College Board website for details.

12 October 2016

University of California Subject Test Recommendations for Fall 2017 Applicants

Posted in Standardized Testing, Class of 2021

ucThe University of California has updated its subject test recommendations for fall 2017 applicants. Remember, these are recommendations, not requirements, and they are primarily geared towards applicants in STEM fields.

To our subscribers: this has already been incorporated into the requirements section of College Kickstart.

Click here for the latest subject test recommendations.

 

16 May 2016

New Product Update - SAT Conversion and More

Posted in Standardized Testing, College Kickstart, Product Announcements, Affordability

College Kickstart Logo 200x63

A new release of College Kickstart is now available!

This release features:

  • An SAT score converter to help you reconcile new and old SAT scores  
  • Resident and non-resident admission rates for situations where the difference materially impacts how a school is categorized in College Kickstart
  • An updated affordability panel with graduation rates
  • Expanded school coverage

Click on Continue Reading for the scoop. 

09 May 2016

Reconciling your New and Old SAT results

Posted in Standardized Testing

College board logoConcordance tables are now available from the College Board to help you reconcile your new SAT results from March to all of the college admission data that uses the old SAT format.

Click here for the tables or here for the College Board conversion tool.

 

13 January 2016

Interpreting the New PSAT

Posted in Standardized Testing

College board logo.svgConfused about your new PSAT scores?  You're not alone.  Here are three articles we think can help you get a better handle on it all:

  • An article from the College Board comparing the old and new PSAT formats
  • An article from the Washington Post that explains what you need to know in simple, straightforward terms.
  • An alternative article from examiner.com and Compass Education Group  
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