Let’s talk about the most confusing thing in college admissions right now: testing.
Because here’s what every junior parent hears:
“Most schools are test-optional now!”
“Your kid doesn’t need to take the SAT.”
“Colleges don’t even look at scores anymore.”
And then, in the same breath:
“But they still should test… just in case.”
So which is it?
Do tests matter, or don’t they?
The answer: both.
Testing doesn’t matter… except when it does.
And the key is knowing the difference.
What "Test-Optional" Actually Means
Test-optional doesn’t mean tests are worthless.
It means you get to choose whether to send your scores.
If your teen’s score is strong, you send it. It can strengthen the application and unlock merit scholarships.
If it’s not strong, you skip it. No penalty.
But here’s the catch: strong is relative.
A 1200 SAT might be amazing for one school and below average for another.
That’s why you need to know the school’s middle 50% score range before deciding.
How to find it:
Google: “[School Name] Common Data Set”
Scroll to Section C9. You’ll see the 25th and 75th percentile scores for admitted students.
If your teen’s score is at or above the 50th percentile? Send it.
Below? Skip it.
When Testing Actually Matters
Here are the situations where testing still plays a big role:
1. Merit Scholarships
Many colleges tie merit aid to GPA and test scores. If your teen doesn’t test, they might not qualify for automatic scholarships — even if they have a 4.0.
Some schools are explicit about this. Others just quietly give more aid to students who submit scores.
Example: A student with a 1400 SAT might get $15,000/year in merit aid. Same student without a score? $5,000.
That’s $40,000 over four years. For one test.
2. Competitive Programs
Honors colleges, engineering programs, nursing schools — many still expect or strongly prefer test scores.
If your teen is applying to a highly selective major, testing might not be optional in practice.
3. Out-of-State Public Universities
Many state schools (especially flagship universities) still weigh test scores heavily in admissions and scholarship decisions.
If your teen is applying out of state, don’t assume test-optional means they should skip testing.
When You Can Skip Testing
There are also situations where testing genuinely doesn’t matter:
1. Your teen’s score is below the school’s middle 50%, and the school is truly test-optional.
If the score doesn’t help, don’t send it.
2. Your teen has a strong GPA, activities, and essays — and the schools on their list don’t tie merit aid to test scores.
Some schools (especially small liberal arts colleges) really don’t care about scores anymore.
3. Your teen has testing anxiety, learning differences, or other barriers that make standardized testing a poor measure of their abilities.
Test-optional policies exist for a reason. Use them if testing isn’t serving your student.
The Smart Testing Strategy for Juniors
Here’s what I tell families:
Spring of junior year: Take the SAT or ACT once.
No pressure. No expectation of perfection. Just see where they stand.
Summer before senior year: Decide if a second test makes sense.
Are they close to a scholarship threshold? Did they have a bad test day? Then yes, test again.
If not? Move on.
Early senior year: One more test if needed.
Only if there’s a clear reason (scholarship cutoff, specific school requirement, or significant improvement potential).
After that? Stop.
Taking the test five times doesn’t improve scores. It burns kids out and wastes time they could spend on essays, applications, or just being teenagers.
The Bottom Line
Testing doesn’t matter… except when it does.
And the key is knowing when your teen should test, when to send scores, and when to skip it entirely.
Here’s the quick checklist:
Does your teen’s list include schools that tie merit aid to test scores? → Test.
Are they applying to competitive programs or out-of-state publics? → Test.
Is their score at or above the middle 50% for schools on their list? → Send it.
Is their score below the middle 50% and the school is truly test-optional? → Skip it.
Does testing cause significant stress or anxiety with no clear benefit? → It’s okay to skip.
You don’t have to guess.
You just need a strategy.
And if you’re thinking, “Okay, but how do I actually figure this out for my kid?” — that’s exactly what we cover in Module 2 of The College-Bound Parent Collective.
When you join, you get immediate access to the full “Do We Need to Test?” decision framework, SAT vs ACT comparison guide, free and low-cost prep resources, testing timeline, and twice-monthly live Q&A calls where I troubleshoot your teen’s specific situation.
New modules drop weekly through mid-March, so you’re building your strategy in real time.
Right now, you can join for $997. That price goes up to $1,497 on March 16.
Join The College-Bound Parent Collective here
Here’s to making smart decisions with confidence,
