by Shirley Zheng ‘21

As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly in the United States, the College Board and ACT have recently made the decision to cancel all SAT and ACT testing until June. This puts many juniors, who are losing three possible opportunities to take the tests, at a disadvantage for college admissions next fall. The SAT and ACT weigh heavily on college applications and can directly impact students’ chances of getting admitted into colleges. 

Due to these emergency circumstances, many colleges have decided to make applications for the fall and spring semester of 2021 test-optional, meaning there will be no SAT or ACT requirements for applying. All U.S. colleges and universities should consider going test-optional in order to ensure that all students are evaluated equally during this historical crisis, especially since some students will face more limitations than others.

Since the cancellations have been announced in March, over a dozen colleges, including Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, and all University of California schools, have announced that they will drop SAT and ACT testing requirements for 2021 applications due to complications caused by COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, some 1,000 universities in the U.S. have already incorporated test-optional as part of their application process. The common goal here is to eliminate any unnecessary stress posed on students and to ensure equity, especially during this unprecedented time. 

The College Board has yet to announce any confirmed testing dates to make up for the March and May tests, and there are no plans for how students can complete the tests if COVID-19 continues to spread in June. Moreover, due to COVID-19, many families face unemployment, limiting their ability to provide test prep and pay for tests. The number of uncertainties regarding SAT and ACT testing causes unneeded pressure for rising seniors and their families during this extremely crucial and valuable time.