Should You Submit SAT Scores to Test-Optional Schools?

Test-Optional Changed the Game — But Not How You Think

When hundreds of colleges went test-optional during COVID, many students assumed it was a free pass to skip standardized testing. But the data from the first few years of widespread test-optional policies tells a more nuanced story.

At many selective schools, the majority of admitted students still submitted test scores. At MIT, the school went back to requiring tests entirely. The lesson: test-optional is not the same as test-blind, and your strategy should depend on your specific scores and target schools.

The Data: Who Benefits from Submitting?

Research from multiple admissions cycles shows a clear pattern:

Students who submitted scores at test-optional schools were admitted at higher rates than those who did not submit. At some schools, the difference was significant — 10-15 percentage points higher for score submitters.

Before you panic, this does not mean going test-optional hurts you. The correlation is explained partly by self-selection: students with strong scores submit them, and those students tend to have stronger overall applications.

But it does suggest that admissions officers, consciously or not, may view a submitted score as an additional data point in your favor — if the score is strong.

The Decision Framework: Submit or Withhold?

Here is a practical, data-backed framework:

Submit Your Scores If:

• Your SAT is at or above the school's 50th percentile (middle 50% range). If the school's middle 50% is 1350-1520 and you have a 1400+, submit.
• Your score is strong relative to your GPA. If you have a 3.5 GPA but a 1500 SAT, the test score adds valuable information showing your academic capability.
• You are applying to STEM programs. Engineering and science programs tend to weigh quantitative skills more heavily, and a strong math score reinforces your readiness.
• You are applying for merit scholarships. Many scholarship programs still use test scores as a factor, even at test-optional schools.

Withhold Your Scores If:

• Your SAT is below the school's 25th percentile. If the middle 50% is 1400-1530 and you scored 1300, withholding is likely the better move.
• Your GPA is stronger than your test score suggests. If you have a 3.9 GPA but a 1280 SAT, the test score undercuts the academic story your transcript tells.
• You are applying to schools with explicit statements about equal consideration. Some schools (like the University of Chicago) have been vocal that test-optional applicants are reviewed equally.
• You have strong qualitative factors. If your essays, extracurriculars, and recommendations are exceptional, you may not need the test score to round out your application.

The Gray Zone (25th-50th Percentile):

This is the hardest call. If your score falls between the 25th and 50th percentile of a school's admitted students, the decision depends on the rest of your profile:

• If the rest of your application is strong → lean toward withholding
• If you need every data point in your favor → lean toward submitting
• If your math or verbal subscore is notably strong → consider submitting

How to Find a School's Score Ranges

Every college publishes its admitted student profile, usually in the Common Data Set or on the admissions website. Look for the "middle 50% SAT range" — this tells you the 25th and 75th percentile scores of enrolled students.

You can also use [AdmitOdds](https://admitodds.com) to see how your test scores compare to each school's admitted student profile and get personalized advice on whether submitting strengthens your application.

What Test-Blind Actually Means

A small number of schools are test-blind, meaning they will not look at your scores even if you submit them. The University of California system is the most prominent example. For test-blind schools, the decision is easy: do not worry about it.

Test-blind schools include:

• All University of California campuses (UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc.)
• California State University system
• Hampshire College
• A handful of other schools

The Retake Question

If you are close to a school's 50th percentile, retaking the SAT or ACT may be worth it. Even a 30-50 point improvement on the SAT can shift you from "maybe withhold" to "definitely submit" territory.

The cost and time of retaking is relatively low compared to the potential benefit of having a strong score to submit at every school on your list.

The Bottom Line

Test-optional gives you a strategic choice, but it requires honest self-assessment. Submit scores when they strengthen your application and withhold them when they do not. Use each school's published data (or [AdmitOdds' analysis tools](https://admitodds.com/pricing)) to make an informed decision rather than guessing.

The worst strategy is submitting a below-average score because you feel like you "should" or withholding a strong score because you think test-optional means tests do not matter. They still do — you just get to choose whether to play that card.