COVID-19 Effects: What Colleges Don’t Require the SAT for 2021

In mid-March 2020, the WHO classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, leading to school and college closures everywhere. While students are figuring out how to navigate this enforced ‘downtime’, aspiring college students are left wondering how they will appear for their standardised tests in time for college applications. As of now, College Board has cancelled the March and May SAT dates, while the ACT has rescheduled its test dates. With all the uncertainty surrounding the future, students can start looking at applying to colleges that have decided to go test-optional or cancel their standardised test requirements for this admissions cycle. Along with this, there are a whole collection of colleges that have embraced test-optional policies for quite some time.

Below is a list of colleges that have recently announced that they are going test-optional.  

Here is why you should still prepare:

While students cannot be expected to worry about situations beyond their control, it is important to note that these tests are not going away. The College Board is a 120-year-old organisation which has survived two World Wars and other pandemics. Test centres might open up or an online test version might be rolled out soon.

Remember that test-optional doesn’t mean test-exempt, so it is worth still preparing for a standardised test and taking it once centres open. Moreover, submitting a test score simply makes an admissions officer’s life easier, by providing a common benchmark that cuts across curricular and structural differences in education systems across the globe.

NOTE: This list is indicative and students should check with the institution before applying. For a full list, please visit FairTest.

If you require further assistance when making your college list, please get in touch with us.