Overall, the launch was smooth.  But the math? What was up with that?

Presenters

Robert Schaeffer | Fairtest.org |bobschaeffer@fairtest.org

Cyndy McDonald | The College Counselor's Coach | cyndy@cyndymcdonald.com

Show Notes

What is Test Optional?

Fairtest.org defines Test Optional and Test Free on their website:

• "Test optional: This is both a blanket term for schools which do not require applicants to submit test scores before admissions decisions are made, including test-free institutions, and a more specific label for the more than 1,700 bachelor-degree granting schools that currently give students the power to choose whether ACT/SAT scores will be considered in the admissions process.

• Test-free: This refers to institutions that will not consider ACT or SAT results in the admissions process even if scores are submitted. As of September, 2023, about 86 campuses, including the University of California and the California State University, the nation’s largest public higher education system, are test-free.Test-free is sometimes referred to as “test blind”."

A brief history of the test optional movement is included. The first Test Optional policy was announced by Bowdoin College in 1969.

Test Optional And Test Free List

Fairtest created the most comprehensive list of higher education institutions' test optional policies.

• Test Optional and Test Free College List: List of 1900+ ACT/SAT optional institutions and 80+ test free institutions.

I created a short tutorial for using the data on this website. See it below.

• Cyndy's Tutorial on the Fair Test List
  

Articles

Check out articles and blogs on the Fairtest website:

• Undergraduate Admissions: Facts about the SAT and the ACT
• Digital SAT
• "Merit" Awards: Myths, Realities, & Barriers to Access

A recent NY Times article covers the opposite of the test debate:

• The Misguided SAT Debate

Webinar Recording

Fair Test Tutorial

There is a lot of data on the Fairtest.org website. This short tutorial by Cyndy McDonald gives you shortcuts to understanding and managing the data on the Test Optional list, making it easier to share with students and parents.