Kaplan’s annual survey of admissions officers, released October 7, polled officers from 212 colleges drawn from U.S. News lists, by email between July and September. At test-optional colleges, 64 percent said a competitive SAT or ACT score improves an applicant’s chances, and 16 percent said their school is considering bringing back a testing requirement or will do so, roughly double the share in Kaplan’s 2025 survey. Ninety percent expect this cycle to be at least as competitive as last year’s, and 52 percent said demonstrated interest, such as attending information sessions or contacting admissions staff, helps an applicant. Kaplan notes that the sample is drawn from top-ranked colleges, so the results may not represent colleges generally.
What this means for your student
Test-optional does not mean scores are ignored. If your student’s score is at or above a college’s published middle 50 percent, it is worth sending. Check each college’s testing policy for the current cycle, because the list of schools returning to required scores keeps growing.
Related reading
- The Test-Optional Era Is Ending. Here’s What That Means for You
- Demonstrated Interest in College Admissions: Why It Matters
- Notre Dame Will Require the SAT or ACT Again, Starting With Today’s Juniors
Sources: Kaplan, survey of college admissions officers (October 7, 2026).