ACT or SAT Testing Optional: Is It Really?

​Several big-name universities declared that ACT/SAT college testing would now be considered optional for those applying this fall due to Covid19. You might now be wondering: Is studying for the ACT or SAT even worth it? And the answer we want to stress is YES! It is important for you to take either the ACT or SAT this year.
Every year millions of students around the world apply to American colleges. This won’t stop because of our current situation. And even if many schools decide to make ACT/SAT testing optional, we wish to emphasis the importance of continuing to prepare for the following reasons:

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Just because many colleges are not making ACT/SAT testing optional, not all will. What if your dream school decides not to waive this previous requirement? What then? Better to prepare for all possible outcomes than hope that all schools follow current trends.
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Think about how the schools will evaluate you once the tests are waived. Last year before the pandemic, several major colleges decided to make ACT/SAT testing optional including the University of Chicago. What we learned is that this puts stress on every other part of your application: grades, extra-curricular activities, the rank of your school, and of course the ever-looming college application essays. With tens of thousands of students applying to any given college, why limit your competitive edge. By leaving one aspect of your application empty, you suddenly make every other part much more critical.
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Are you making the best of your current situation? The country is on a standstill, schools everywhere are closed, and most students have been stuck at home for months. While many are taking this time to relax a bit, countless students are using it to prepare for college applications. Whether they are taking the test or not, they are using this time to beef up all the other parts of their application. And when the tests do start opening again, many will be ready to excel. Use this down time to your advantage. The competition will be fiercer than ever, so now is the time to prepare.
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​Finally, for all those worried about finding and taking the ACT/SAT during these uncertain times:

• Both the SAT and ACT have committed resources to provide more testing locations as well as guarantee these locations meet the proper guidelines for current social distancing requirements
• Both tests have begun offering additional testing dates, during this summer and in the fall
• In some cases, these tests will also be offering remote proctoring to provide even more assurance that students are staying safe and healthy.
• For more info check out these links:
  • Test Dates https://www.ilearnacademy.net/actsat-test-dates-2020-2021.htm
  • ACT COVID response https://www.act.org/content/act/en/covid19.html
  • SAT COVID response https://pages.collegeboard.org/sat-covid-19-updates

 
iLearn Academy is here to help you excel on either the ACT or SAT, Learn More Here. Let us know what you think. Please feel free to reach out to us on Facebook with your concerns surrounding the ACT/SAT. We always welcome the voices and opinions of our community.