Why Does the SAT Still Matter?
Find out if most applicants submit their test scores!
Higher SAT scores = Higher amounts of merit scholarships
Avoid Remedial Class and submit your SAT scores!
Learn how to improve your GPA with SAT prep
Benefits of SAT Prep and Taking the SAT
Honestly, because it gets you a better chance of getting into college - up to 2.3x better! (scroll down to the chart to see why we say that!)
The SAT is one of the standardized tests that many high school students take in order to continue their academic journey. With the recent world events regarding COVID-19, SAT scores have been made optional and many students are choosing to apply to college without their SAT/ACT scores. This raises the question of whether SAT prep is still necessary.
The “test-optional” policy was necessary at the beginning of the pandemic, when students were unable to take the SATs in person; however, as students began to take in-person classes again and standardized tests were made accessible online, this policy is now less relevant. Today, there are still many reasons why students should opt into taking the SAT.
Higher Likelihood of Gaining Admissions
With the recent “test-optional” option allowed by universities across the country, many students are excluding their SAT scores from their college applications. As a result, prestigious schools have a higher rate of applicants, but the admissions rate remains the same. Institutions like Brown University and Harvard University, have reported the largest applicant pool in 2021; however, their admissions rate has yet to surpass 6%. The voluntary stance for SAT scores, provides a false notion to applicants that it will be easier to be accepted into college without SAT scores. This, however, is not the case. In fact, the opposite may be true instead. Students who submit their SAT scores are 220% more likely to be admitted into college, as opposed to students who did not submit their SAT scores.
The chart above shows the percentages based on applicants with test scores, admitted class with test scores, applicants without test scores, admit rate for submitting test scores and the advantage of submitting test scores.
The percentage of the admitted class which submitted tests is higher than the percentage of applicants which submitted tests; this highlights the preference colleges have for applicants with submitted scores. In addition, the chart shows that the admit rate for test submitters is higher than the admit rate for non-submitters. Based on the schools provided, students have an advantage when they send in their SAT scores and show a larger trend regarding the test-optional policy.
Financial Aid and SAT Scores
To receive financial aid or scholarships from universities, your SAT scores—along with your GPA and EFC (Expected Family Contribution), which is determined by FAFSA—are still important for awarding scholarships or grants to prospective students.
Let us use Henry as an example. Henry has been admitted into Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, with a 3.75 GPA. Although this GPA would qualify him for a merit scholarship, Alabama A&M requires SAT/ACT scores to give this scholarship. Henry did not know this information before he applied and now, he is not eligible for the merit based scholarships the university provides. He did not submit his test scores and missed out on scholarships that would have funded his college education. If only Henry provided his SAT/ACT scores to Alabama A&M for their consideration, he could have been allotted various scholarships and grants.
Since institutions still equate merit to SAT/ACT scores, the merit scholarships colleges give to students, can be significantly affected if your SAT scores are not included. SAT and ACT scores are still a criteria used by colleges, when awarding scholarships to students; typically students with high SAT/ACT scores receive higher merit scholarship amounts. Submitting your SAT scores can contribute to multiple scholarships and funding, which will reduce some of your college expenses.
Low Income Students Are Disadvantaged
For low income students, taking the SAT is one of the most important ways to remove the barriers that keep them from educational success and display their critical thinking skills. SAT prep contributes to the increasing rate of low socio-economic status students who are admitted into elite and prestigious institutions, by providing them with the skills to both improve their test scores and also their academic performance overall. For low socio-economic status (SES) students, the SAT is an invaluable opportunity to show colleges and universities that they are college ready and prepare for the rigor of academia.
The “test-optional” policy for the SAT, may have a negative effect on the acceptance rate of low income students in elite institutions. Instead of making admissions easier, this policy creates a bigger educational gap for students–currently or previously–from underserved schools.
Standardized tests allow students to show how they compare to students from other SES and geographic areas. For low SES students, taking the required standardized tests and going to college and getting the best education possible, is the common way to achieve social mobility and financial security.
Remedial Courses
Class placement and the class selection process can be greatly impacted if your SAT scores are not included in your college application. Some colleges use SAT or ACT scores to decide whether or not students are placed in remedial courses. This is not the only way to determine if remedial courses are needed. Colleges can use placement exams and grades from AP classes to determine the courses you will take and your knowledge level. It is important to know about the different situations that can occur, if you choose not to submit your SAT scores.
Remedial courses interfere with time that should be spent on the classes that are required for your major. Since these courses are not credited, they will be unnecessary courses that negatively impact your financial aid and will not count towards the prerequisites needed to graduate. Every student majoring in a particular discipline is required to take gateway courses. Student attendance in remedial courses hinders the completion of gateway/introductory courses and will delay your graduation. With the addition of remedial courses, only 23% of students attending a two-year college and 37% of those attending a four-year college, complete their gateway courses.
These courses will create setbacks in your academic journey and are unnecessary courses that you will not have to take, if you submit your standardized test scores. There is a connection between remedial classes and a lowered likelihood of persevering through college or graduating. When it comes to finishing remedial courses, 40% of students in two year colleges never finish the course, which leads to a drop out rate of 25% for students attending four year institutions.
How many remedial students make it to the graduation?
For students attending two-year colleges, only 10% taking remedial courses finish their degree in three years, while students at four-year non-flagship universities taking remedial courses have a 35% graduation rate and will earn a degree after six years.
Universities in different states have a percentage of remedial courses students have taken.
In Maryland, 61% of freshmen in two-year colleges require remediation. From this 61%, 10% graduate within 3 years. On the other hand, 25% of freshmen entering four-year colleges require remediation. Of those, only 49% graduate within 6 years.
In Massachusetts 62% of freshmen in two-year colleges require remediation. From this 62%, 10.3% graduate within 3 years. While 27% of freshmen entering four-year colleges require remediation. Of those, only 51% graduate within 6 years.
Demonstrating Student Work Ethic
You may have heard this saying at least once in your life, “First impressions last the longest.” You might be wondering how this phrase connects with taking the SAT. When colleges see your submitted SAT scores, they will visualize a student with a strong work ethic. Although the SAT/ACT scores are optional, your decision to include your test scores, will allow you to stand out to Admissions Officers and have that lasting impression. Similarly, when you exclude your test, colleges will assume that you did poorly on the test and that you are not college ready.
Test anxiety is a real thing that impacts millions of students; however, to overcome this fear, you have to practice and use the resources available to you and better prepare yourself for tests you will inevitably face in the future. Test prep is a tool that can increase test performance by building critical thinking skills and relieving test anxiety. This means that studying for the SAT can actually have a larger impact on your academics overall, not just on the SAT itself.
SAT/ACT Scores Decide Which Students To Accept
For your college application, there are various components that will make you a strong applicant. This includes your GPA, SAT scores, extracurricular activities and your personal statement. Test scores are not the only component for college admissions; however, it is important for Admissions Officers to gauge your test taking abilities and how you will handle the transition from high school to college. Since many high schools calculate grades and GPA differently, the SAT can provide a standardized data point for colleges to compare one student to another. This means that the SAT can provide insight into your academic performance that other methods (like GPA, your college essay, etc.) cannot.
Additionally, there is often a standardized test threshold implemented for the college admissions process. The minimum SAT score threshold for humanities or social science majors is 1000, while the minimum SAT score for STEM majors is 1100. To be a competitive applicant for admissions, you should aim for test scores that are equivalent to or exceed the average scores. Submitting your standardized test scores, even if they are not necessary, will show college admissions officers that you have taken initiative for your college success.
SAT Prep Increases High School GPA
When it comes to taking the SAT/ACT, it matters how you prepare for the exam, the skills you have learned, and how you implement these skills to improve your initial test scores. The impact of SAT prep can be directly tied to the results students receive, after taking the test. Typically SAT/ACT prep Programs can increase your test scores by 70 points or higher and shows the need for SAT prep in more schools. The enhanced test scores that are attributed to SAT prep can connect to the improvement in high school students’ GPA. This shows the indirect impact that SAT prep has on young students and further illustrates why SAT prep is a tool needed for academic success.
A study conducted by What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) revealed the impact of SAT prep on high school GPA. There were six studies and results were based on data collected from 65,603 students across the United States. Out of the six studies, three showed a positive effect and three showed an “indeterminate effect.” The study showed a positive trend for students’ GPA when SAT/ACT Prep was introduced. The research shows that students who participated in the verbal section of the SAT, the mathematics section of the ACT test and the reading, writing, and mathematics subtests of the SAT had better GPAs than the student’s who did not participate in the program and continued with their usual classes.
