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Good Grades and Good Learning
October 21, 2020
Information about the CPS High School Admissions Test and Process 2021
May 11, 2021

Should My Child Take the ACT or SAT for a Test Optional School?

test optional

While some colleges adopted test optional or test blind policies well before we’d ever heard of COVID-19, many more made the move after the pandemic’s onset. We’ll help you understand what these policies mean for your child’s college applications process. 

Test Optional Vs Test Blind

A test optional school doesn’t require ACT or SAT scores. However, if a student includes scores as part of their application, the admissions team will consider them in their evaluation. This is the policy for the majority of U.S. universities.

A test blind college does not require ACT or SAT scores and will not acknowledge them if they are submitted with an application. Only a small percentage of schools are test blind (including the entire University of California system).

As the pandemic continues, schools assess their test policies every year. Some have returned to requiring ACT or SAT scores, so it’s important to check university websites or give the admissions office a call for the latest updates.

Where does this leave your child when it comes to taking the ACT or SAT? It depends. Here are some aspects to consider.

Test Scores

Solid test scores can enhance an application. If your child’s college list includes test optional schools, and they’re able to do well on the ACT or SAT, we recommend they take one (not both!) of those tests. You’ll want to start planning early to make sure that your child has enough time to prep (on their own or with a tutor) and register for the date and location they want. 

A practice test is a risk-free way of seeing how your child is likely to do on the real test. Our detailed score report will provide information about strengths and weaknesses, and our tutoring timeline will map out the time needed to achieve a goal score.

Additional Important Factors

It’s easy to have tunnel vision when it comes to ACT or SAT scores, but they are one piece of the admissions puzzle. The elements below are vital parts of a strong college application, and they should be part of the conversation when making decisions about the ACT or SAT.

GPA and rigor – Talk with any school counselor or independent college consultant, and they’ll tell you that a student’s grade point average and rigor of curriculum are at the top of the list for college admissions officers. That information indicates how a student performs over time and on various assignments and assessments.

Extracurricular activities, community involvement, work, and family responsibilities – These also factor into admissions decisions. Admissions officers don’t just admit individuals, they build classes. They want to know what each student will potentially contribute to and learn from their college community. You don’t want your child to neglect these opportunities.

When to Test

If your child will take the ACT or SAT, it’s smart to make a plan the summer ahead of junior year. For some students, it might work best to take the ACT or SAT first semester, but other students may benefit from waiting until the spring. While it’s fine to take a test at the beginning of senior year, we prefer to save those dates for “one more try” to reach a goal score. Taking the test junior year also allows students to focus on college application essays in the late summer and early fall going into senior year. Thinking through all of this before junior year will help your child feel calmer and more confident!

Anxiety

The challenges of the past few years have made it even more important for teenagers to care for their mental health. If dealing with the ACT or SAT will cause unhealthy anxiety for your child, curate a list of schools that you know will be test-blind or test-optional.

Balance and Guidance

Help your child assess and balance their priorities and schedule. And don’t be shy about seeking out guidance from your school counselor, independent college consultant, or even college admissions departments! What we’ve covered here is just a small part of the admissions process. These people will be able to share much more information about everything from the Common App to college visits.

This can be a good time for 1:1 tutoring, too. We have tutors who can help with test prep, academic subjects, executive functioning, and college application essays. Because the sessions are customized to your child’s needs, we can be flexible with how we support them. We want to reduce stress as much as possible while energizing the learning process! Give us a call.

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      Kimberly Pilot

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      Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.

      My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.

      I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.

      On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.

      Sarah Tracy

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      Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!

      A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!

      I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.

      On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.

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      Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!

      My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.

      My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.

      On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.

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