Can You Get Into College Without the SAT?

The SAT was introduced 100 years ago, in 1926. By the 1960s, the G.I. Bill meant that more people were attending college than ever before, and the SAT was almost universally adopted by schools in the United States. But in 1969, we saw the first school to go test-optional, Bowdoin College, drop the test. Since then, test-optional admissions slowly gained ground– mostly at small liberal arts colleges. In 2019, there were about 1,000 schools that were test-optional.

Then the pandemic happened, and now between 80% and 90% of American universities have test-optional admissions. And while some schools have returned to test-required admissions, more have enacted permanent test-optional admissions. So does this mean you don’t need the SAT anymore? Hardly. Here’s why a high SAT score can really help you out.

When You Think You Don’t Need the SAT: Test-Optional Schools

Test-optional admissions sound simple on the surface. If a school does not require the SAT, it is easy to assume the test no longer matters. In reality, test-optional policies shift how applications are evaluated rather than removing standardized testing from the process altogether. Choosing not to submit scores can change how competitive your application looks, especially at selective schools.

At most test-optional colleges, admissions officers still need a way to compare applicants from different high schools with different grading standards. When SAT scores are available, they provide a shared reference point. When scores are missing, colleges rely more heavily on GPA, and course rigor. That works well for some students, but it can hurt students whose transcripts do not fully reflect their academic ability. A strong SAT score can help confirm that your grades are not inflated or inconsistent, particularly if your school does not offer many advanced courses. If you had fewer opportunities based on your school’s offerings, an SAT score can make you more competitive.

There is also a flexibility issue. College lists evolve as students discover new programs, change intended majors, or decide to apply to additional schools late in the process. A student who has already taken the SAT keeps those options open. But if you skipped the test, you  may find yourself scrambling or locked out of opportunities you didn’t anticipate earlier. 

Test-optional does not mean the SAT is irrelevant or that there are no benefits to taking it. It means the burden of proof shifts. For many students, submitting a strong SAT score makes the admissions process clearer and more predictable even at schools that claim not to require it.

When You Think You Don’t Need the SAT: Guaranteed Admissions

Some states have programs that guarantee admission to public universities based on your high school GPA. For example, if you live in the state of Washington, you are guaranteed admission to the state’s public universities if you have a 3.0 high school GPA and took a certain number of classes. If that’s the case for you, then you don’t need the SAT to get into college.

But (and this is a big but), you have to check the admissions policies for these programs carefully or you might end up with an ugly surprise. Florida has a similar policy; if you’re a resident and you’re in the top 20% of your high school class (or have a 3.0 or higher), you are guaranteed admission to any of the 12 state universities. But what’s there in the fine print? An SAT score is required! 

Or let’s say that your 3.0 got you automatic admission to Missouri State. Mizzou gives out incredible freshman merit scholarships, and if you don’t submit SAT scores, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Test-optional admits are limited to the $6,000 Academic Enrichment Award– and that isn’t guaranteed. But if you’re a top SAT scorer, you can be eligible for awards that cover 100% of your tuition and fees. You don’t need those scores to get in, but those scores might allow you to graduate debt-free.

And not every state offers these programs! Depending on where you live, there might not be a guarantee of admission, or you might not want to go to any of the schools that offer it. If you want a highly selective school or a small, highly specialized school, guaranteed admission for your GPA probably won’t be on the table. You’ll need test scores to bolster your chances of getting in. 

When You Think You Don’t Need the SAT: “Holistic” Applications

From admissions to scholarships, schools and financial granting institutions love the word “holistic.” And for many students, that’s come to be synonymous with “doesn’t require test scores.” But you don’t need a perfect score on your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section to know that this is not the case.

When an application process is described as “holistic,” what it really means is that the reader is looking at you as a complete package. They want to understand your story as best as they can, and they want to make awards based on all of the information available.  That includes your coursework, your grades, your extracurriculars, your recommendations, and, when you have them, your test scores. A strong SAT score does not replace those other elements, but it can reinforce them. It adds context to your academic performance and gives admissions officers another data point when they are comparing students from very different schools and backgrounds.

So Who Doesn’t Need the SAT?

Students who took the ACT instead and are happy with the outcome.

Many students choose the ACT over the SAT because they want to show off their writing skills on the optional essay or flaunt their STEM capabilities with the additional Science section. Or, maybe you don’t do well with screens and simply wanted to take the test on paper– which the ACT offers as a regular option. Both the SAT and ACT are valid tests and accepted by the same schools. And while some students choose to take both, if you take the ACT and don’t want to do the SAT, nobody will think of your application any differently. In fact, if you’re applying to a highly competitive STEM program, the ACT might actually be preferable if you know you can ace the Science and Math sections.

When You Need SAT Prep

So, do you need the SAT to get into college? Maybe not. But should you take it anyways? Almost definitely. Even if you’re applying to a test-optional program, a high SAT score can’t hurt. And a high score is within your reach! You just have to think about how you approach the test. 

Like all standardized tests, the SAT is about skill and strategy, not advanced knowledge. In over 15 years of developing the Prep Expert® methods, I’ve seen that test taking is a skill that anyone can learn. If you prep carefully and work with professionals who truly understand the test, you can learn the strategies you need to approach the SAT fearlessly– and without the stress of frustrating cramming that leaves you spinning your wheels without visible improvement. When you work with us at Prep Expert®, you’ll gain confidence alongside your best SAT score. Browse our SAT course catalog today and see how our proven techniques have helped thousands of students just like you earn great SAT scores.