The Future of Standardized Testing: What You Need to Know

On February 14th, 2025, two major announcements were made that will dramatically impact the admissions cycle for 2025-2026 and years to come. Most significantly, the Department of Education released their “Dear Colleague” letter, addressed to educators from K-12 through post-secondary education. The letter outlined numerous ways in which the new administration feels that students, predominantly white and Asian-identifying students, have been discriminated against in admissions processes. Not only did the Department of Education address overt DEI admissions policies and practices, they also directly named race-neutral admissions policies, like test-optional policies, as “unlawful.” The Department of Education gave universities a two-week mandate to comply in eliminating all such practices. On the same day, UPenn became the sixth Ivy to reinstate their testing requirement. In this blog, we will discuss the ramifications for students applying to undergraduate programs in the next application cycle, and how you can ensure you are ready to apply under the new guidelines.

The first university to adopt a test-optional admissions policy in the United States was Bowdoin College in 1969. Over the next half-century, educational professionals would debate the value of standardized testing, citing its propensity to favor certain populations of students, barriers to access, and its lack of validity in assessing predicted college performance. In 2020, colleges and universities across the country were forced to adopt more flexible testing policies because of the Covid-19 pandemic and stay-at-home mandates. Many educational professionals thought these policies would persist, with schools such as the University of California system even going test-blind (meaning they do not look at any student’s test scores in their application review). Over the past two admissions cycles, however, we have seen a shift in university admissions policies going back to emphasizing standardized testing, with Harvard most notably making the decision in April of 2024.

The Department of Education’s letter, written by Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Craig Trainor, states:

Relying on non-racial information as a proxy for race, and making decisions based on that information, violates the law. That is true whether the proxies are used to grant preferences on an individual basis or a systematic one. It would, for instance, be unlawful for an educational institution to eliminate standardized testing to achieve a desired racial balance or to increase racial diversity.

The question is, will schools with flexible testing policies feel pressured to eliminate such policies, rather than attempting to prove they are not an attempt to increase racial diversity on campus?

Our answer: unfortunately, many schools are likely to comply. As the Executive Branch looks to extend its legislative power, backed by a Supreme court that has historically lacked sympathy for universities when it comes to DEI and Affirmative Action lawsuits, schools will likely fear retribution if they do not move away from their test-optional policies. One former admissions officer from a top 10 undergraduate institution noted, “In the last office I worked in after [Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard], our conversations were almost exclusively focused on how not to be the next school to get sued…I think universities, particularly those with big names, will be even more concerned about being the next ‘example’ now.” Another former admissions officer from a T10 MBA program noted that their former institution “Seemed to be leaning into Trump’s America.”

What does this mean for you?

As noted, we are likely to see more institutions drop their flexible testing policies, meaning it is more important than ever to invest time and energy into standardized testing preparation.

 Assume every school will require an ACT or SAT score.

 The Department of Education has mandated that universities comply two weeks from when their letter was released (which would be this Friday) and it is likely we will see many universities move away from their testing policies by the end of the week. But, universities tend to move slowly, and we predict that schools will roll out testing policy updates over the next several months. Because some schools may remain unclear on how they will move forward, it is in your best interest to assume that you will need a test score for every school you are interested in. That means, having a test-prep plan.

Have a test-prep plan.

Now more than ever, it is important to have a test-prep plan. For both admissions and scholarship consideration, we anticipate standardized testing will continue to play a key role, regardless of the type of school you are applying to. So, it is important that you are prepared. If financial resources are a concern, look to free resources such as Khan Academy, College Board SAT Practice Tests, and ACT Practice Tests. If possible, we highly suggest investing in prep courses or 1:1 tutoring when possible. Below is our suggested testing strategy:

·      Grade 10 – Sit for the ACT or SAT to get a baseline score.

·      Grade 11 – Begin intentional test-preparation such as 1:1 tutoring, or take an ACT or SAT study course.

·      Grade 11 – Take the exam 1-2 more times as needed.

Remember that there are 4,000 schools out there!

With more selective programs moving towards re-emphasizing standardized testing, there is likely going to be concern from students who may struggle with getting that 1450+ SAT score, or the 34+ ACT composite score required of most highly-selective institutions. Remember, there are 4,000+ colleges and universities in the United States. Make sure to have an application list that consists of target, reach, and safety schools to maximize your chances of success in this process.

 You don’t have to go it alone!

We are here to help! Schedule a free consultation to learn how Adams Admissions Consulting can support you in your college admissions journey. With over 10 years of experience, and a 96% success rate, we can help you and your family navigate the everchanging world of college admissions. Don’t go it alone! Sign up for your consultation today.