Will This Year’s Juniors (c/o 2026) Need ACT/SAT Scores?

If you ask current seniors if you need test scores for college admission, you will likely get mixed responses. Some absolutely need them. Others will find they are better off applying test optional. 

Where does that leave this upcoming class of juniors? How much focus should you put on the ACT / SAT?.

How Did We Get Here?

Ten years ago, I would have told you that unless you are applying to a select handful of test optional schools, you need to have a good score on either the SAT or ACT (doesn’t matter which one.) 

Then during the pandemic, all schools went test optional out of necessity. Many students couldn’t get access to the exam where they lived. 

In the last few years we have seen ACT and SAT scores return to prominence for many of the highly selective schools and some state universities. Currently about 20% of colleges and universities require students to submit test scores for admission. 

What Should We Expect?

The trend is definitely favoring test scores. 

In the past year top schools like MIT, Yale,  and Dartmouth have dropped their test optional policies and returned to requiring ACT/ SAT scores. Additionally, many top state universities have gone back to requiring scores as well: UT Austin, Purdue, Georgia Tech, LSU, Florida State, etc. 

I expect to see the list of “test required” schools to grow this year, impacting the class of 2026. 

How Should We Best Prepare? 

I have a couple of pieces of advice for families of rising juniors. 

1. Work to earn top scores. 

Even if you don’t need the ACT or SAT for admission, we still see a number of universities and programs using test scores to award scholarships. If you practice and prepare now, you can enter your senior year with your best possible score. 

2. Do not send scores to colleges yet. 

When you sign up to take the SAT or ACT, you are given four “free” score reports. It is tempting to use these to send results to the top schools on your list, the ones you know you will apply to in the fall. Don’t do it. Don’t send scores until you apply! 

The reason to wait is to maintain control over your option to apply test optional. 

Should we do test prep junior year or wait until senior year to decide?

The ultimate answer is “it depends.” Let’s look at why. 

Will you have more time and flexibility junior year or in the first three months of senior year? I find the option of taking the test a couple times between fall, winter, spring, or even summer if you prepare as a junior to offer greater flexibility. 

Do you work well under pressure? Seniors who find out now that their top schools require test scores will have limited opportunities to take the ACT (September or late October) or the SAT (late August or October.) For some students, working under pressure is ideal. For most of my clients, this added stress doesn’t help. They would prefer to prepare as juniors when they have multiple opportunities to retake, or even switch tests, if necessary. 

Ultimately, I like to answer things with what I would do for my own two children. My son, our youngest, is heading into his senior year. This summer has been busy with family vacation, college visits, a week-long camp at one of his top schools, drafting admissions essays, summer reading, cap and gown photos for school, etc. I am so glad we don’t have to add test prep and testing to this list. 

Conclusion

My prediction is that more colleges will require ACT/ SAT scores by this time next year. Many schools will remain test optional, but some of those schools will use test scores for scholarships. 

Most students won’t finalize their college lists until the fall of senior year. 

Families are then faced with choices:

• Prep and take the ACT / SAT junior year in case those scores are needed
• Wait to prep and test once you decide on schools (understanding that this may limit your opportunity to re-test)
• Skip the ACT/ SAT entirely (understanding that this may limit your choice of schools)

For most students the best option will be to take either the ACT or SAT (or both) during their junior year. This allows time to take their test of choice more than once and adjust studying based on results. 

We do a lot of things as adults to be prepared for all options. Taking the ACT/ SAT as a junior is one of those “in case we need it” decisions.  

You might start by checking the policies for the universities in your state. I’m in Texas and the fact that UT Austin has returned to requiring test scores will make the decision for many families