In a word, yes, you should. NBC News reports that reports of the SAT’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Many parents and students — misled by “test-optional” rhetoric emanating from undergraduate admissions offices — are considering whether to skip standardized testing entirely. What started as a way to adapt to the emergence of the coronavirus in 2020 and give students more flexibility has now taken off. But we should ask ourselves, at what cost?
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s recent decision to reinstate its testing mandate serves as a reminder that the tests are important. For most students, it would be a serious mistake to opt out of taking them. In reality, whether mandatory or not, the SAT and ACT continue to play an indispensable role in college admissions.
