Should You Submit SAT or ACT Scores? A Decision Guide for Families

Updated: February 2026

The question used to be simple: What score do I need?

Now it's: Should I submit scores at all?

After COVID forced hundreds of colleges test-optional in 2020, the landscape has been in constant motion. Harvard, Dartmouth, Stanford, Cornell, and MIT have all brought testing back. The UC system won't look at scores even if you send them. And a long list of schools (Chicago, NYU, USC, BU) sit somewhere in between.

For families, this creates a real strategic decision. Here's how we help navigate it.

The Three Buckets

Every school on your student's list falls into one of three categories:

Test Required: You're taking the test. Period. This bucket has grown significantly since 2024. Harvard, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, Penn, Stanford, and MIT all require scores now. Princeton will reinstate in 2028.

Test-Optional: Scores can be submitted but aren't required. UChicago, NYU, USC, and Boston University fall here. The key nuance: "optional" doesn't mean "irrelevant." A strong score adds real value. A weak score can hurt. Not submitting is genuinely fine.

Test-Free (sometimes called "test-blind"): Scores aren't considered, full stop. The entire UC system operates this way. If UCs are your primary targets, your energy goes to GPA, Personal Insight Questions, and extracurricular depth.

Most students apply to schools across multiple buckets, which means most students should plan to test regardless.

The Submit-or-Don't Decision

If your student has a college counselor at school, start there. They know the full application context and can give personalized guidance. But whether you have that support or not, there's a common-sense framework that gives you a solid starting point:

Quick primer: the "Middle 50%"
Most colleges publish the 25th and 75th percentile test scores of their admitted students, often called the "Middle 50%." For example, if a school's Middle 50% SAT range is 1400-1520, that means 25% of admitted students scored below 1400, 50% scored between 1400 and 1520, and 25% scored above 1520. You can find these numbers on each school's admissions website. Look for their Common Data Set or class profile page. This is the benchmark you're measuring against.

Submit when:

• Above the 75th percentile: Strong send. This score is a clear asset, no question.
• 50th to 75th percentile: Likely send. A solid score that reinforces a strong application.
• 25th to 50th percentile: Maybe send. This depends on your profile in concert with the specific school in question.

Consider withholding when:

• Below the 25th percentile: Probably withhold. At this point, the score is more likely to raise questions than add value. If your application tells a stronger story without it, let it.

The retake question: If you're close to a meaningful threshold, focused prep and a retake can make a real difference. We've seen students move from "don't submit" to "strong submit" range with 6-8 weeks of targeted work. This is where test prep has the most direct ROI.

Don't overlook superscoring. Many schools superscore the SAT, taking your highest section scores across sittings. Fewer superscore the ACT. This affects whether retaking is worth it and which test to prioritize. Check each school's policy.

Building Your Testing Timeline

Start with your college list, not your test date. Your testing strategy should follow your schools, not the other way around. Map each school's current policy first.

Identify your "must-test" schools. If even one school on your list requires scores, you need a testing plan.

Test early enough to retake. Spring of junior year for a first attempt, fall of senior year for a retake if needed. Don't leave yourself one shot.

Evaluate school by school. A 1400 might be a strong submit at one school and a weak submit at another. This is never a blanket decision.

The Landscape Is Still Moving

Princeton's 2028 reinstatement could trigger another wave. Schools are watching each other, and the trend line over the past two years has been clearly toward reinstatement at selective institutions.

We track every policy change in real time so our families don't have to. A Revolution Prep advisor can map how these shifts affect your student's specific list and build a testing timeline that accounts for where things are headed, not just where they are today.

Questions about your student's testing strategy? Schedule a strategy session with a Revolution Prep advisor. We'll evaluate your options and build a plan that puts your student in the strongest position at every school.

Testing policies change frequently. This guide reflects policies as of February 2026. For the most current information, verify with each school's admissions office or consult a Revolution Prep advisor.