What to Do About Low Standardized (ACT or SAT) Test Scores

The good news is that the number of selective colleges and universities that don't require a standardized test is growing, as is the availability of various alternatives to SAT or ACT requirements. Let's consider when to withhold test scores, and which colleges have interesting variations on standard admission test requirements.

Take a good look at your scores
Test-optional programs are tailor made for students who have taken and done well in college prep courses in high school, but have not been able, for one reason or another, to do equally well on standardized tests. This can be attributed to a number of challenges, including: a learning disability; a pronounced learning style that leads to lower-than-expected scores on multiple-choice bubble tests; English as a second language; or being educated abroad or in a school that de-emphasizes standardized testing.

As you get started, you should establish reasonable expectations as to your desired SAT or ACT scores. Not every student is expected to get a perfect score on these tests. These tests are designed so that only the highest performing segment of students will do so. If you are taking the toughest curriculum in your school and getting straight A's, should you expect to get, say, 700 scores on your SAT sections? Sure. Are 650's still consistent with your performance. Probably. Are 500's? Probably not. If you are a B student in college prep courses, one would expect you to score above 500 on your SAT sections (about 20 on the ACT), and perhaps even into the low 600's.

Again, most students' scores are fairly consistent with their other academic preparation. Sometimes, however, they are not. This is when you should consider colleges that make tests optional or that have alternative test-submission opportunities.

The test-optional option
Each year, new colleges join the roster of schools offering some choice in terms of test requirements. Some colleges have created alternative test programs that allow students to submit scores from several tests, such as APs or SAT Subject Tests, or sections of the SAT or ACT. Other schools allow students not to submit test scores as long as they interview on campus and provide a graded writing sample with their application.

Most selective institutions that are more or less test optional are small- to middle-sized liberal arts colleges. Some larger universities have also moved in this direction, but due to the nature and size of the applicant pools at different types of institutions, the smaller selective colleges are better suited to the test-optional admission process. That said, perhaps the original test-optional institution is the local community college; most have entirely open admission for high school graduates.

Another approach
If you apply to colleges that require standardized tests, but feel that your scores are not representative of your skills and abilities, consider adding a note to your application or writing an essay on the subject. Often this is helpful for students with learning disabilities or other reasons why a particular testing format does not work well for them. This is your chance to talk about strengths and weaknesses, and why you expect to be successful in college for other reasons.

Finally, creating a mixed application strategy — including some colleges that don't require standardized tests — will probably help you the most as you seek to open up appropriate college choices for your future.

Howard and Matthew Greene are the hosts of two PBS college planning programs and authors of the Greenes' Guides to Educational Planning series and other books.

Article complements of Peterson's. Learn more tips about testing college entrance exams and take a free practice tests by clicking here.