If you are a parent, grandparent, or student trying to figure out the testing question right now, you are not alone — and you are right to feel like the landscape has shifted.
Because it has.
After more than 25 years helping students earn admission to the most selective universities in the country, here is what we are seeing right now: the test-optional era is not over — but the playbook has changed. And the families who understand that change early have a real advantage.
THE 2026 LANDSCAPE
What actually changed — and what did not
Most colleges and universities on the Common App still do not require SAT or ACT scores. That part has not changed. But applicant behavior has shifted in a way that families need to understand before making any testing decisions this summer.
New data from the 2025-26 admissions cycle shows that the share of applicants choosing to submit test scores increased by 11% year over year. At the same time, the share of applicants choosing not to report scores declined by 4%. Meanwhile, only about 5% of Common App member institutions currently require test scores — a figure that stayed essentially flat from the prior season.
Here is the headline: colleges may still call themselves test-optional, but students are increasingly deciding that a strong score is worth sending.
That shift matters — and it has real implications for how every family should be approaching testing decisions right now.
WHY IT IS SHIFTING
Three reasons more students are submitting scores again
I — Strategy in a crowded pool
Applications and applicants through the 2025-26 cycle were up year over year, and students were applying to more schools on average than they did the year before. In that environment, a strong test score becomes one more way to strengthen a file. When you can add a credible data point that supports your academic profile, many families are deciding it is worth adding.
II — Policy drift at selective schools
Over the past two years, several prominent universities have quietly revived testing requirements. That drift has made families more aware that test-optional status is not permanent — and that waiting too long to build a testing plan can reduce flexibility later. We have seen this play out with the families we work with: the ones who planned ahead had more options. The ones who assumed they would never need a score occasionally found themselves wishing they had one.
III — The psychology of uncertainty
When the admissions process feels less predictable — and in 2026, it does — families tend to give colleges more information rather than less. Most families we speak with do not want to wonder, after the fact, whether withholding a strong score left an avoidable advantage on the table.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANS
What “test-optional” actually means in 2026
Test-optional does not mean test-blind. It means a college says students can apply without scores — but it may still consider submitted scores as part of a broader review. Most families we work with are surprised to learn this distinction.
For admissions purposes, that distinction matters enormously. If a student has a score that fits comfortably within or above a college’s typical admitted-student range, submitting it may strengthen the file by reinforcing academic readiness. If the score is well below the norm for that college, withholding it is usually the smarter move.
The question is no longer “Should every student submit?” The right question is “Does this specific score help this specific student at this specific school?” That is a school-by-school decision — and it is exactly the kind of strategic thinking that separates families who navigate this process well from those who rely on blanket rules that no longer apply.
“Test-optional is still the policy at most schools. But applicant behavior, institutional expectations, and competitive pressure are all moving in the other direction. Families who plan around the old playbook are starting at a disadvantage.”
FOR CALIFORNIA FAMILIES
Why this is especially nuanced for Southern California students
The testing conversation is more layered for California families than for those in most other states. The University of California system does not use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions. Students applying primarily to UC campuses should not build their entire strategy around testing — it simply will not move the needle there.
But many Southern California students we work with are building lists that include not just UCs but also selective private universities — USC, Pepperdine, the Claremont Colleges — and out-of-state public flagships. For those schools, the test-optional calculus is different, and a strong score can absolutely add value.
There is also something else families here should know: many public flagships that families once viewed as relatively safe backups have become far more competitive. Application volume at major public universities has risen sharply, and the “automatic safety” assumption is breaking down for current applicants. A student who might have been comfortably admitted to a top public university three years ago may find the picture looks quite different in 2026.
THE FRAMEWORK
A practical way to think about score submission
Here is the simplest way we explain it to families:
→Submit scores when they strengthen the story the application is already telling — especially when they support strong grades in rigorous courses.
→Consider withholding scores when they fall meaningfully below a college’s typical range and do not reflect the student’s actual classroom performance.
→Do not assume “optional” means “ignored” — particularly at selective schools where a growing share of admitted students are submitting strong results.
→Research each school individually. Policies can differ by program, scholarship consideration, or honors admission.
ACTION PLAN
What to do right now — by grade
Whether you are the student or the family member — here is what matters this summer.
Rising seniors — and families of rising seniors (Class of 2027)
June through August is your testing decision window — not the fall. Here is what needs to happen now:
- Identify your college list and each school’s current testing policy. Do not assume — policies have been shifting and need to be verified.
- Decide now whether one final SAT or ACT sitting could materially improve your options. The August SAT and September ACT are the last clean windows before Early Action and Early Decision deadlines hit in October and November.
- Finalize your college list and avoid treating public flagships as automatic safeties. Application volume is still high, and many schools that once felt predictable are no longer so.
- Start essays now — not in September. The testing decision and the essay strategy are both part of the same summer window.
9th through 11th graders — and their families
The lesson from 2026 is not that every student must chase a perfect score. The lesson is that keeping testing options open creates more flexibility later — especially for students considering selective private colleges or out-of-state universities.
That means understanding where a student may realistically test well, building that awareness into a larger application plan, and not waking up junior or senior year without a strategy. The earlier families start thinking about this, the more options they tend to have.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY — SUMMER 2026
Walk into August with a testing plan — and a college list to match.
We are opening a limited number of complimentary 30-minute College & Scholarship Strategy Consultations this summer. In your session, our team will:
✓ Review your student’s current test scores and decide whether submitting, withholding, or retesting makes the most strategic sense
✓ Evaluate the college list school by school — including which schools to treat seriously and which “safeties” may not be as safe as assumed
✓ Outline a clear summer game plan so the fall does not start in scramble mode
30 minutes · Complimentary · Limited spots available · No commitment required
The families — and students — who come out ahead in this admissions cycle are the ones making strategic decisions now, not in September.
To Your Success,
Drs. Jeff and Brian Haig
Strategic College Consulting · Former UCLA Scholarship Admissions Readers
P.S. If your student is a rising junior or younger, forward this to a family with a rising senior — and schedule a complimentary consultation here to start building a testing and college list strategy that fits exactly where your student is right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should my student submit SAT or ACT scores to test-optional schools in 2026?
It depends on the score relative to each school’s admitted-student range. If the score falls within or above that range, submitting it can strengthen the application by reinforcing academic readiness. If it falls meaningfully below, withholding it is often the smarter move. The decision should be made school by school — not as a blanket rule.
Are more students submitting SAT and ACT scores in 2026?
Yes. New data from the 2025-26 admissions cycle shows that the share of applicants submitting test scores increased by 11% year over year, while the share choosing not to report scores declined by 4%. Even as most schools remain test-optional, applicant behavior is shifting toward submission.
Does the University of California consider SAT or ACT scores?
No. The University of California system does not use SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions. Students applying primarily to UC campuses should not build their strategy around testing. However, students applying to selective private universities or out-of-state public flagships may benefit from strong test scores even in a test-optional framework.
What does test-optional actually mean for admissions in 2026?
Test-optional means a college will not penalize students for not submitting scores — but it does not mean scores are ignored when submitted. Most test-optional schools will still consider a strong score as a positive data point. It is not the same as test-blind, where scores are not considered at all.
When should a rising senior take the SAT or ACT?
For the Class of 2027, the August SAT and September ACT are the last clean testing windows before Early Action and Early Decision deadlines arrive in October and November. Rising seniors who have not yet reached their target score — or who are undecided about submitting — should make that decision and register this summer, not in the fall.
Should 9th, 10th, and 11th graders worry about testing now?
Not urgently — but they should plan ahead. The lesson from 2026 is that keeping testing options open creates more flexibility later, especially for students considering selective private colleges or out-of-state universities. Understanding where a student may realistically test well, and building that into a larger application plan early, is always better than scrambling junior or senior year.
About the Authors This post was written by the advisory team at Strategic College Consulting in Irvine, California. SCC was founded by Dr. Jeff Haig, a former UCLA Scholarship Admissions Reader and District Chair with over 25 years of college admissions experience. SCC’s advisory team includes Dr. Brian Haig, a former UCLA Scholarship Admissions Committee member who brings an additional dimension of insider knowledge to every family we serve. Together, our team brings 30 combined years of UCLA admissions committee experience to students and families across Orange County and nationwide.
Strategic College Consulting · Irvine, California · 949.679.3333
