After four long years, the pandemic has finally started to subside, leading to changes in the examination policies adjusted during this period. The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), which was canceled starting in 2020, is being reinstated by a growing number of international universities for the 2024 application cycle for 2025 enrollment. These institutions, including Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth, along with Caltech (formerly test-blind) and the flagship University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin), believe that standardized tests play a crucial role in evaluating application materials.

 

In recent statements, Dartmouth College shared data indicating that the combination of SAT scores and GPA provides a more objective measure for admissions officers to assess students' overall academic performance. Dartmouth emphasized the importance of standardized testing, especially the SAT and ACT, stating that these exams not only help make fair decisions but also provide disadvantaged students with stronger evidence for their applications. For students from underprivileged backgrounds who may lack immediate access to resources that could enhance their application portfolios, test scores and academic records serve as compensatory measures. Harvard University echoed similar sentiments, noting that not every student has the resources to participate in extracurricular activities or access AP courses in less affluent school districts. However, every child has the opportunity to excel in standardized tests, making these exams a fairer platform for competition. 

 

Moreover, the president of the University of Texas at Austin remarked that when multiple candidates have similar GPAs, SAT scores can significantly streamline the review process. Yale University supports reinstating standardized testing for similar reasons, arguing that high SAT or ACT scores enhance students' overall profiles. Like California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Yale believes that test scores provide admissions committees with more comprehensive information to quickly assess whether a student is academically prepared for the rigors of their programs. It is noteworthy that while reviewing applications, both test scores and academic records hold equal weight. Exceptional test scores will not compensate for a low GPA, nor will poor scores automatically disqualify an applicant. 

 

Additionally, internal data from UT-Austin and Yale indicate that students who submitted SAT scores generally outperformed their non-submitting peers in college, particularly in their first-year GPA. This highlights the importance of test scores as a key indicator of academic potential and future success for admissions officers. To enhance the fairness of holistic review processes, UT-Austin plans to implement measures to optimize the application process, reducing the stress of college admissions for students. As a result, students are advised to begin their preparations as early as possible to adapt to these evolving requirements. At the same time, it's important not to be overly anxious—taking breaks and doing things that bring joy will provide the strength to keep moving forward. 

 

閱讀中文版文章：標化考試捲土重來，諸多大學將SAT視為入學重要指標

 

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