Such schools make up more than two-thirds of the 2,330 undergraduate-degree institutions in the US. SAT (Educational Assessment Test) scores are commonly used by most US universities to evaluate students for undergraduate admissions.
This is the second year that the admission test in undergraduate programs will be blind. With SAT programs canceled in various parts of the world, top US universities continue to keep their doors open to those unable or unwilling to take the entrance exam.
The admission will be based on the “entirety” of their background, which has come as a great relief to the candidates. Experts expect the application numbers to increase. “Most universities in the US, including the Ivy League such as Harvard, Columbia and Cornell, waive the SAT and ACT (American college tests) for students who are applying for admission in fall 2022. The exemption was initially applicable to students who applied for fall 2021, but has now been extended to 2022 as well,” said international education advisor Karan Gupta. “Universities abroad recognize that examination centers are closed due to the pandemic and students may not have access to transport and, therefore, have extended their exemptions.”
Gupta recommended that candidates should now focus more on their academic and extra-curricular activities to prepare a strong application. “If students still manage to take the SAT or ACT, and score well, they should submit their score as it will positively impact their applications.”
The most recent of those to announce testing exemptions is Harvard University, which said, “Achievements within and outside the classroom during the high school years—including community participation, employment, and support given to students’ families—have been recognized by our However, students who find themselves limited in activities due to the current coronavirus outbreak will not be deprived as a result, and neither will students who only pass/fail grades or other similar on their transcripts Points are able to render.”
With standardized tests such as the SAT already under scrutiny, many American university presidents believed that test scores were not significant predictors of student success. The University of Massachusetts Boston said, “As a university, we believe that the ability of all students is not reflected by a standardized test score. In offering the no-test option, we encourage qualified academic applicants to highlight their qualifications.” In reviewing applications for 2022, Columbia University said, “In response to continued disruptions in standardized test availability due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Colombia is extending our test-optional policy by one year. Extending, which is effective for relocation and first year applicants in Colombia. College or Columbia Engineering for the Fall of 2022.”
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