Washington’s public universities will no longer require the SAT or ACT

UW would not require a standardized test score for admission for the incoming freshman class of 2021. On Tuesday, that policy became permanent at all of Washington’s public four-year institutions.

Beginning in fall 2021, UW, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College and Western Washington University will become permanently “test-optional.” Students can submit scores, but they won’t be penalized during the admissions process if they don’t; admissions officers say a high score might benefit a student who wouldn’t otherwise be offered admission, but typically scores won’t be used. And scores won’t determine students’ ability to earn scholarships or placement in university honors programs.

The pandemic made taking these tests practically impossible, but permanently ending testing requirements signals a profound shift in how universities think about who to admit, experts say.

“Washington is doing it now, which is terrific,” said Jon Boeckenstedt, vice provost for enrollment management at Oregon State University and the author of a higher education blog that focuses on data and university policies. “Essentially [along] the whole West Coast you don’t need standardized tests to apply to public universities.”

Source: https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/washingtons-public-universities-will-no-longer-require-the-sat-or-act-will-admissions-become-more-equitable/

https://councilofpresidents.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Test_Optional_Statement.pdf