There is, however, not a single qualifying score. This is because the PSAT wants to have students from each state represented; it canā€™t be all Texans and no Nebraskans for example. Thus, there are a certain number of spaces allotted to each state, based on their number of high school graduates (note that this is based on graduates, not the number of students who took the PSAT).

Based on these numbers, a score is determined to see which students are semi-finalists. This score varies for different states. Students who score above a 210 are commended, students who score above their stateā€™s cutoff line become semifinalists, and are eligible to apply for scholarships. You can find more information on how this works in our article on the PSAT.

Here are the score cutoffs for the PSAT, as released by the . These are the cutoffs for 2026 and 2025, to give you some context for these scores.

What Do The PSAT Score Cutoffs Mean?

This is a lot of numbers, but we can draw out some broader trends by examining them. The first and most obvious point is that scores increased almost across the board from the 2025 cutoff scores to the 2026 cutoff scores. There are a few exceptions which remained static, but only New Mexico saw a decrease. 

Normally, we would expect to see a range of increases and decreases, as random chance and statistical variance play out. A pattern like this indicates the test got easier somehow; looking back to the 2024 cutoffs and comparing them to the 2025 numbers indicates this is the second straight year where this has happened.

It is uncertain if the PSAT is making tests easier on purpose, or if they are simply experimenting with format. The difficulty of tests does generally change a bit year to year; ones like the AP exam balance around this to keep score distributions static, but the PSAT doesnā€™t. 

We anticipate that next yearā€™s PSAT will be slightly more difficult, unless the testing organization has decided that having an easier test and higher scores (and thus higher cutoffs) is in their best interest. They do point to this year as a historic achievement, with the highest testing cutoffs in history for some states. Whether this is a sign of things to come, or simply bragging for the sake of it, remains to be seen.

The other major thing that jumps out from these numbers is how much cutoffs vary from state to state. The most competitive states have cutoffs just under the maximum theoretical score of 228; you can only miss a handful of questions on the test in these states if you want to qualify. 

There is no discussion from the testing service itself why some states are so much more competitive than others, but looking at historical data, the same few states are the most competitive each year. If you live in one of these states, you are going to need to do more work in preparing for the PSAT if you want a chance at a competitive score for the National Merit Scholarship.

PSAT Score Cutoffs and You

Looking at these score cutoffs can show you what scores you need to attain or aim for when taking the PSAT if you want to earn merit scholarships. While the exact cutoff points change every year, it is helpful to know just how competitive your state is, as this tends to stay consistent. 

We do recommend studying for the PSAT. Maybe not as extensively as for the SAT, but reviewing the material and questions, even if briefly, can provide a significant benefit to your scores. The cutoff for commendation remains consistent at 210, regardless of what the cutoffs are for qualifying as a semifinalist, and this alone is a nice perk to have, a gold star for an academic achievement.

In addition, studying for the PSAT now will reduce the amount of studying you need to do for the SAT later, so long as you approach studying for the PSAT in an organized and aware manner. Studying over a longer duration helps with the understanding of material, and lets you build better habits. It also reduces anxiety when it comes time to actually sit for the test, since youā€™ve quite literally seen it all before. 

You cannot change what state you are in, or how competitive it is for PSAT score cutoffs. In consolation, there is something of a correlation between states with higher cutoffs and states with more renowned public universities, though this is not causative, there are benefits to living in these states, even if you face more competition at this stage. 

Final Thoughts

The PSAT is part of many studentā€™s time in high school, just as the SAT and ACT later form part of their college admissions experience. It isnā€™t necessarily fun; most students donā€™t enjoy sitting and doing a test for a few hours, but it is valuable, both in its own right and as a precursor for the SAT.

We hope that this article has shown you how score cutoffs for the PSAT scholarship work, and what they are for the current season. The PSAT isnā€™t something many students think about, but it can be a great opportunity to earn scholarships for college. If you are interested in learning more about the PSAT, or want help in preparing for it, then ³Ō¹Ļ¹ŁĶų can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more; weā€™re always happy to hear from you. 

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In this article, weā€™re going to first look at what their new system is, and then how this can impact you and your application to Caltech, and if this will have any strategic implications. Weā€™re also going to look at what impacts this might have for the broader admissions landscape, and how this may impact the role of standardized tests in admissions. Letā€™s jump right in!

How is Caltech Changing Their Use of Standardized Test Scores?

Caltech is one of the colleges which quickly returned to requiring the submission of standardized test scores after the Covid-19 pandemic. They see a clear correlation between how students perform on these tests and the grades they get at Caltech; since one of their goals is to admit students who will succeed in their school, this is of course highly important to them.

This has created a perception amongst students that they need perfect scores in order to apply to and attend Caltech; discouraging some very qualified students from even applying. Caltech has noted this, and thus their new system has been created. In this system, scores are divided in the following ways:

• Scores between 780-800 on the SAT and 35-36 on the ACT will be put into bucket A
• Scores between 750-770 on the SAT and 33-34 on the ACT will be put into bucket B

The scores in bucket A are the ones which correlate with the best academic performance at Caltech once admitted; they see slight differences in perfect and near perfect scores, but not enough to be hugely relevant or impactful. Thus, they feel confident in lumping them together in a single bucket.

Bucket B scores do not perform quite so well as those of bucket A, but still show only a relatively small decrease in grades once they reach Caltech. There is a difference, yes, but a small enough one to not be terribly important to them. 

In this new system, students who have scores on individual test sections that fall into these ranges will only have what bucket they are part of shown to admissions officers, without differentiated scores. Students scoring below the cutoff will have their full score for that section will have that score given directly to admissions officers. 

Thus, a student scoring an 800 on math and a 720 on reading would be presented to a Caltech admissions officer as being in Bucket A for math, and scoring a 720 for reading. Similarly, a student who scores a 34 on the math section of the ACT and a 32 on reading will be labeled simply as Bucket B for math, and have their reading score given to admissions officers. 

Caltech goes out of their way to note that test scores remain one small part of what they consider when making admissions decisions, and are far from the only thing they want from high achieving students. The scores you get are important, yes, but they are not the only thing which matters. 

How Does This Impact You?

So Caltech is changing how they review test scores; how does this impact your own application to the school (it doesnā€™t impact you at all if you arenā€™t applying of course)? This depends on several factors, the most important being the score you got on your standardized tests.

The buckets they have set out, and the scores they have chosen to include, send a clear message of what standards they have for applicants, and what they want to see from students to be considered competitive. You do not need to score within one of these brackets to get in of course; but they are clearly delineating what they expect from top applicants in a way most universities have not done. 

That said, if you scored within one of the buckets for math or science, but not for reading, then you may still consider attending. Caltech does technically offer a liberal arts core to their curriculum, but they are first and foremost a school focused on the STEM subjects. This is part of the reason why they break things down by section, instead of simply putting your combined score into a bucket. 

Caltech also superscores their tests, making targeted studying and retaking a very good option, especially if you are on the borderline for one section. Moving up ten points in the SAT is often only a difference of a few questions right or wrong, but now can make all the more difference. Thus, students who are on this border should consider retaking these tests.

Finally, you canā€™t forget to neglect the rest of your Caltech application. Yes, this is a change, and does indicate how seriously they take standardized test scores. That said, they go out of their way to point out this is not all they want; far from it. Test scores high enough to get into one of these buckets will get you considered as an applicant, but it is the rest of your application which will decide your eventual success. 

What Does This Say ³Ō¹Ļ¹ŁĶų Standardized Test Scores Generally?

This move is specific to Caltech, but can tell us something about how colleges view and use standardized test scores generally in their admissions process. Also, depending on how well this process works for Caltech, we may see other universities adopting their methodology; universities often follow each other in admissions trends, especially if they see something working well.

The first thing this tells us is why colleges put such a premium on test scores in admissions. There is some desire for them for their own right; anything which gets factored into US News rankings automatically becomes important. They are also important, however, as a signaller for a studentā€™s academic potential, to demonstrate if they are ready to succeed at a collegiate level.

Every high schoolā€™s courses and grades are different, so a student getting excellent high school grades may not be indicative of their overall academic preparation. Standardized tests are, however, standardized, and give admissions officers something of a universal ruler with which to measure students. This is far from perfect of course, but is better than nothing. 

Most interesting are the test score ranges Caltech chose for their new bucket system. Colleges have long boasted about having high average test scores, but weā€™ve never before seen such a clear indication of what scores a college wants from applicants. Now, Caltech does say that you can get in with lower scores, but this is about as clear as they can get in signalling what they are looking for. 

Now, what each college wants is different, so this is no guarantee that all top colleges want scores in the exact same range as Caltech. It is a sign, however, of what these colleges expect from top students, and just how competitive they expect applicants to be academically. 

A Note on Dartmouth

We do want to give one final note on this, from another top school which gives insight into how they look at test scores. specifies that your test scores are not examined in the context of applicants as a whole, but in the context of your high school. This means your scores may be much more competitive than you think when you simply look at the raw numbers. 

These are two different ways to approach the same problem of using test scores in admissions, and finding the students who are best equipped, through academic preparation and motivation, to take on the challenges of college. Each school follows their own internal guidelines on this, but we hope more release disambiguation like Caltech and Dartmouth; weā€™ll be sure to update you as and when they do.

Final Thoughts

Standardized tests have long been part of the admissions process, and look to remain integral to college applications for a long time to come.Caltech has introduced a new wrinkle, but in many ways this is a good thing, clearly articulating to students what they want, and what they expect. While these expectations are high, having this level of clarity from colleges is rare, and we applaud it when it happens.

The thing students need to worry about now is meeting Caltechā€™s high expectations, for test scores and otherwise. If you are looking for help getting your own test scores up, then we can help. Our test prep experts know exactly how to help students reach their maximum potential for the SAT and ACT; students we work with see an average SAT score increase of 180 points. Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn more about how we can help you with this, or any other aspect of Caltechā€™s application process. Weā€™re always happy to hear from you.

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In this article, weā€™re going to explore what this test is, how it works, and how it compares to its better known counterparts. Our goal is to help you understand this as an option, and to determine if itā€™s a good choice for you and your goals to take this test. Letā€™s jump right in!

The Classic Learning Test

This is a much more recent test than its compatriots, having first been developed in 2015. It was specifically designed as an alternative to the SAT and ACT, and seeks to assess the same basic skills. 

The CLT has three sections: 

• Verbal Reasoning
• Grammar & Writing
• Quantitative Reasoning

As with the SAT and ACT, there is an optional essay section, though just as most colleges do not require the essay from those tests, most do not require it here either. The test may be administered either at home or in school, and is done online, with remote proctoring used to ensure academic honesty. 

The test takes two hours to complete. The goal of the test, according to , is to measure a studentā€™s intellectual capacity and aptitude, rather than a mastery of specific material. The test costs $69 to take, but it is free to send scores to colleges. The CLT is scored from 0-120, and they index their scores by to SAT and ACT scores. 

In general, the questions asked by the test are comparable to those asked by the SAT and ACT; to read a passage and find key points, to solve math equations, and to demonstrate your understanding of grammar and syntax. 

The largest difference between the CLT and its peers are the passages it draws from for students to analyze. While the SAT and ACT tend to draw from contemporary sources, the CLT takes its passages entirely from classic works of literature, with a specific focus on Christian thinkers and authors. This is due to the core philosophy of the CLT being a focus on classical literature, indeed, this is why the test is named the way it is. 

The Classic Learning Test and Colleges

Unlike the SAT and ACT, the CLT is far from being universally accepted. They have partner colleges, but this is still a small fraction of the total number of universities in the US. 

The schools which do accept the CLT tend to be small Christian universities, though the state of Florida has also decided to accept the test in its public university systemā€™s admissions. This is likely due to how new the CLT is; only having been introduced a decade ago, it is far from the universal acceptance of the SAT or ACT.

For the schools which do accept it, it functions much like the SAT or ACT in admissions, being weighed the same way. While the CLT claims to be a better indicator of a studentā€™s intellectual aptitude than the other tests, it is not held in any higher or lower regard by the colleges which accept it. 

Should You Take the Classic Learning Test?

In general, we do not advise students to take the CLT. This is not because of any inherent flaws with it as a test, but as a matter of practicality; quite simply, not enough universities accept it, and it offers no major structural advantages over its competitors. Thus, any student taking the CLT would also have to take the SAT or ACT, and their time would be better spent preparing for one of those tests. 

This is a cyclic issue; colleges donā€™t accept the test because not many students take it, and students have no reason to take the test until it is more broadly accepted by colleges, especially top colleges. This is unfortunate for the company which administers the test, but such is often the case when a new player enters a well established industry. 

Unless the CLT begins offering something which the other tests do not, it is unlikely to ever gain widespread adoption. This is always the case with companies which seek to enter or disrupt a well-established market. 

An example of how this can work well is Duolingoā€™s English proficiency test. A relatively young company, Duolingo was competing against the likes of TOEFL and IELTS, both well-established English proficiency tests, accepted near-universally by universities. What Duolingo did, what set them apart, was that they offered their test fully online, without the need for a long registration ahead of time or the need to travel to a testing center. 

This set Duolingo apart from its competitors, and drew students to it, even if it wasnā€™t accepted by as many colleges immediately. Colleges took note, and the more students who took the English proficiency test, the more colleges accepted scores from it, alongside TOEFL and IELTS. While it is still not universally adopted, Duolingo English proficiency scores are now accepted at a majority of colleges, including top schools. 

Standardized tests are and remain an important part of the admissions process, with colleges using them as a set benchmark by which to judge students. The Classic Learning Test is another such test, though it is far newer and less widely accepted than its peers. 

Unless and until the CLT manages to offer something the others tests do not, it is unlikely to be widely adopted, by either colleges or students. While there is nothing wrong with it as a test, we do not recommend students take it, as your time would be better spent preparing for the SAT or ACT, which you will need to take even if you do consider the CLT. 

Final Thoughts

We hope this article has given you a thorough introduction to this test, and its place in college admissions. While we do not recommend students take it, it is an option for some students and universities, especially if you are only intending to apply to Christian colleges. As with every other standardized test, study and practice is the best way to maximize your score, and in so doing increase your chances of college acceptance. If you want help preparing for this or any other test, ³Ō¹Ļ¹ŁĶų can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can make your life easier.

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Whether you are planning on applying for an MBA, a doctoral program or some other masterā€™s program, there is a good chance you will end up needing to take the GRE. In this article then, weā€™re going to explain what this test is, how it works, and how you can prepare for it. Weā€™re also going to look into how itā€™s used in graduate admissions, and whether or not itā€™s something you will need to worry about dealing with. Letā€™s jump right in!

What is the GRE?

Founded in 1936 by the , the GRE was and remains a metric by which schools attempt to measure a studentā€™s reasoning, writing, and critical thinking skills, especially those developed over a long period of time, such as during college. How much graduate programs care about this varies by both college and program; some view it as a mere formality, while others place a significant amount of weight on these scores.

The test is offered primarily in a computerized format, and must be taken at an official testing center. The test consists of six separate sections; the first is always the writing section; the other five are two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and an experimental section. The experimental section does not count towards your final score, but is not distinguishable from a scored section. It may be either verbal or quantitative. 

The GRE is an adaptive test; you may shift between questions freely within a section, but your performance on one section impacts the next, so doing well on your first verbal reasoning section gets you a harder one for the second section, while performing worse will get you an easier one. The only way to attain the maximum score is to take the harder version. 

The entire testing procedure lasts approximately three hours and forty-five minutes. A one minute break is offered after each section, with a ten minute break after the third section. As with most tests of this kind, outside materials are not allowed in the testing center; lockers are generally provided for phones and other sundry materials you bring with you. 

There is a paper version of the test available, but is used less often. It is not adaptive, and does not include an experimental section; instead the writing section is split in two. 

The Verbal Section

The verbal section tests reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and vocabulary. Each section of this portion of the test consists of 20 questions, to be completed in 30 minutes. In general, each section has the following breakdown of questions: 

• Six on text completion
• Four on sentence equivalence
• Ten on critical reading questions

This is general, the exact numbers may vary slightly on different versions of the test. In earlier versions of the test there was more of an emphasis on rote knowledge of vocabulary, but the GRE moved away from that. Some of the questions allow for the selection of multiple correct answers. This section is scored from 130-170, on 1 point increments. 

The Quantitative Section

The quantitative sections test knowledge and reasoning skills you are expected to have learned in secondary level math and statistics courses. Each section consists of 20 questions, which are to be answered in 35 minutes. An on-screen calculator is provided in the computerized test, this is a simple calculator, made to speed the process of division or finding square roots. They note that you will not need the calculator for most questions, and should not use it simply because it is there. In general, each section has the following breakdown of questions: 

• Eight quantitative comparisons
• Nine problem solving
• Three on data interpretation

The topics covered by the GRE do not go beyond those you would cover in Algebra II, and do not require knowledge of calculus. You will also not be required to perform proofs on these tests. The subjects you will find questions on are: 

• Arithmetic, including factorization, exponentiation, roots, estimations, absolute value, and other concepts
• Algebra, including operations, functions, equation solving, linear equations, quadratic equations, graphs of functions, systems of linear equations, and other concepts
• Geometry, including shapes, area, circumference, volume, parallelism, pythagorean theorem, angles, degrees, and other concepts
• Statistics, including mean, median, mode, range, standard deviations, charts and plots, probability, counting method, and other concepts

This section is scored from 130-170, in one point increments. Some questions are multiple choice, while others require you to fill in a numeric entry. 

The Analytical Writing Section

This section consists of a single essay, referred to as the ā€œissue task.ā€ This is to be written on the computer, using a special program designed by the GRE. This is an extremely basic word processing program, and does not include a spell checker. You are not judged overly harshly on grammar or spelling, but your writing is expected to be clear and well constructed. Your essay is scored from 0-6 in half-point increments by two readers. If the scores are within a point of each other, they are averaged out; otherwise a third reader is called in to review. 

For the issue task, you are given 30 minutes to write an essay about a specific topic. You can find the entire pool of these topics on the ; note that you will be required to provide an email address to access these. Which topic you are asked to respond to varies by test, but it will be one of the ones from this pool. 

How to Prepare for the GRE

The GRE themselves offer a significant amount of study materials (for a fee of course), along with official . We do advise making use of the practice tests; the form and format of the exam is somewhat odd, and getting used to that alone will save you a great deal of grief later on. 

For general studying, you should have learned all of the content and concepts covered by the GRE in high school or college. This is not a test like the MCAT, designed to quiz you deeply on esoteric and complex fields. Instead, the goal is to try and measure your skill as an analytical thinker, and determine if you have learned through college to think critically and analyze what you read and encounter. 

Some subject review may be necessary; if you focused on a math heavy field then reviewing the form and format of the verbal section and written arguments will be helpful, while students in the humanities may need a refresher on math skills they were once familiar with, but not called to exercise for some time. 

In general, we advise a strategy similar to the one we lay out in our secrets of test prep article. Take a practice test to determine where your weaknesses are, and then focus in on them specifically while studying. This way you get the maximum possible returns for your effort, and donā€™t waste time mastering that which you already know. You should take practice tests periodically, both to acclimate yourself to the format of the test and to make sure that your studying is taking you in the right direction.

Will You Need to Take the GRE?

Whether or not you need to take the GRE, and how important it is, depends on what you intend to do in graduate school. Some law schools and medical schools accept the GRE, but most prefer their own specified test. Most other graduate programs require the GRE, in the US and for some schools in Canada. Programs in Europe may or may not; this depends entirely on the school and program in question. 

If you are planning on applying to a graduate program, then you should take the GRE. The point is so that schools have some kind of benchmark against which to compare candidates who had very different undergraduate experiences. Note that different programs weight these scores differently, even within a school. MBA programs prefer to see very high scores, while engineering programs are more flexible with what they accept. 

Programs in the humanities tend to only look at your scores on verbal sections, while those in the sciences only look at your quantitative scores, though the extent of this varies a lot by school and program. 

You must schedule your test . Tests are generally given in testing centers, though there are now options for at-home testing. You may take the test up to five times in a 12 month period. These tests must be at minimum 21 days apart. Tests are offered continuously through the year, though availability may vary by location. We recommend scheduling your tests well in advance, to make sure seats are available. 

It takes 8-10 days for scores to come out, so if you intend to enter graduate school directly out of undergrad, then you should plan on testing during your junior year, or in the summer between junior and senior year. This means you should begin studying around six months in advance, to be sure you are well prepared. 

Final Thoughts

The GRE is a staple of those preparing for graduate education, and is even expanding its reach, as law schools are beginning to consider it alongside the LSAT as a viable option for evaluating applicants. We hope that this article has given you a solid introduction to the mechanics of this test, and what you can expect to experience when you take it.
Of course, preparing for these tests is never a simple task, even if you know what to expect from them. If you are looking for advice on your own preparations, or other guidance on applying to graduate schools, then ³Ō¹Ļ¹ŁĶų can help. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can make your life easier; we have helped a great many students find the perfect graduate program for them, and are always happy to hear from you.

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In this article, weā€™re going to go over the MCAT; what it is, why it matters, and how you can prepare for it. Doing well on the MCAT is a key component of preparing for medical school, and all aspiring physicians will need to grapple with this exam (with a few notable exceptions). Letā€™s get started!

What is the MCAT anyway?

The Medical College Admission Test () is a computer based exam for students interested in medicine. It is required by both MD and DO programs, for schools in the US, Canada, and some parts of the Caribbean. The test is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges () a nonprofit organization composed of medical schools, teaching hospitals, and scientific societies.

The MCAT has been reformatted numerous times in its history, most recently in 2015; with the current form of the exam projected to be used until 2030. While the number of sittings varies each year, it is generally more than 25. The test is only administered at official testing centers.

The exam consists of four sections. These are: 

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions, 90 minutes)
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions, 95 minutes)

Each of these sections is scored from 118-132, yielding a total combined score of 472-528. The average score of all test takers is 500-502, while the average score of students who enroll in MD programs is 511-512. The questions are multiple choice for all sections, and the passages used are predetermined. Unlike the GRE, the difficulty of the test does not vary in response to your performance on it. That said, the grading on the exam is scaled; some questions are harder than others, and are worth more if you get them correct, or cause lower penalties if you miss them.

The test takes seven and a half hours in total. Scores are released after a period of approximately thirty days after taking the test. If you feel you are performing badly on the test, you may cancel it at any time during taking, or for a five minute period after you finish. The test will not be scored, and your results on it are not reported. 

You may take the MCAT a maximum of three times in a year, and a maximum of seven times in total. You may only register for a single testing date at once, and must wait two days after taking a test to register for another sitting. There is no cost to see your scores, or to send them to a medical school.

Accommodations

As with all other standardized tests, medical accommodations are available for the MCAT. AAMC has on how to apply for them. To sum it up: submit your requests early, be certain what accommodations you will need, and have documentation from a medical professional to submit supporting your request.

What the MCAT Covers

Overall, the MCAT is meant to test your knowledge of specific scientific concepts. This is a test of knowledge, focusing on the core concepts you will need in order to succeed in medical school. Each of the four sections covers slightly different material and concepts, and weā€™ll go over each in turn. 

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

This section, as the name suggests, covers how physics and chemistry provide the foundations for biological systems and interactions. Note that includes both stricter physics and chemistry questions, and questions which directly relate to biochemistry. You will also need an understanding of research methods and statistical analysis for this section.

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills 

This section is one of the harder ones for many students, as it is the least content based, instead focusing on reading comprehension and passage analysis. Passages can come from a range of disciplines, and many will have no relation to science. The passages are generally chosen to be on topics unfamiliar to the reader, and may be biased. All of the information needed to answer the questions is in the passages, but deep analysis of the passages may be needed.

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

This section has some overlaps in material with Chemical and Physical Foundations. It mainly tests biology and biochemistry, but some questions also deal with organic and inorganic chemistry. Questions will cover biomolecules, biological processes in living systems, and research methods and statistics.

Psychological, Social and Biological Functions of Behavior

This section, as the name suggests, mainly tests concepts of psychology and sociology. The goal is to have you demonstrate an understanding of the behavioral and societal factors in health. Questions cover behavior, perceptions, and how cultural and societal differences influence health.

All of the sections besides the second are designed to make you work with concepts you have learned, and to test whether you can draw connections between related concepts. They also want to test your ability to draw conclusions and understand experiments. Some questions will require you to parse graphs and other figures, and to use the information in them to draw conclusions.

When to Take the MCAT

Most students take the MCAT during their junior year, usually in fall or winter. That said, when you should take it depends on when you plan on applying to medical school. You need to have your MCAT scores before you apply, both to understand your chances and to ensure your application is reviewed promptly when you submit it, without schools needing to wait for your scores. 

In general, we recommend taking the MCAT the year before you apply, studying in the fall and taking it in the winter. We recommend taking the test as few times as possible, and making sure you are well prepared before you sit for the exam. 

How to Prepare for the MCAT

The general concepts you will need to know for the MCAT will be covered by your science courses at college. Indeed, this knowledge is what is covered in the courses required to be a pre med student. Thus the first way you prepare for the MCAT is by mastering the material covered in these courses, specifically biology, physics, and chemistry.

Of course, you should also prepare for the MCAT itself. The MCAT is one of the most important components of your medical school application, and doing well is very important. You want to have a mastery of all of the concepts you will need, and familiarity with the format of the exam as well. 

There are of out there to help with content mastery, and we suggest you begin there. As with the SAT, you want to master the content covered by the questions first, because without that mastery, you can do nothing more than guess. Once you have done this though, we suggest moving on to testing strategy. 

The MCAT is a very long and involved test, and requires a measured approach. We suggest beginning with a solid study schedule, and a systematized approach to your preparations. This ensures you cover all the material you need to, and do so in time before the testing dates. The schedule can and should be altered if certain sections prove to be more or less challenging for you. 

We suggest taking full practice exams. This does not have to be constant, but does offer you the most accurate assessment of where you stand in terms of preparation, and what sections you need the most work on. It also lets you know where you stand in regards to timing, something many students struggle with. 

Finally, even as you are preparing, donā€™t let it consume all your time. You still have other coursework and obligations to take care of, and that includes an obligation to yourself. The risk of burnout is real, and is something to avoid. We recommend building days and times into your preparation for the MCAT to relax and blow off steam.

Do You Have to Take the MCAT?

Generally, yes, if you want to be a doctor. There are a few exceptions however. The primary one is BS/MD programs. Some of these programs will allow you to enroll directly in medical school without having to take the MCAT. Others, however, require you to take the MCAT, and score within a certain range, or at a certain percentile. There is no consistency in these programs on these requirements however, and you should research whatever program you join carefully to make sure of what you will need in regards to the MCAT. 

Final Thoughts

While applications to medical schools are holistic, considering many different factors, the two most important remain your undergraduate GPA and your scores on the MCAT. This single test is therefore a constant source of stress for students preparing for medical school, who must spend long hours studying and preparing for it. 
We hope this article has covered what you need to know about the test, when to take it, and how to go about preparing for it. This is a long process, and you donā€™t have to do it alone. If you want to hear how our test prep services can help you study for the MCAT, schedule a free consultation today. Weā€™re always happy to hear from you.

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But what is the LSAT? Itā€™s a test sure, but all tests have their own unique quirks and challenges, and the LSAT is no different. In this article, weā€™re going to explain what the LSAT is, what kinds of questions it asks, and how you can go about preparing for it efficiently. Letā€™s get started!

Understanding the LSAT

The Law School Admissions Test (which is almost always just abbreviated to LSAT) is administered by the , which, as the name implies, is a coalition of law schools which got together to set common standards for admission. This makes sense; law schools all want similar things from students, and by working together, they can ensure that graduates from any accredited law program are equally equipped to practice law. 

Some law schools do allow you to take the GRE in place of the LSAT, though this is less common, and the LSAC advocates against doing this. 

The test is only administered in-person. There was a brief period during Covid when it was offered digitally, but this was considered a failed experiment, and they returned firmly to in-person testing thereafter. 

The test is administered six times each year. The tests are administered digitally and in person, you must find a testing center near you in order to take the LSAT. The test is administered on tablets which are located at the testing center, as with many such tests, you cannot use your personal computer to take it. 

LSAT Format

The test itself consists of four multiple choice sections. Each of these contains 35 questions. One is an unscored experimental section; you are not told which is the experimental section, and you are encouraged to do your best on every portion of the test. 

There is an unscored writing sample at the end of the test. You do not need to complete this, but many students do. This writing sample is sent to law schools along with your test scores; some use it in their admissions process, while others do not. We recommend doing it, as the majority of law schools consider it to some extent. 

The multiple choice sections consist of two logical reasoning sections, and one reading comprehension section. The experimental section can be of either type of these; it is not marked in any way. 

The logical reasoning sections each contain 24-28 questions. Each question begins with an argument or set of facts (leading to this sometimes being called the ā€œargumentā€ section). You are then asked to find the argumentā€™s assumptions, identify errors in the argument, find another argument with parallel reasoning, or choose a statement which would strengthen or weaken the argument. These sections used to also contain logic puzzles, but these have been removed from the test after a settlement with blind test-takers. 

The reading comprehension section consists of four passages of 4ā€“500 words apiece, with five to eight questions on each passage. These can be on any topic, but generally cover law, humanities, social sciences, or physical sciences. You are asked questions on the main idea of the passage, to find specific information, to draw inferences, or to describe the structure of the passage. 

The writing sample is presented as a decision prompt, where you are given a problem and two criteria for making a decision. You then write an essay where you argue for one of these options over the other. These are not on controversial subjects, but generally ask about a mundane issue about which you likely have no personal bias. There is no right or wrong answer to these questions, instead the point is to show how you craft and defend an argument, and how you are able to argue against a potential counter position. 

The scores on the LSAT are normalized, and put on a scale of 120 to 180. Adjusted scores lie on a bell curve, with the average score being around 151. Scoring at 165 would put you in the 90th percentile of test takers. The number of questions wrong doesnā€™t directly translate to score; the makers of the test decide beforehand how each will be equated.

There has been research done on how different college majors score on the LSAT exam. Note that these are only averages, but they do present an interesting set of data: 

After taking the test, but before scores are released, you have the option of cancelling your scores. This must be done within six days of taking the test. When you take the test, you select the law schools you want scores to be sent to, they are then sent automatically. Your scores become available online three to four weeks after you take the test.

If you had a significant issue during the test taking process, then there is an appeal committee you can submit complaints to. In very rare cases they have even canceled entire questions on the exam.

How to Prepare for the LSAT

Like with many other tests, studying for the LSAT ahead of time is a good idea, and can improve your performance on the test. The LSAC offers a number of official practice tests, and recommends students avail themselves of them. We advise this as well; LSAC does stand to benefit from students buying practice tests from them, true, but the questions and format of the LSAT are very different from most other tests youā€™ll encounter. 

Like with many tests, the most important part of practice tests is simulating the actual experience. We therefore advise doing at least one timed practice test in conditions as similar to the real test as you can manage. Give yourself the same amount of time, work straight through, and complete the test in an area which is quiet and free from distractions. 

Unlike tests like the MCAT, there is not much material you need to learn or master for the LSAT. Instead, the purpose of the test is to predict your grades for the first year of law school, and see your ability to comprehend and integrate information. Thus studying for the test, by necessity, means studying the specific kinds of questions that it asks. Luckily there are plenty of practice tests available; LSAC has released more than ninety.

When you start studying, and when you should take the LSAT, depends on when you plan on applying to law school. In general, we recommend you start studying six months before you take the test for the first time, and that you not take the test until you are comfortable with the format and the kinds of questions it asks. 

You may take the LSAT up to three times in a year, and up to five times in a two year period. Every score from the LSAT from a five-year period is given to law schools when you apply, along with an overall average of all scores you ever got on the LSAT. Generally, law schools only consider the highest score you achieved on the test. 

Final Thoughts

We covered how applying to law school works in more detail before, and hope that this article has given you needed insight into one of the most important aspects of the law school application process. The LSAT is not quite as formidable as the MCAT, but it is still a very challenging test, and you should go into it knowing what is expected of you. 
As with all tests, studying lets you sit with confidence, knowing that you are prepared for the kinds of questions you will be asked. Of course, studying is a skill, one that takes time to master. If you are looking for help with your own LSAT preparations, or want to work with a test prep expert, schedule a free consultation with us to learn how we can help you. Our test prep experts have experience with every facet of these tests, and are well equipped to help you succeed. Donā€™t wait, weā€™re always happy to hear from you.

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Why Prepare for Standardized Tests over the Summer?

This is a common question. After all, school is done for the year, youā€™re free, why would you willingly return to math problems and analyzing written passages for meaning? There are two reasons, both important. The first is that studying works best if done over a long period of time, working knowledge and skills into your long-term memory. 

Itā€™s possible to cram for a test, sure, but then all that knowledge is lost just as quickly, and youā€™re starting from square one again next time. If you really master the knowledge over a longer period, then it’s all engrained, and you have a much firmer foundation when it comes time to prepare for the next test. Of course, the ideal is to only need to take the test once, but studying over a longer period is still more effective for this too. 

Second, the SAT and ACT are both meant to be based primarily on knowledge you learn in high school. How well they actually manage this is debated, but that is the intention. These skills, and everything else you learn in high school, is like any other skill; if you stop doing it for a while you get rusty. Just like a professional athlete still trains in the off-season to stay sharp, so too do you need to exercise your mental muscles during the summer. 

Now, many students do pursue challenging academic experiences over the summer, but the particular skills needed for these tests are something all their own. Test taking is itself also a skill, and what tends to make the academic experiences students pursue over the summer so excellent often also involves a lack of standard tests. Working in a research lab will teach you incredible things, but mastering the particularly finicky language used by the SAT or ACT isnā€™t one of them. 

Finally, the summer is a long length of time without school work. Even if you do have some significant other obligations, this is still far more free time to study then youā€™re ever going to have during the school year. It would be a shame not to make the most of it. 

How to Approach Summer Studying for the SAT and ACT

So studying for these tests during the summer is a good idea, even if it may not be your favorite thing to do (we get it; we help students prepare for these tests as a living and we understand just how aggravating they can be, even though all our students are fun to work with). How then should you approach this studying? 

We generally recommend two separate methods, either of which may be applied on its own, or in combination. The first, and simplest, is the bootcamp method. We operate these ourselves, and this takes the approach of having students study for a set period of time intensively. This is like any other intensive period of studying, and treats preparing for the SAT or ACT like a full high school course. 

This is often very effective, especially if you prefer to get all of your studying over with at once. If you do take this approach, we recommend doing so near the middle of the summer, and doing some studying outside of it. This is the best approach if you have taken the test before, and want to specifically target areas for improvement in order to increase your overall score. 

The other approach is to do a bit at a time each week; maybe an hour or so, working on specific skills or areas of weakness for you. This is easier to fit around a busy or shifting schedule, and lets you get in a consistent stream of work, even if you donā€™t have the same hard push to focus all at once. 

Both of these approaches are effective, which you use depends on your own studying habits and schedule. For more mechanical advice on preparing for the SAT and ACT see our article on the secrets of test prep. 

How to Study Around Other Obligations

Students are often quite busy over the summer. This is a good thing, something we encourage and enable for our own students and colleges like to see. That said, these activities can then make finding the time to devote to studying for the SAT or ACT a challenge, or sap you of energy for other pursuits. In this section then, weā€™re going to explore how to tackle this challenge, and how to fit in studying for standardized tests around a wonderfully full schedule. 

The first, and most important thing, is to figure out what your schedule actually is. This includes any and all of your planned activities, any plans for travel your family has, any work you need to do, and any obligations you need to set aside time for. We recommend making a schedule for the whole summer, block by block, week by week, to see where the ground lies. 

This is especially important because most summer activities donā€™t last for the full summer. An internship may last for eight weeks, a camp for six, and a vacation to somewhere tropical is always too short. Once you have marked out where all your time is already spent, you can clearly see what you have to work with. 

From here, you should try to fit test prep in a way that lets you work at your own pace, and in the manner that best suits your strengths. Here are some considerations: 

• You should try to study every week, even if itā€™s just for a little bit. Missing one week isnā€™t the end of the world, but building a consistent habit of studying makes it easier to stick to. 
• If possible, you should stick to the same or similar times each week. Schedules do change over the summer, so this isn’t always feasible, but itā€™s worth the attempt. 
• Try to set aside a few longer blocks of time for full practice tests. You shouldnā€™t do one every week, but doing one per month can help you track the progress of your studying, and measure what you still need to work on. 

Finally, you do not need to fill every waking hour with activities and work and test prep, though it can sometimes feel that way. You can and should take time to relax, to unwind, to hang out with friends and enjoy a brief period of life without school and the obligations it brings. This too you should add into the schedule, blocks of time with no planned obligations where you can simply be, and experience and enjoy the world around you. The summer is a time to learn and grow and explore, yes, but just as athletes take rest days in the middle of periods of intense training, so too do your mind and psyche need a break from time to time, and thereā€™s no shame in taking one.

Final Thoughts

Standardized tests remain optional at some colleges, while others now require them once more. We still urge all our students to study for and take these tests, as getting high scores can only help you, both in securing college admissions, and in landing excellent scholarship offers. Summer is an excellent opportunity for you to really take your scores on the ACT and SAT to the next level, and we encourage you to take advantage of that fact. 

Of course, studying for these tests is often a challenge. They arenā€™t formatted like any other test you take in high school and the questions they ask are generally completely different from what you see in classes, even if the material is the same. If you are looking for help preparing for your tests, and maximizing your score, then check out our test prep service. Our team of experts has years of experience, and students who work with us see score increases of 180 points on the SAT on average. Donā€™t wait, schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you.

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But what is adaptive testing, and how does it work? Should this change your study and test taking strategies? Are other tests going to use an adaptive model, and why has the SAT made this adjustment? Weā€™re going to explore the answers to all of these questions, so letā€™s dive right in.

Understanding Adaptive Testing

Put simply, adaptive tests are ones which react to your answers to previous questions. The degree of this reaction is varied, but generally performing worse on questions leads to you being provided with easier questions. This can be applied in different ways:

• The SAT has adaptive sections; how well you do on one section determines which second section you will get, either a slightly easier or slightly harder one.
• The GRE is fully adaptive, and questions get harder until you get one wrong, at which point you get easier questions.

This is possible because the tests are digital, and they are able to analyze your answers for accuracy in real time. This also allows for a greater variety in the questions asked; the SAT tests are composed from pools of questions to prevent cheating, but this also makes the adaptive elements more effective.

Exactly how many wrong answers will cause you to have one test or the other for the SAT is uncertain. Unlike the GRE, where a single wrong answer will cause you to start getting easier questions, the SAT is more flexible. Some questions are noted as being harder than others, and missing those has less of an impact. In general, you want to try to get everything right, but the model for how the test works is something of a black box.

Strategies for Taking Adaptive Tests

In many ways, adaptive tests are akin to non adaptive ones, and the same techniques you use to study for these tests already will work just as well. For a full guide on this, check out our article on the secrets of test prep. 

Test taking strategies can differ, due in part to the different nature of the tests. Digital tests simply operate in ways that physical ones do not. The lack of a physical test to flip through is one of the main differences. While scratch paper is available on request, you donā€™t have the booklet to write in, and canā€™t directly mark up passages or equations. 

You may or may not be able to flip between questions in a section before continuing. In the new digital SAT you can navigate within a section, but this is slightly more cumbersome than doing so on a physical test. If you do skip questions to come back to them later, we recommend noting these down on your scratch paper. You donā€™t want to accidentally not answer a question at all because you forgot which ones you skipped over. 

Some students believe that getting a few questions wrong on purpose in the earlier section will help them get a higher score, as the easier second section will boost their performance. This is not the case; the only way to achieve the highest scores is to take the harder of the two second sections; the easier one is just worth fewer points.

Finally, not all adaptive tests let you go back and review previous questions. While both the GRE and SAT do, some tests are fully adaptive, and change after each question asked and answered. 

Why Did the SAT Switch to Adaptive Testing?

There are many reasons, which they politely lay out in their of their new digital testing initiative. To sum up, here are their main points:

• Adaptive testing is faster. Because it more accurately assess a studentā€™s aptitude faster, they are able to shorten the test overall.
• Adaptive testing lessens the stress on students, and gives them questions better suited for their level.Ā 

There are some other reasons which we assume are true, though they are not stated explicitly by CollegeBoard. These reasons are:

• Capability. You cannot have an adaptive test except with a digital format. The SAT is taking advantage of their new digital format to experiment with new technological capabilities.
• Novelty. People like new things, and technology is a big part of that. Novelty is a virtue in itself for some, and is part of the appeal of this change.
• Finance. Grading the SAT was already automated, but having the entire process be fully computerized will save significantly on labor costs.

There are likely other reasons as well, but we do not claim to know the inner workings of College Board. This does raise the question of whether or not other testing services will follow their lead, especially the ACT, the main counterpart to the SAT. 

We believe they will do so eventually, though are going to wait and see how things go for College Board first. The two form a duopoly, and if the ACT can gain an advantage by maintaining a paper exam in place of digital, they are incentivized to do so. Consumer preferences are hard to predict, but greatly important to their bottom line. 

Also worth watching is whether or not College Board decides to make their other major property, AP tests, adaptive. The AP tests were digital during Covid, and suffered significant problems when doing so. In part this was due to the speed of the switch, without time to properly test the systems. This still left a bad impression among students, parents, and teachers.

However, College Board has maintained course, and announced that nine AP Exams were going to be in 2025. While they have not yet introduced adaptive testing for AP exams, as they increasingly digitize these offerings, we do think itā€™s likely to occur. 

Final Thoughts

Adaptive testing isnā€™t exactly new; the GRE has been doing it for a while now. That said, as more tests become digitized, we expect to see it spread to other areas of testing as well. Whether or not it will dramatically change the testing landscape remains to be seen, but we donā€™t think it will. 

Regardless of how itā€™s been changed, the SAT is still a key part of the college application process for many students, especially as more universities end their test optional policies. If you want help preparing for your own tests, schedule a free consultation with us today. Students in our test prep program see their scores improve by an average of 140 points, and we know all the tricks you need to ace these exams. 

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In this article, weā€™re going to look at data from a number of top universities, to see how many students who were admitted submitted the SAT or ACT. From this data, we will see what conclusions we can draw, and what this information means for you. Letā€™s get started!

Who Submitted Their Test Scores

All of this data comes from the Common Data Set. It is from the past admissions cycle, 2023-2024. For more information on what the Common Data Set is, see our article here.

Note that schools which do not accept standardized test scores at all, notably the entire UC system, are not included on this table. Note also that these percentages refer to admitted students only, not the overall rates at which students apply with scores from either test.

Do Schools Prefer You Submit Test Scores?

So what does all this data tell us? Thatā€™s a confusing picture, as not every school has the same priorities. There are a few trends we can see though, especially among the most competitive schools. In general, these schools admit a higher percentage of applicants who submitted test scores (any test scores) than those who applied without them. 

This seems counter to the point of having test optional admissions, but does make a degree of sense. Colleges only know what you tell them, and must evaluate your application based on the data available. More data provided allows them to create a fuller picture of you, and better determine if you are a good fit for their school. 

Thus while they may not actively prefer students who submit test scores, those who do are more likely to be seen as academically prepared for the coursework they will be doing at the college. Of course, there is also the possibility that these schools prefer students who submit test scores, even if they do not require them. Some schools state this explicitly, with policies like ā€œtest preferred,ā€ but others simply imply it. 

Finally, this is clearly not the case for every school mentioned above; many of them obviously admit more students who donā€™t submit scores than those who do. That said, we do still suggest to all our students that they take standardized tests, and submit their scores if they are within the range for that school. 

Do Colleges Actually Prefer the SAT?

The other thing that seems evident, looking at the table above, is that far more students, in general, are admitted who submitted the SAT than the ACT. This is interesting for a number of reasons, the most important being whether or not this shows colleges favoring applicants who submit SAT scores over those who submit ACT scores. 

Colleges say, explicitly and universally, that they do not have a preference for students who submit the SAT or ACT, and that both tests are viewed and judged equally. In the table above, however, it becomes glaringly obvious that most colleges admit significantly more students who submit SAT scores than ACT scores. 

Now, the SAT is popular than the ACT, with 1.9 million students taking the SAT and only 1.4 million taking the ACT in 2023. There is some overlap of course, as some students took both tests. The tests also have regional appeal, with some being more popular in of the country. None of this explains the massive gaps we see in uptake rate however. 

The minor popularity edge the SAT has does explain some of the difference, but certainly not all of it. Nor do regional variances in popularity; top schools actively seek to admit students from all over the country, so regional variances in the popularity of one test or another shouldnā€™t matter for most of these schools. 

Now, whether or not these colleges actually prefer students who submit the SAT is difficult to say for sure, but the data trends certainly seem to suggest that they do. We cannot verify this, as colleges are notoriously reticent about revealing anything about the inner workings of their admissions office. Even the latest revelations from the Harvard lawsuit disclosed nothing about a test preference. 

What Does This Mean for You?

When you are deciding which test to take, there are numerous important considerations. The most important, by far, is which one you can score best on; a higher score will always be better for you, regardless of which test you take. 

Next, you should always take a standardized test if you can, and should submit the scores if they are within the target range for a university, even if that school is test optional. While not all schools prefer students who submit scores, most do (even if they claim not to). Taking these tests will never hurt you, beyond the moderate discomfort that always comes with preparing for and taking exceptionally long exams. 

While you should generally prioritize whichever test gives you the best chance of performing well, if you are equally adept at both, this data suggests you should focus on the SAT. While colleges claim to not advantage one of these tests over the other, they have been known to be less than entirely honest when stating their preferences before. 

If you do have the choice on which test to focus on, we recommend prioritizing the SAT. The data suggests this is the test top colleges prefer to see from students, though the reason why remains uncertain. 

Final Thoughts

Standardized tests are only one of many metrics used by colleges to evaluate applicants, but they are an important one. Their universal usage and standardized nature makes them a useful barometer by which to judge students who have attended very different high schools and who have very different backgrounds. They are hardly the only point of comparison, but as the data shows, colleges do value them, and tend to slightly prefer students who have submitted these scores. 

We hope this article has given you insight into how and why colleges make the decisions that they do. If you are looking for more insight into how colleges evaluate applicants and applications, or you want help preparing for your own standardized tests, schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a deep knowledge of every aspect of college admissions, and are always happy to hear from you.

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But what scores do colleges expect to see, and what counts as a good score? Of course, getting a perfect score is ideal, but do any universities really expect that? In this article, weā€™re going to look at the average score ranges for top universities, and what their testing policies are. Weā€™re then going to give you some practical advice on using your own scores in the admissions process. Letā€™s get started!

Average Test Scores at Top Colleges

What we are going to be looking at specifically is the middle 50th percentile for these schools. This gives you a sense of the range of scores accepted at top schools. We will give you the scores of the 25th percentile of accepted students, and the 75th percentile. The percentile refers to the number of accepted students a hypothetical student with that score would perform better than. 

For example, Brownā€™s SAT range is 1520-1570. Thus if you applied with a score of 1520, you would have scored higher than 25% of the accepted students at Brown that year. In general, scoring in the 75th percentile or above means you are well qualified for a school, while scoring in the 25th percentile or below makes it more of a reach. This doesnā€™t make a school impossible; students did score lower than the 25th percentile and get accepted, it just requires other aspects of your application to be that much more impressive. 

Finally, we want to note that getting a test score within or above this range does not guarantee your acceptance to a top college. Every year, Ivy league schools reject thousands of students with perfect SAT scores. Getting high scores is important, and it does help your application, but it is only one component, and is not the only thing that colleges look at. 

With all that established, hereā€™s the test score ranges for top colleges, along with their test-optional policies (for the current year):

Finally, we should note that the UC schools do not accept and will not consider your standardized test scores. They are great schools, but need not be mentioned again in this particular discussion. 

What Does Test Score Data Tell Us?

The first thing which stands out is that perfect scores are not required to get into a top university. While score averages are clearly very high, none of the top schools expect perfect scores on the SAT; there are a few that average in the range of a 36 on the ACT, but even that is uncommon. This is something of a relief; you do not need to strive for perfection, merely for performing quite well.

The next thing of note is how similar the average scores are across different top schools. There is some slight variation, a few outliers, but in general, these schools have incredibly similar score profiles. This is perhaps unsurprising, but it is still interesting to see laid out so clearly. 

These schools are all drawing from the same pool of candidates, who often have similar levels of educational background, and score at a similar level on tests. This is perhaps unsurprising, but does show you whatā€™s required; if you want to be competitive at a top level university, you will need standardized test scores in this range as well. We recommend a score of 1500 on the SAT or a 34 on the ACT, and thatā€™s just enough to get you into the lower range of contention. 

A Note on Lower Scores

Of course, these scores are only the middle range; higher scores are understandably more competitive, but what of lower ones? How low of a score can you have and be competitive for a top school? 

This depends on who you are. One thing we have found is that many of the students in the lowest quartile are recruited athletes, who have strong scores generally, but who may not measure up; instead getting in on the strength of their athletic performance. These scores then skew the admitted student numbers, since they get in almost without a consideration of their scores, so long as they hit the benchmarks expected. 

Finally, some schools such as say that they consider scores in context; so if you have high scores relative to your high school, even if they are low compared to Dartmouthā€™s overall averages, they will help your application. Not all schools do this, but we commend Dartmouth for doing so.

Are Your Test Scores Competitive for a Top School?

This does depend a fair bit on where you want to apply, but letā€™s take a look at some example students, and see how different scores impact their college planning and applications, and where they end up attending. 

Student T

Student T came to us with a score of 34 on the ACT, and that was with a notably low 29 on the science section. Their goal was to get high enough scores to accomplish two goals: 

• To be competitive for admissions to top programs
• To qualify them for merit scholarships at other schools

To this end, we suggested they retake the test, especially given the clearly fixable weakness in the science section. Two months of focused effort later, and they got a 35, with a superscore raised to 36. This was high enough, in combination with the rest of their profile to get into a number of top universities, and to receive a number of merit scholarship offers from lower ranked schools. 

Student S

Student S began working with us early, after they did quite poorly on their first sitting of the SAT in their junior year. They suffered from test anxiety, and had struggled with PSAT as well. They began working one-on-one with our test prep experts to address specific concerns. 

We were able to raise their score by over 120 points, to 1450, by the time they took the SAT again. This was high enough for the target schools on their list to be competitive, and they were successful In their ED application to a top 40 school. 

Student A

Student A came to us in the fall of their senior year, with an SAT score of 1320. We began working with them on test prep, while also pursuing an application strategy to maximize their strengths. Student Aā€™s GPA was a 3.9/4.0, and they had a very impressive portfolio of extracurriculars, they simply did not have the test scores to compete at schools they would otherwise be qualified for. 

We helped student A evaluate a number of test optional schools, and apply to one ED without including their test scores. They retook the tests in November; the scores scheduled to arrive just before the January 1 deadline. In this case, they proved unnecessary; the student did noticeably improve their score, but was accepted ED before that became necessary. 

For You

Your own strategy needs to decide whether your scores are competitive where they are, and if not, what to do about it. You can work to improve your scores, select primarily test optional colleges, or some admixture of the two. We recommend playing to your strengths, and a lot of this depends on how well you test, and how much you think you will be able to improve your scores should you need to, either with help or on your own. 

Final Thoughts

Standardized tests were and are an important part of the college admissions process. The scores you get on these tests matter, especially as the period of near total test optional admissions at universities comes to an end. We hope that this article has given you important context on what scores are needed to compete for admission to a top university, and how to go about achieving them. 

Of course, both studying to improve your test scores and applying to top universities are difficult, especially when youā€™re working under the other pressures of your senior year in high school. Our test prep service is well suited to help students make the most of their test scores, while our application coaching specializes in finding the right strategy for your college applications. Schedule a free consultation with us today to learn how we can help you on your educational journey. 

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The post What Test Scores Do You Need to Get into a Top College? appeared first on ³Ō¹Ļ¹ŁĶų.