A policy where submitting standardized test scores is your choice.
Test-optional means you decide whether to include your SAT/ACT scores. If you submit them, they are considered. If you do not, your application is reviewed without penalty. Over 1,800 US colleges are now test-optional, including many selective schools.
Myth: "Test-optional means test scores do not matter." Reality: At many test-optional schools, submitted scores are still a factor in admissions and merit aid. The policy gives you a choice, not a free pass.
Why it matters
Test-optional is not test-blind. If you have strong scores, submit them — they help. If your scores are below a school's middle 50%, withholding them lets the rest of your application speak. The key question: do your scores add to your story or detract from it?
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