Where New York Stands on the Test Optional Trend

If you’ve noticed fewer teens stressing over SAT and ACT test dates lately, it's not your imagination. Test optional has become a thing across the country, and in some states, colleges are basically handing out hall passes for missing scores.

A new study from the team at GCU breaks down which states are all in on test optional and which ones still want the receipts, and New York’s spot on that list is pretty interesting.

New York Isn’t Exactly the Wild West of Test Optional

Here in New York, we’re somewhere in the middle of the pack. Many of our colleges have embraced test-optional admissions, especially after the pandemic shook up the system, but we’re not the most flexible state out there.

According to GCU, states with the highest share of test-optional or test-free colleges tend to also have fewer students taking the SAT or ACT in general. New York doesn’t quite follow that trend.

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Students here still take standardized tests at a pretty steady rate. Part of that comes from strong college-bound culture, part of it is tradition, and part of it is parents who still feel safer seeing a number on paper when the acceptance letters start rolling in.

What the GCU Study Found

GCU compared how many colleges in each state have gone test optional or test free and then lined that up with how many students are still sitting down for those long, dreaded bubble sheets.

Their takeaway was simple. States with lots of test optional colleges tend to have fewer test-taking students. States that haven’t loosened their admissions rules see the opposite.

New York lands somewhere in the middle. We’re not pushing tests as hard as some states, but we’re not handing out a full pass either. This shows how diverse our higher education landscape really is, from big SUNY campuses to small private schools that each have their own admissions standard.

What Does This Mean for New York Students?

New York students pretty much get to choose their own path. Some colleges here want scores. Some don’t. Some say “optional” and really mean it, while others lean a little harder on the numbers.

If you’re a New York student who doesn’t test well, the world is a lot more forgiving now. And if you do test well, that score can still help you stand out in a state where students are still taking the SAT or ACT.