Tufts has extended its test-optional pilot program to the admissions cycle of 2026. While the university continues its pandemic practice, Yale, Brown, and Cornell have all revived the standard. Yet, the more distanced I become from high school, the more I see how an exam-focused culture is detrimental to educational progress.
Standardized tests prioritize pattern recognition instead of broader intelligence. Educational theorist Peter Murrell argues that standardized tests give students “ready-made problems,” often compelling them to quickly pick an answer without understanding why they chose it. In contrast, college exams often require a deep understanding and application of concepts. It is insufficient to learn about tools, such as conjunctions and clauses, but be unable to apply them in one’s writing.
Beyond the inherent issue with the methodology of standardized tests, the format is wholly inequitable. Students who are naturally fast test-takers have an unfair advantage. The SAT affords students less than two minutes per question, which places slow test-takers in a difficult situation: One either speeds through a question or does not finish the exam. The metric once again ceases to measure the application of knowledge, instead focusing on secondary skills, such as time management and skimming. These exams prioritize brevity over profundity and disadvantage students who are more thorough in answering questions.
The disregard for nontraditional traits does not end with time constraints. Non-native English speakers are often punished by standardized exams. Reading comprehension and grammar sections often require students to meet standards that are difficult for non-native speakers to attain. Immigrant and international students must lift a heavier burden if they wish to have the same chance to succeed on test day. In a 2021 analysis, one prominent English language learner (ELL) coach said that “students need to perform at a certain language proficiency level to successfully complete a standardized assessment.”Acquiring this language proficiency can take years. If Tufts is to adhere to its commitments to equity, the university should break down barriers even further, not rebuild them.
Standardized tests often overlook other achievements. Because there is such a heavy emphasis on standardized tests, other student achievements are often overlooked. A student can have a good GPA and extracurriculars but struggle on a standardized test, but this does not mean they are unqualified. Standardized test scores obscure other achievements a student may have obtained in high school. When standardized tests are not submitted, other student achievements are highlighted. High school grades and scores show a more in-depth intelligence and aptitude than standardized tests. By not submitting scores, colleges can view a more complete picture of students’ intelligence and preparedness.
Taking a standardized test is extremely stressful. Studying for months for a single test places undue pressure on a student to excel on the test. This test is easily influenced by other factors such as fatigue, hunger, and anxiety. An MIT study done with cortisol levels from students taking the SAT showed that increased stress levels before the test decreases scores. Such an unstable metric for student aptitude should not be used as a basis for college admissions.
The final deficiency of standardized test requirements is the reduction of a person to a number. Other achievements and experiences are forgotten once the College Board gives you a number below 1500. Many students with stellar GPAs and extracurriculars will have their prospects diminished by a single exam.
Students who now apply to Tufts can authentically present themselves for who they are: culminations of many years of their lives until that moment, and not the two hours and 14 minutes afforded to the SAT. Being test-optional gives students a wider range to express their intelligence. The steps leading up to a standardized test, coupled with the peculiar exam structure, render it an inadequate proxy for applicant quality. As a result, Tufts should retain its test-optional policy.
Photo by Tomás Gómez Revelo (October 21st, 2024)