It is no surprise that the pandemic is creating a hustle in the study abroad sphere. The students are facing immense trouble in taking the standardized entrance exams like SAT and ACT as test centers are mostly unreachable. To attain uniformity, most of the universities have gone ‘test-optional’ in the case of ACT and SAT.

In recent news, we have noticed that the California Institute of Technology or CalTech who only accepts candidates having an excellent knowledge level in science and math and similarly high math scores in SAT or ACT. But for the upcoming two sessions, CalTech has canceled out the need for these exams due to the pandemic. Accompanying universities include UC Berkeley, Reed College in Oregon, Washington State University, and more who have decided to eliminate the test scores from now on. This decision of becoming ‘test free’ turns out to be a profound stance.

Nikki Kahealani Chun, the undergraduate admissions director has stated that CalTech never really puts emphasis on the scores of these exams and it aims to diversify a student count of 940 undergraduates. Now the school has launched a 2-year moratorium which will be used to find if the scores are even worthy.

Chun has added that the school’s admission process will not be affected because it considers the academic transcripts, faculty recommendations, essays, and student activities. According to Chun, Caltech is focused more on “seeing the scientist/researcher, the quantitative thinker, in the whole of their application.”

The colleges for a prolonged time in the past have been dependent on the SAT/ACT scores. They even paid the testing agencies to provide them with the addresses and names of candidates pursuing high school to gear up their marketing and recruitment. The prospective students in the meantime take the tests twice or more to emerge in the pool of applicants. In fact, the rich families compensated the testing industries to promote their children’s future. Though, this year the pandemic has put an end to the need for those scores.

Words from the College Board have that 3,34,000 students couldn’t take the Sept 26 SAT exam due to the pandemic and has also asked the universities to put relaxation as much as possible.

Ivy League and certain private flagships have made the entrances optional. Even the University of Maryland and Virginia have adopted a similar approach. But this decision is often disbelieved by the parents and students too. The only option remains for them is to reach their nearest test center by interstate flight or long drives.

With regard to this, a candidate named Palos Verdes, Calif. Stated how he was on the lookout for an SAT test center in Southern California but couldn’t get any. It is when his mother booked a flight to Tennessee for him to take the test but all these troubles were futile to him. He decided to apply for test-optional Ivy Leagues and the UC campuses which are not considering scores.

UC’s governing body conducted a meeting that resulted in UC adopting the test-optional policy for 2021-22 and a test-blind policy for the citizens for their 2023 – 24 sessions.

This decision is already in use for universities like UC Irvine, UC – Santa Barbara, UC – Santa Cruz, who have placed their opinion of not considering the SAT/ACT scores. UC Berkeley has stated to undertake the decision, but it will examine the other test results submitted by the applicants. Though, recently a California judge has asked UC to eliminate the test requirement completely as it is inciting discrimination against disabled students. An appellate court though has circulated a stay order for reviewing the matter.

Till this year, both SAT and ACT experienced blended reviews in which proponents considered the tests worthy as it showcases the knowledge level of a candidate. On the other hand, the critics deemed the tests to be suitable for higher-income groups.

Priscilla Rodriguez, the vice president of college readiness assessments for the College Board stated how candidates hailing from not so popular high schools take the SAT to prove their merit but test-free colleges will disregard it.