What Does Test Optional Mean for Private Schools?

The ISEE and SSAT tests have long been application staples for private school admissions. The test scores help independent school admissions offices evaluate candidates from different schools and regions with a standard metric. COVID-19 changed many things, however, and college and private school admissions are no exception. During the time when the pandemic disrupted in-person testing for both the ISEE and SSAT, at-home testing was introduced, but some schools also decided to go test optional.

Beginning in fall 2020, for the first time ever, a few private schools stepped away from their standardized test score requirement. Citing the closing of in-person testing centers, difficulties with at-home testing, and wider concerns about equity and access, these schools made the submission of standardized test scores optional for application.  Private school applicants with scores can still choose to submit them and have them evaluated alongside the rest of their materials, so test scores will likely still be a factor for many students.

When it comes to private school admissions, the term “test optional” has become a symbol of flexibility and inclusivity. A test optional school allows students to decide whether or not to submit standardized test scores, such as the ISEE or SSAT, as part of their application. Importantly though, students who choose not to submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage in the admission process; their applications will be reviewed holistically, considering a wide range of factors. Despite many pandemic restrictions lifting, some schools are choosing to remain test optional. Check your private school’s website for information on whether or not they are test optional.

Even if the private schools your child is applying to are test optional, taking exams like the ISEE and SSAT and submitting test scores as part of your application can give students an edge. Boston Tutoring Services can help. Our tutors have outstanding credentials in preparing students for the ISEE and SSAT tests. Through one-on-one instruction, students will learn how to attack the test so that they can make the most of their time, and answer the questions with a deeper understanding of how the test is constructed. For more information on tutoring for the ISEE and SSAT tests, please click here.

Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services