Is Test Optional hurting those took the test this year (vs those who did not)

[Navy09mom]

Is this a questions? Please rephrase.

It’s not a question. If someone is a great test taker and has great stats as well, their competitive advantage in prior years was the great test scores over an equal candidate who doesn’t test as well. This test optional year takes away that advantage. Not sure if that was what the OP was getting at, but it is what it is.

 

[CrabbittMom]

That’s also a strategy issue. Sending scores before knowing if they are competitive or not. Remember, one doesn’t have to send a score at the time of testing. In fact, my advice to my own has always been to NOT send that first test. And see how you are doing, first. Well worth the $13, imo.

Readers, this is a good thing to talk/think about before filling out those codes on testing day.

Agreed! Lesson learned the hard way for my friend's DS.

 

[JulietTengoWhiskey16]

Big question here for my DS... USAFA
His first attempt was a mediocre score. He did not submit scores. Unfortunately, the second two attempts were cancelled. He has one more try in February.
Question is :
Is it required to submit the scores?
Are they indeed required?
Morally, I feel the answer is Yes. But I am reading here about “Test optional Year”...
Very gray area with this in light of Covid.

 

[Montana State Army ROTC]

Big question here for my DS... USAFA
His first attempt was a mediocre score. He did not submit scores. Unfortunately, the second two attempts were cancelled. He has one more try in February.
Question is :
Is it required to submit the scores?
Are they indeed required?
Morally, I feel the answer is Yes. But I am reading here about “Test optional Year”...
Very gray area with this in light of Covid.

I would imagine the USAFA website would have better answers...AROTC scholarship is making you send in the cancellation sheet.

 

[MidCakePa]

Go to the USAFA website and read it very carefully. I’m sure admissions has very clear guidance for exactly this scenario. It’s a very common one. If the website isn’t clear, speak directly to admissions staff. For something this vital, rely not on anonymous posters — no matter how well intentioned we all are — but rather on primary sources. Pretty sure SAs don’t do “gray area” in admissions policies.

 

[2025mustelse]

Big question here for my DS... USAFA
His first attempt was a mediocre score. He did not submit scores. Unfortunately, the second two attempts were cancelled. He has one more try in February.
Question is :
Is it required to submit the scores?
Are they indeed required?
Morally, I feel the answer is Yes. But I am reading here about “Test optional Year”...
Very gray area with this in light of Covid.

As of right now, for USAFA, tests are not optional. USAFA sent out a letter in September notifying candidates to not stay overnight in hotels/ travel out of state to take the test, but they are not optional. In order to become exempt from taking the test, DS would have to notify admissions that they could not take a test, and they have exhausted all possible paths. It would be decidedly untruthful and unbecoming of an officer to lie to admissions saying you couldn’t take a test when you have two scores- just because you didn’t like them.

 

[lipton_hot_tea]

I'm new to this but I think the no test scores are only if they were unable to take them for example if they had multiple cancellations. Sending the score didn't cost him the scholarship, he would have had to send it eventually because he did take it?

 

[lipton_hot_tea]

Another mom complaint here one thing that was very frustrating is that the schools were going test flexible and saying not to travel, but the nominations offices were not, only extending the dates. It was incredibly stressful trying to find a spot and then hoping time after time it would not cancel.

 

[LookinUpMom]

I would hope someone who took the test is not at a disadvantage. (I also thought it was necessary...didn’t need the score to start the application, but needed a score to be considered for a scholarship but maybe that changed) Simply being able to take the test was an act of persistence, determination, etc. After two tests back to back canceled, my son had enough. When his third date was canceled, he realized a different approach was needed... get out of our shutdown state. We ended up going five hours away to another state. He did some research and found the best route was not to reach out to ACT but to the testing site directly. He stayed in close contact with the testing site until the receptionist told him, “we received the testing packets, we will not cancel.”

It tore my heart out after all the studying and prep work... watching him go through cancelation after cancelation. But to see him take such initiative and be such a problem solver, rather than just accepting it was cancelled again. The entire process also taught him a great deal.

Because schools are so different I think GPA can sometimes be a slippery slope. Unless they changed the interview form, I actually think it would be a disadvantage to not take it because majority of kids would have a 3.0 AND above the 1100/24 score. Then they just need one more line item to max out on points. Without that GPA/test score one, might be more difficult for some to max out. Just my thoughts

 

[justdoit19]

I would hope someone who took the test is not at a disadvantage. (I also thought it was necessary...didn’t need the score to start the application, but needed a score to be considered for a scholarship but maybe that changed) Simply being able to take the test was an act of persistence, determination, etc. After two tests back to back canceled, my son had enough. When his third date was canceled, he realized a different approach was needed... get out of our shutdown state. We ended up going five hours away to another state. He did some research and found the best route was not to reach out to ACT but to the testing site directly. He stayed in close contact with the testing site until the receptionist told him, “we received the testing packets, we will not cancel.”

It tore my heart out after all the studying and prep work... watching him go through cancelation after cancelation. But to see him take such initiative and be such a problem solver, rather than just accepting it was cancelled again. The entire process also taught him a great deal.

Because schools are so different I think GPA can sometimes be a slippery slope. Unless they changed the interview form, I actually think it would be a disadvantage to not take it because majority of kids would have a 3.0 AND above the 1100/24 score. Then they just need one more line item to max out on points. Without that GPA/test score one, might be more difficult for some to max out. Just my thoughts

WAY TO GO !!

Exactly the kind of tenacity that will bode well for your son. And look at all that great essay/interview material!!

Think outside the box. Critical thinking. Tenacious. Problem solver. Find a way or make one. Grit. Way to go!

 

[KingZunzie]

I would hope someone who took the test is not at a disadvantage. (I also thought it was necessary...didn’t need the score to start the application, but needed a score to be considered for a scholarship but maybe that changed) Simply being able to take the test was an act of persistence, determination, etc. After two tests back to back canceled, my son had enough. When his third date was canceled, he realized a different approach was needed... get out of our shutdown state. We ended up going five hours away to another state. He did some research and found the best route was not to reach out to ACT but to the testing site directly. He stayed in close contact with the testing site until the receptionist told him, “we received the testing packets, we will not cancel.”

It tore my heart out after all the studying and prep work... watching him go through cancelation after cancelation. But to see him take such initiative and be such a problem solver, rather than just accepting it was cancelled again. The entire process also taught him a great deal.

Good for your son. I think this is why Cadet Command didn't just make this year test optional. Some simply won't be able to take the test, but for most, there is a way to get it done if you are tenacious, rather than just throwing up your arms because your state is shut down. My DS had a similar experience. Luckily he didn't have to end up traveling out of state but had the 6-7 months of cancelled test after cancelled test.

 

[WMTA]

I would hope someone who took the test is not at a disadvantage. (I also thought it was necessary...didn’t need the score to start the application, but needed a score to be considered for a scholarship but maybe that changed) Simply being able to take the test was an act of persistence, determination, etc. After two tests back to back canceled, my son had enough. When his third date was canceled, he realized a different approach was needed... get out of our shutdown state. We ended up going five hours away to another state. He did some research and found the best route was not to reach out to ACT but to the testing site directly. He stayed in close contact with the testing site until the receptionist told him, “we received the testing packets, we will not cancel.”

It tore my heart out after all the studying and prep work... watching him go through cancelation after cancelation. But to see him take such initiative and be such a problem solver, rather than just accepting it was cancelled again. The entire process also taught him a great deal.

Because schools are so different I think GPA can sometimes be a slippery slope. Unless they changed the interview form, I actually think it would be a disadvantage to not take it because majority of kids would have a 3.0 AND above the 1100/24 score. Then they just need one more line item to max out on points. Without that GPA/test score one, might be more difficult for some to max out. Just my thoughts

My DS did this as well, twice. After the 3rd test cancellation, ACT offered for students to change their registration to a new site. My DS and I discussed and decided to travel to my parents in north central Nebraska. It is a 18 hour round trip drive, but he tested in the region twice, different testing sites each time. The admins there thought there was some kind of mix-up until he signed in the morning of the test. They were very curious why a Kansas City area student was testing in far north central Nebraska. Neither of us thought to actually give them a heads up about his unusual path toward registering there.

 

[LookinUpMom]

My DS did this as well, twice. After the 3rd test cancellation, ACT offered for students to change their registration to a new site. My DS and I discussed and decided to travel to my parents in north central Nebraska. It is a 18 hour round trip drive, but he tested in the region twice, different testing sites each time. The admins there thought there was some kind of mix-up until he signed in the morning of the test. They were very curious why a Kansas City area student was testing in far north central Nebraska. Neither of us thought to actually give them a heads up about his unusual path toward registering there.

That is funny... we checked into our hotel (5 hours away) and the lady says,”here for the ACT?” DS and I both looked at each other. She said there were a number of us staying there from 4 surrounding states. So there were some others that got creative. after all those cancellations each month I was starting to feel defeated. When he booked the out-of-state, many sites were scheduled to hold the test in our state. (He just couldn’t chance it anymore) Turns out pl in my state showed up day of testing and doors locked or signs saying,”sorry not testing today.” Gulp!!! Parents went crazy, even made the news. So the Lord works in mysterious ways but we were one grateful Mon and son!

 

[jaglvr]

My DD took tests but didn’t score what she hoped. That being said she applied EA to Villanova test optional and got her acceptance last night. So I can see benefits of both sides of the coin. She shines in all areas but Villanova (at least) evaluated her beyond just that 1 scoring factor which would have eliminated her on first inspection. So hoping SAs do the same and ROTC.