When to Start SAT or ACT Prep — And Why Test-Optional Doesn’t Mean Test-Irrelevant

Nov 21

Test-Optional Didn’t Make Testing Disappear — It Just Made It More Complicated

Test-optional policies were intended to make admissions more flexible and humane—and they have. Students who faced barriers now have more breathing room. That part is good.

But somewhere between intent and interpretation, the message morphed into the very catchy, very misleading:

“Colleges don’t care about test scores anymore.”

No.
Colleges care. They’ve simply removed the requirement, not the relevance.

When scores are submitted, they still:

strengthen the application
help distinguish students with similar transcripts, making them a valuable tool in competitive admissions
unlock (or increase) merit scholarships
give admissions offices a clean comparison point in a messy system

Optional doesn’t mean unimportant.
Optional means: you need to be thoughtful.

What the Data Says (Because Feelings and Reality Are Not Always Friends)

Even now, students who submit SAT or ACT scores are consistently admitted at higher rates than those who don’t.

And here’s the part almost no teenager believes at first:

A strong test score plus GPA predicts first-year college success better than GPA alone.

Is it surprising? Yes.

Is it logical? Also yes.

Because GPAs aren’t standardized. One school’s A- minus is another school’s “you need to retake this.”

A score doesn’t define a student—but it clarifies the picture.

It’s also why schools like MIT, Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, and UT Austin have recently reinstated testing requirements. Selective admissions officers openly acknowledged that having scores often helped—not harmed—students from schools with fewer advanced courses, fewer AP offerings, or grade inflation.

Information helps level—not distort—the playing field.

So… When Is a Score Worth Submitting?

Here’s the rule families rarely hear:

A score doesn’t need to be extraordinary.
It needs to be appropriate for the school.

If a score falls within the middle 50% range for that institution, it signals alignment and can positively influence admission chances.

A 1250 might not impress highly selective schools—but at a college where the typical admitted student scores 1150–1300, that same score is absolutely supportive.

A 1350 might not feel “high enough” to a student who knows a kid who scored a 1500—but if the college’s range is 1280–1420?
That 1350 sits comfortably in the competitive window.

Below-range scores rarely help. In-range scores almost always do.
Just-below-range scores?
That’s where thoughtful nuance—not panic—lives.

SAT or ACT? The Better Test Is the One That Feels Less Like Your Brain Is Being Rearranged

Most people ask:
“Which test is easier?”

Wrong question.

The right one is:
“Which test matches how I think?”

The redesigned Digital SAT is shorter, adaptive, and reasoning-heavy, with shorter reading passages.

The ACT remains fast, reading-dense, and structurally consistent—it rewards students who like predictability and pace.

To choose the better test, students shouldn’t guess. They should take a timed diagnostic of each and see where the score—and their sanity—land.

One test almost always feels more natural.

Go with that one.

When Should Students Start Preparing?

In an ideal schedule—one where sports, AP classes, and sleep never clash—starting 10–12 months before the test is best, but a structured 8-12-week plan can still be effective.

But real life isn’t a tidy academic spreadsheet.

Fortunately, a structured and intentional 8–12-week prep plan that includes practice, feedback, pacing awareness, and strategy.

The key isn’t “start immediately.”
The key is:
Don’t wait until it feels urgent.

About Test Anxiety

Most students aren’t anxious because they’re incapable.

They’re anxious because they’re unsure.

Once the format feels familiar and the timing feels manageable, anxiety tends to quiet down. Confidence isn’t built through cramming—it’s built through repetition that feels purposeful, not punishing.

Start Where You Are

Some students begin early.
Some begin later.
Some begin reluctantly and finish proud.

The goal is not perfection or pressure.

It’s intentionality.

The college application process already holds enough unknowns.
This doesn’t need to be one of them.

So if reading this stirred even a quiet thought like:

“We should probably start figuring this out…”

You already know your answer.

SAT prepACT prepTest-optional admissionsCollege admissionsSAT vs ACTWhen to start SAT prepSAT practice testMerit scholarshipsBelmont MA tutoringBoston SAT tutor

Curtis Eames, M. Ed

Curtis Eames is the founder of CurtisE Learning and one of the most sought-after academic coaches in the region, known for turning overwhelmed students into confident, high-performing learners. With over a decade of experience in SAT, ACT, SSAT, ISEE, English, Spanish, math, and full college admissions guidance, Curtis blends a Northwestern University performance background with a clear, strategic teaching approach that consistently delivers measurable score jumps, stronger grades, and standout applications.

Families describe working with Curtis as “transformative” — part expert instruction, part mentorship, part mindset training — the kind of support that follows students long after the test or the essay is done. Whether a student needs structured test prep, help finding their authentic voice in a college essay, or subject-specific tutoring that finally makes things click, Curtis believes every student can thrive with the right combination of strategy, support, and possibility. He’s built CurtisE Learning around making that happen.