That means they are one a few factors that are commonly reviewed before an entire application gets read.Īdmissions committees have a tough job. Initially, SAT and ACT scores are sometimes used as screening tools in the college admissions process. The first is at the very beginning of an application’s review, and the second is at the end. There are two instances in which SAT and ACT are weighed heavily on college applications. When Are SAT and ACT Scores Most Important in College Admissions? So, if you’re gearing up for a standardized test or college app season, read on to learn more about how much your SAT or ACT scores actually matter. In this post, we’ll discuss the various ways in which standardized test scores are weighed during the college admissions process. There’s no doubt that standardized test scores often play a role in college admissions, but it’s hard to generalize exactly much they matter across the board. What score will guarantee me a place at an Ivy League? Will a bad score mean I can’t get into my top choice college?ĭoes a perfect score outweigh my less-than-stellar grades? Here at CollegeVine, we have successfully counseled hundreds of students through the test prep and college application processes, so we’ve heard all the questions and more. After all, selective colleges often use test scores to help in the initial screening of applications, so it’s only natural that many students get anxious just thinking about them. For many high school students, standardized tests are a huge part of the college admissions process.

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