The University of Alabama just announced that it is shifting to a test-required policy.

Last year, we saw several selective schools adopt this policy, including UT - Austin. Auburn has moved toward test-preferred and, eventually, test-required.

https://www.al.com/news/2025/12/university-of-alabama-system-campuses-announce-major-college-admissions-change.html

We have to wonder how much longer a school like TAMU, with its selectivity, will continue to hold onto its test-positive policy as its application numbers keep growing.

At first I thought A&M must have some DEI motives for remaining test optional, but now I suspect it may be because it allows them to report artificially high SAT averages when the lowest applicant scores are never reported and included in the calculation.

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We have to wonder how much longer a school like TAMU, with its selectivity, will continue to hold onto its test-positive policy as its application numbers keep growing.

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I am sure you read about the UC-San Diego issues, with lots of kids with perfect math scores in high school not able to test out at even a remedial level once in college.

Grade inflation in high schools has reached absurd levels all over the country, so I do hope the SAT/ACT requirement is made mandatory once again as teachers do not want to separate the wheat from the chaff.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/annaesakismith/2025/12/11/uc-san-diego-finds-one-in-eight-freshmen-lack-high-school-math-skills/

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A quarter of students in remedial math got perfect high school scores

"The elimination of standardized testing resulted in more reliance in high school grades even though the (academic group's) report notes the worrisome trend of grade inflation in many schools that had already been substantial in 2020," the workgroup report said.

Indeed, in 2024 more than 25% of the students placed into UCSD's lowest math course had received a 4.0 grade point average in high-school math.

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I'm not surprised at all by their report. You'd be shocked to learn the percentage of students who cannot manipulate fractions or really struggle to label the x- and y-axes with the proper units and values. COVID killed our classroom math efforts, and now it takes longer and requires more effort to reteach those skills.

double b said:

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I'm not surprised at all by their report. You'd be shocked to learn the percentage of students who cannot manipulate fractions or really struggle to label the x- and y-axes with the proper units and values. COVID killed our classroom math efforts, and now it takes longer and requires more effort to reteach those skills.

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Double b, are you hearing any chatter from the academic world if A&M or any of the state's private schools (specifically I am curious about SMU and Baylor) will be moving to a test requirement status? I would assume that there would be a one year grace period after a policy is announced but maybe not?

A&M is not officially test required, but you'll need a minor miracle to get in holistic without a good score.

BoDog said:

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double b said:

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I'm not surprised at all by their report. You'd be shocked to learn the percentage of students who cannot manipulate fractions or really struggle to label the x- and y-axes with the proper units and values. COVID killed our classroom math efforts, and now it takes longer and requires more effort to reteach those skills.

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Double b, are you hearing any chatter from the academic world if A&M or any of the state's private schools (specifically I am curious about SMU and Baylor) will be moving to a test requirement status? I would assume that there would be a one year grace period after a policy is announced but maybe not?

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I'm not expecting anything to change within the next couple of cycles. These schools continue to experience surging application numbers, and with their adoption of the Common App and their decision to remain test-optional, this trend will continue.

• Texas A&M: Outside of the top 10%, definitely submit scores. Applying to Mays, Engineering, or Architecture - definitely submit scores.
• Baylor and TCU: submitting test scores can help immensely with scholarships, and recommend aiming for the mid 1300s.

However, if they were to change their policy, colleges typically announce any change to their application requirements during the summer before the student's junior year.

double b said:

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BoDog said:

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double b said:

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I'm not surprised at all by their report. You'd be shocked to learn the percentage of students who cannot manipulate fractions or really struggle to label the x- and y-axes with the proper units and values. COVID killed our classroom math efforts, and now it takes longer and requires more effort to reteach those skills.

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Double b, are you hearing any chatter from the academic world if A&M or any of the state's private schools (specifically I am curious about SMU and Baylor) will be moving to a test requirement status? I would assume that there would be a one year grace period after a policy is announced but maybe not?

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I'm not expecting anything to change within the next couple of cycles. These schools continue to experience surging application numbers, and with their adoption of the Common App and their decision to remain test-optional, this trend will continue.

• Texas A&M: Outside of the top 10%, definitely submit scores. Applying to Mays, Engineering, or Architecture - definitely submit scores.
• Baylor and TCU: submitting test scores can help immensely with scholarships, and recommend aiming for the mid 1300s.

However, if they were to change their policy, colleges typically announce any change to their application requirements during the summer before the student's junior year.

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For A&M and outside of the top 10% what would you say is the minimum score you would submit?

double b -

Taking a shot in the dark here. My daughter is a junior and planning to apply to A&M this year. She needs to get her SAT score up. Do you know of any private SAT tutors in the B/CS area that you would recommend?

Will take suggestions from anyone else as well.

Thanks!

I don't have a tutor to offer, but I would recommend not ignoring the ACT. It's good to do a trial run on both to see if one is a better fit than the other. I had one kid who performed equally well on both, but for a few reasons, the potential to increase her score was better with the SAT so she leaned in on the SAT. My other kid did well on the SAT but great on the ACT - ballpark of the equivalent of 150 points better, so she leaned in on ACT prep. Both ended up with great scores and were in the first batch of holistics admitted in their classes.

A good tutor can help you navigate this, but these are good questions to ask upfront.

Thanks, DannyD!

Counselor said:

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double b -

Taking a shot in the dark here. My daughter is a junior and planning to apply to A&M this year. She needs to get her SAT score up. Do you know of any private SAT tutors in the B/CS area that you would recommend?

Will take suggestions from anyone else as well.

Thanks!

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I would be happy to help. We're local and offer free practice tests every Sunday for both the ACT and SAT. Just sign up on my website. http://avantgardeprep.com

DannyDuberstein said:

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I don't have a tutor to offer, but I would recommend not ignoring the ACT. It's good to do a trial run on both to see if one is a better fit than the other. I had one kid who performed equally well on both, but for a few reasons, the potential to increase her score was better with the SAT so she leaned in on the SAT. My other kid did well on the SAT but great on the ACT - ballpark of the equivalent of 150 points better, so she leaned in on ACT prep. Both ended up with great scores and were in the first batch of holistics admitted in their classes.

A good tutor can help you navigate this, but these are good questions to ask upfront.

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I'm a couple of years out from this with my son now, but he thought the tests were very different. The ACT, he thought, was very much a speed test. You have to be able to read fairly quickly in order to get through it. The SAT is a better test for those kids whose math skills are better. Even though the ACT has a Math and a Science section, he thought the science section was really about reading through the questions rather than using any significant math skills to figure things out.

He Who Shall Be Unnamed said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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I don't have a tutor to offer, but I would recommend not ignoring the ACT. It's good to do a trial run on both to see if one is a better fit than the other. I had one kid who performed equally well on both, but for a few reasons, the potential to increase her score was better with the SAT so she leaned in on the SAT. My other kid did well on the SAT but great on the ACT - ballpark of the equivalent of 150 points better, so she leaned in on ACT prep. Both ended up with great scores and were in the first batch of holistics admitted in their classes.

A good tutor can help you navigate this, but these are good questions to ask upfront.

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I'm a couple of years out from this with my son now, but he thought the tests were very different. The ACT, he thought, was very much a speed test. You have to be able to read fairly quickly in order to get through it. The SAT is a better test for those kids whose math skills are better. Even though the ACT has a Math and a Science section, he thought the science section was really about reading through the questions rather than using any significant math skills to figure things out.

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This has pretty much been our experience...

These tests have changed dramatically over the last year. It is important to note that the published practice tests are no longer accurate representations of a student's ability; they are significantly easier than the actual exams administered by the College Board and the ACT. For the Blue Book tests for the SAT, you can probably shave off 40-50 points from their practice test scores. For the practice tests in the ACT Redbook, you can reduce their composite scores by a couple of points.

Here is a breakdown of the current testing landscape:

The Enhanced ACT still favors strong readers, but the strategy for success has shifted.

• Math Complexity: The section has become increasingly difficult. Because it covers a massive range of topicsfrom basic GCF/LCM and fractions (2nd/3rd grade math) to advanced trig identitiesthe "learning curve" to increase a score is much steeper.
• English & Reading: These sections remain largely the same in content, with the added benefit of students now receiving slightly more time per question than on the old version.

The Digital SAT offers a slower pace with more time per question, but the content has become more challenging.

• Reading & Vocabulary: Vocabulary is now a major pillar of the test. It is tested both directly and through its integration into complex passages.
• English (Writing): This remains the most stable section, though it now places a heavy emphasis on mastery of independent/dependent clauses and subject-verb and pronoun agreement.
• Math & Desmos: The math section has changed the most. Mastery of the Desmos graphing calculator is now a requirement for success.
• The Advantage: Unlike the ACT, SAT Math is primarily Algebra-based (linear equations, systems, quadratics, and exponential functions). This makes it easier to "drill," as there is less variety in the topics covered when compared to ACT math.

Overall, these tests have become more "stubborn" and resistant to quick score improvements. Moving the needle now requires a plan and a committed, consistent effort from the student.