SAT & ACT Scores: Trends & Test-Optional Policies

SAT/ACT scores show a slight uptick, but remain below pre-pandemic levels. Test-optional policies dominate college admissions despite some institutions reinstating testing requirements. Numbers of test takers declined.

Informa PLC’s authorized office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG.

While testing experts had actually expected the pandemic to trigger a change away from K-12 standard examinations, that really did not materialize to a terrific degree and standard and high-stakes screening are still core to K-12.

Pre-Pandemic Score Comparison

Still, SAT ratings were still “significantly lower than ordinary ratings prior to the pandemic,” stated University Board, the organization that publishes the examination. In 2025, typical SAT scores were 521 in analysis and writing and 508 in math. In 2019, those standards were 10 points greater for analysis and writing (531) and 20 points greater for math (528 ).

The mild uptick in SAT ratings and level ACT scores for the senior high school finishing course of 2025 are still positive trends compared to in 2014, when typical scores on both examinations declined year-over-year compared to 2023.

At the same time, the dip in general examination takers for both tests continues a fad that dates to at least the pandemic, when universities moved towards test-optional plans. For the ACT, nonetheless, the numbers began declining much previously.

Declining Test Takers

Some 1.38 million trainees took the ACT in 2025 compared to 1.78 million in 2019, and concerning 2 million students took the SAT this year versus 2.22 million in 2019, data released lately by the screening firms reveal.

“While a handful of institutions have reinstated screening demands over the past 2 admissions cycles for a selection of institutional factors and in reaction to exterior pressures, ACT/SAT-optional and test-blind/score-free policies stay the regular baseline in undergraduate admissions,” said FairTest Executive Supervisor Harry Feder in a September statement. “Test-optional plans remain to dominate at nationwide colleges, state front runners, and careful liberal arts universities.”

Test-Optional Policies Prevail

Greater than 90% of four-year universities in the united state were not expected to require applicants for fall 2026 admission to submit ACT or SAT ratings, according to data launched in September by FairTest, a not-for-profit that advocates for limiting university entryway examinations. That’s over 2,000 of the country’s bachelor-degree approving organizations.

SAT scores, on the other hand, raised just somewhat from the senior high school course of 2024 to the class of 2025, while ACT scores stayed concerning level. In both situations, scores dropped below those from the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

Informa PLC’s licensed office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. TechTarget, Inc.’s authorized workplace is 275 Grove St. Newton, MA 02466.

ACT College Preparedness

For ACT test-takers, 30% fulfilled 3 or more of the 4 college preparedness benchmarks in English, scientific research, math and analysis. The ACT criteria show that students have a 50% chance of making a B or much better in first-year university programs of the same subject and a 75% chance of a C or better.

Still, SAT ratings were still “substantially lower than average ratings prior to the pandemic,” said College Board, the company that publishes the examination. In 2025, average SAT scores were 521 in analysis and writing and 508 in mathematics. In 2019, those standards were 10 points greater for reading and writing (531) and 20 factors higher for mathematics (528 ).