Should students have to take the ACT/SAT?

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - College admissions tests could become a thing of the past as nearly 2,000 colleges and universities have removed that requirement.

A move made in 2020, when the pandemic closed testing sites across the U.S.

In response, the South Dakota Board of Regents changed its admissions guidelines to allow a test-optional format.

This means students could choose whether or not to submit their testing scores when applying to one of their six public universities.

And Black Hills State University has no plans to change back.

“A one-time score that a student earns on a Saturday morning, whether they’re having a good morning or not may not always be the best accurate reflection of a student’s academic abilities. So, looking at things like their grades and their GPA all the way through four years of high school can sometimes be a better measurement,” said Joe Rainboth, director of admissions at Black Hills State University.

The South Dakota Board of Regents allows high school students admission based on any of the following criteria; grade point average (GPA), class rank, ACT or SAT scores, or Smarter Balanced Test scores which students complete in their junior year of high school.

While testing scores are no longer a requirement, Janice Minder, VP of Academic Policy and Planning for the South Dakota Board of Regents still recommends students take the tests.

“The value of the ACT and or SAT really comes from around a placement, making sure you’re prepared and having a good understating of where you’re at. I also think it’s really important for scholarships because so many scholarships at the merit level require that SAT or that ACT,” said Minder on why taking the test can be valuable when applying to college.

For the Fall 2023 semester, Black Hills State University had an overall enrollment increase for the first time in nine years with 3,475 total students.

Copyright 2024 KEVN. All rights reserved.