College Board to do away with SAT Optional Essay, Subject Tests

The College Board announces to discontinue SAT Optional Essay and SAT Subject Tests due to changing scenario in College Admission process. After SAT Testing June 2021, SAT Optional Essay and SAT Subject Tests will be discontinued.

College Board which is a not-for-profit organization is taking these steps to make SAT more flexible and lessen demands on SAT test takers. Testing authority feels that the Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of being innovative and adaptive to what lies ahead.

Due to Covid-19 emergency many SAT schedules were cancelled. Also SAT rival ACT has cancelled testing dates. Many schools has eliminated the testing score requirements for application for the current admission cycle. Other schools have permanently made entrance exams an optional part of applying to college. SAT is 180 minute multiple-choice examination and measures math and English language arts proficiency.

According to official SAT sources approximately 2.2 million high school graduates had taken SAT before Covid-19 pandemic worldwide. At present the optional essay adds to another hour and scored separately. The SAT subject tests will immediately discontinue for U.S. students and will be eliminated for international students by June 2021.