When did most colleges stop requiring test scores?

The shift away from mandatory standardized testing accelerated in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Widespread closures of SAT and ACT testing centers left many students unable to take the exams or improve their scores. In response, to ensure fairness in the college admissions process, a majority of schools adopted test-optional policies. This meant that students could choose whether or not to submit their test scores. While a move towards de-emphasizing standardized tests was already underway, the pandemic drastically accelerated this trend. Consequently, numerous colleges have continued to maintain test-optional policies, providing students with increased flexibility in their application strategies.