What does it mean to be test-optional?

Test-optional doesn’t mean test-irrelevant. It simply means colleges don’t require SAT or ACT scores, but they’re more than happy to consider them if you do submit. And for Washington, D.C. students applying to top-tier schools, that little checkbox next to “include scores” can actually make a big difference.

Many admissions officers are evaluating students from vastly different high schools—public, private, charter, international—and test scores give them a common measuring stick. If you’re applying from elite schools like Sidwell Friends or Georgetown Day, great grades are expected. A strong SAT or ACT score shows you’re not just coasting on transcripts—it proves you’re ready to thrive in a rigorous college environment.

So while test-optional can sound like a get-out-of-testing-free card, don’t be fooled, if you can prep, score well, and stand out, your test score becomes a powerful asset in a city full of top achievers.