Submitting Test Scores Can Save Students From Remedial College Courses
In previous posts, we have shared the various reasons why colleges have chosen to remain test optional—even after students have returned to classrooms and test centers have reopened their doors. We also discussed the many benefits for students who choose test optimal over test optional, and we’ve showcased the lesser-known advantages of standardized testing.
That said, there is an entirely different reason why standardized testing is such a critical piece of the college admissions puzzle: course placement. Test optional or not, test scores can have a huge impact on the academic courses available to students in their first semesters of college. While a test score may not be required to get accepted and admitted to a school, it can be the key to saving students a lot of time, money, and unnecessary work once they get there.
What Happens When Students Apply Test Optional
It’s not surprising that many students choose to apply to test-optional schools—especially those students whose scores aren’t up to snuff or simply skipped testing altogether. Understandably, they don’t want to be judged by a test that they’ve put little-to-no effort or stock in. What these students do not realize is that if they apply following a school’s test-optional policies, there’s a very good chance that they are not providing the school with enough evidence to prove their academic abilities.
So, while those students may actually excel in English, Reading, Math, and/or Science classes, if they cannot adequately prove they are academically ready for the rigors of college courses, they risk being unduly placed in developmental courses.
As a result, many schools subject the students to testing once they arrive (often as a part of freshman orientation or summer preparatory programs). Some schools simply assume students without sufficient academic evidence are not qualified for certain courses. Given that many colleges continue to report high school students are entering college underprepared academically, these policies can be seen as a failsafe on the part of schools to help prevent students from washing out after a freshman course load that was too challenging.
On the flip side, if a student submits a solid ACT® or SAT® test score (whether the school is test optional or not) they are typically providing admissions and provost offices with the information needed to help ensure accurate course placement.
How Test-Optional Colleges Determine Course Placement
All colleges and universities have their own indicators of academic proficiency when deciding course placement—even those that have chosen to go test optional. Many of these schools set threshold scores for submitted standardized test scores or administer their own assessments for course placement. If a student scores too low on either of these assessment types, many schools will automatically place students in remedial courses.
Case in point, the University of Oklahoma (which is offering test-optional admissions through the fall 2025 semester) requires students to demonstrate academic aptitude either by reaching certain thresholds on either the ACT® or SAT® score or by meeting specific scores on College Board’s Accuplacer®. Even though OU is currently test optional, course placement for incoming students depends on the scores received from these assessments. For example, a student who does not submit ACT® or SAT® scores and then has a poor performance on Accuplacer®, OU will place them in developmental courses.
Here’s another example: Missouri State (another test-optional school) determines course placement based on either submitted ACT® or SAT® scores or the results from its department placement tests. For instance, if a student has not submitted a standardized test score and they score low on the Department of Mathematics Placement Test, Missouri State will place that student at the beginning of their math course sequence (MTH 101), regardless of the math courses listed on the student’s high school transcript.
These are just two examples, but what this boils down to is that students looking to avoid being placed in developmental courses are likely going to have to succeed on a standardized test—be that ACT®, SAT®, or the college’s chosen assessment—even at test-optional schools.
By preparing for and demonstrating success on a college admissions test like the ACT® or SAT®, students can enter their freshman year with a course load containing as few developmental courses as possible—if any at all.
The Costs of Inaccurate Course Placement
For many students, the idea of having to start at the beginning of a course sequence seems like a major waste of time. And it is. What’s more, many of the developmental courses that colleges place students into are worth zero credit on a students’ college transcript.
Let’s again use the University of Oklahoma as an example. OU students with low English scores are placed in courses like DENG 0113 for remedial English. The “D” indicates developmental and the “0” signifies zero credit hours. What this means is that students placed in a developmental course like this would have to pay full price to take the course and put the time and effort in to pass it, all while not accumulating a single credit hour for doing so.
There is no ignoring the amount of time, effort, and money wasted on these remedial courses—especially for students who do not actually need to be taking them.
Costs are often cited as a key justification for not taking the ACT® or SAT®, and applying to test-optional or test-blind schools. While there are undeniably expenses tied to succeeding on these admissions tests, they pale in comparison to the cost of a freshman year spent falling behind paying for courses that do not accrue graduation credit.
It’s a no-brainer: if students do well on the ACT® or SAT®, they can be placed out of developmental or college-prep-level classes as a freshman.
For all college-bound students—no matter the prospective college’s admissions policy—it’s imperative that they understand the importance of submitting a high test score with their application, and the impact that test score will have on their college career. Investing in test prep before college can yield tremendous returns by saving students the time, money, and frustration associated with a remedial freshman course load.
The Importance of Test-Prep to Avoid Remedial College Courses
For incoming college freshmen, there’s still a chance that their schools are accepting new test score submissions. Students must check with their college’s deadline, but it’s still possible that they have another chance to prep, take, and submit a new score this summer before their course registrations for the fall are finalized.
Whether it’s eleventh hour test prep for incoming college freshmen or rising high school juniors and seniors planning for their fall/spring college applications, talk to your clients about the value of a high test score, and what a massive effect it can have on their future.
Clear Choice Prep is committed to helping you and your test-prep business best support your college-bound clients. Our 100% custom-branded test-prep software, curriculum, and workbooks can help take your test-prep business to the next level so that you and your students can focus on what’s most important—helping your clients achieve their academic dreams. For more information, contact us today for a free demo.