It’s natural to feel a little nervous about something new, right? If you’re the only one or two at your school applying to colleges in the US, you might feel a little unsure about standardized tests (the SAT and ACT) as well and English language testing (TOEFL, IELTS or PTE).

I hope I can put your mind at ease with four truths:

1. We consider context.

The most important thing for you to understand is that we read applications by individual schools and it is our job to understand the environment of that school. If you have one test center for your whole country, we are aware of that. We understand that you might have to travel hours from your home to take the exam. If only a few test dates are offered in your country, we know that too. While we expect you to do your best to prepare for and take these tests, we understand how all these factors can affect your score when we review your application.

2. We superscore the SAT and the ACT.

If you take a particular standardized test more than once, we use the best scores from each subsection, even if they're from different test dates. If you self-report all your SAT/ACT scores through our online form, our database will select the highest combination of scores for your application file.
Please note: we do not superscore the IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL; please submit all individual section scores from the same (and most recent) test date.

3. We allow self-reported scores.

You can self-report test scores through a form on your application status page. This is super helpful for you (and us!) because it means we can get your scores sooner than if you'd sent them officially through a testing agency. Just be mindful of the last possible test dates for the round you are applying, and please submit all test scores from all test dates so our computer can superscore the SAT or ACT for you. If you’re accepted, you will need to send official scores.

4. We read holistically – testing is not the only piece of the puzzle.

Yes, we do want you to show off your intelligence and knowledge through these exams. However, please know that we also care about at your work in the classroom and results from your national (or international) curriculum. We want to see how you do on exams and how you perform in your school.

So: DO some research, DO your best, DON’T panic and DON’T let standardized testing get in the way of your everyday school work.

Featured image by flickr user timlewisnm