Standardized Test Policy

Connecticut College has a unique approach to standardized testing requirements. Applicants are required to submit either the ACT or two SAT Subject Tests. Submission of SAT Reasoning scores is optional. If your SAT Reasoning scores do not reflect your full potential, we recommend that you choose to submit only the ACT or two SAT Subject Tests. 

If you choose to submit the SAT Subject Tests, you may submit any two of your choice. If you choose to submit the ACT, the writing component is not required.

You are asked to indicate your choice of standardized tests you would like us to consider on the Supplement to the Common Application. If you submit multiple scores of the same test such as the ACT, we will consider your best composite score. Likewise, if you submit multiple SAT Subject Tests, we will consider your two highest scores from two different tests. If you choose to have us consider your SAT Reasoning scores, we will consider these scores along with two SAT Subject Tests. You may not submit only the SAT Reasoning test to us without two SAT Subject tests.

If you are determining whether to submit your SAT Reasoning scores, our advice would be to submit your scores if you feel they are representative of your achievement and you believe they will enhance your application. Some students use our middle 50% ranges for the SAT Reasoning scores as a guideline. If their scores fall within our upper ranges, they submit them. The middle 50% ranges for test scores submitted by admitted students for the Class of 2011 are:

SAT Reading 650-740
SAT Math 640-710
SAT Writing 660-730
ACT 27-30
SAT subject scores range from the high 600s to low 700s

Connecticut College's ACT code is 0556 and its SAT code is 3284.

We are often asked why we do not require the SAT Reasoning test. We do not require this test for several reasons. First, we take a holistic approach to the review of the student application. We do not think that three hours on a Saturday or Sunday morning determines whether a student is going to contribute to our community. Second, we want to allow students to choose the tests that highlight their strengths. This is why we allow them to choose any two SAT Subject Tests, or the more comprehensive ACT. In addition, the SAT Subject Tests and the ACT have the advantage of being based on secondary school subject areas and have less test preparation and cultural bias associated with them. We believe that many students are not well served by the SAT Reasoning test and have actually found through our own studies that along with the high school transcript the SAT Subject Tests (or ACT) are a better predictor of how well a student will perform during their first year at the College than the SAT Reasoning scores. 

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 12:07