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Clarke University Adopts Long-Term Test-Optional Policy

To reduce and eliminate inequities in the college entrance process, Clarke University has committed to continuing its test-optional practices for future admissions decisions.

With a test-optional application process, students may choose whether or not to submit scores from national standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT, with their other college application materials. Clarke first introduced a test-optional approach for admissions decisions in the fall of 2020, when access to testing was greatly restricted due to reduced testing dates and closed facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, tests like the ACT and SAT were used as a predictor of college success and could provide some guidance as to the types of courses a student may be placed into. Opponents of national standardized tests had pointed to inequities in the testing process, including everything from access to test preparation and support services to implicit bias in the questions being asked.

Clarke’s decision aligns with a growing national trend. According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, more than 1,800 accredited four-year institutions in the United States now use a test-optional process.

To learn more about Admissions at Clarke University, visit Clarke.edu.

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