ACT and SAT Test Participation Trends Show Surprising Shifts in 2026

The landscape of college admissions has felt like a moving target for the better part of the last five years. Between the massive pivot toward test-optional policies in 2020 and the more recent rollout of the digital SAT and ACT, students and parents have navigated a whirlwind of change, and as we look at the data for the 2026 cycle, the picture is shifting again.

For the first time since the pandemic, standardized testing is no longer just “on the table,” but is reclaiming its seat at the head of the admissions process. At The Best Test Prep, we’ve closely monitored these developments, and the participation trends for 2026 reveal three surprising shifts that every motivated student (and parent!) needs to understand to stay competitive.

1. The “Test-Optional” Mirage Is Fading 

Perhaps the most poignant trend in 2026 is that despite thousands of schools remaining officially “test-optional,” participation rates are steeply climbing. Data from the College Board and ACT, Inc. show that a higher percentage of students are submitting scores now than at any point previously in the post-pandemic era.

The driver of this change is the return of testing mandates at elite institutions. When heavyweights like Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Caltech reinstated testing requirements for the Class of 2026, it sent ripples through the entire applicant pool. Students and parents have realized that in a hyper-competitive environment, a strong SAT or ACT score can serve as a powerful differentiator–it is the only level playing field on which admissions officers can compare all applicants, and often makes the difference between acceptance or rejection. Even at schools where the test is technically not required, a high score provides proof of genuine talent that helps an application stand out in a sea of high GPAs.

2. The Digital SAT Is Winning Over the “Test-Anxious”

When the College Board transitioned the SAT to a fully digital, adaptive format, there was significant skepticism. However, 2026 participation data reveal that the shorter, more streamlined version of the test is actually encouraging more students to participate.

The digital SAT’s shorter Reading Comprehension passages—one per question—and the fact that the entire Math section allows calculators have removed some of the traditional testing fears. We are seeing a shift in which students who might have previously opted out altogether are now taking the SAT because the format feels more modern and less like a grueling marathon. This has even led to high participation in “School Day” testing programs, as districts find the digital format much more efficient to administer than old paper booklets.

3. The ACT’s Redesign Is Creating a New Strategic Choice

Not to be outdone, the ACT has undergone its own massive transformation for the 2025–2026 testing cycle. The core exam has been shortened to roughly two hours, and most notably, the vaunted Science section is now optional.

This shift has created a surprising trend: a “bifurcation” of the testing pool. Students are no longer choosing between the SAT and ACT based on only geography, but instead, specific section strengths. Those who excel in data interpretation are sticking with the “Enhanced ACT,” which includes Science, to showcase STEM skills, while those who want a more traditional “English, Reading Comprehension, and Math” focus are opting for the shortened core ACT. The move to make Science optional has stabilized ACT participation numbers, which had been under pressure from the digital SAT.

What This Means for Your Strategy 

If you’re aiming for a top-tier university in 2026, these shifts in participation suggest that the “purely optional” era is effectively over for high-achieving applicants. With more students submitting standardized test scores, not having one is increasingly seen as a missing piece of the puzzle rather than a neutral choice.

At The Best Test Prep, we emphasize to our students that the test isn’t just about knowledge, but also how you perform under pressure to translate that knowledge into points on Test Day. With both the SAT and ACT offering shorter, more flexible formats, there has never been a better time to learn the professional approach to taking and acing these tests.

The trends for 2026 are clear: standardized test scores are back, the sections are shorter , and the competition is fiercer than ever. Don’t let the “test-optional” label lure you into a false sense of security—an admissions department can claim all day that tests are optional, but all other factors held equal, if one applicant has a high SAT or ACT test score and another didn’t take either, a university choosing between them will admit the former over the latter. Use the recent exam updates to your advantage by preparing early and professionally, and submitting a score that proves you are ready for the rigors of elite education.