IL HR0049

Illinois House of Representatives urges public universities in Illinois to study the usefulness and fairness of standardized tests in admission processes with the goal of moving toward test-optional admissions.

In 2016, high-income students averaged ACT composite scores of 23.6 compared to 19.5 for low-income students, putting lower-income applicants at a disadvantage in standardized testing-based admissions.

One in four institutions of higher education nationally no longer requires standardized test scores for admission, with 41 schools eliminating the requirement in the prior year alone.

University of Chicago reported record enrollments of first-generation, low-income, and rural students after adopting test-optional admissions policies.

Test-optional policies would allow universities to evaluate students based on GPA, extracurricular activities, and references while potentially increasing applicant pools and campus diversity without diminishing institutional prestige.