Aug 25, 2014 12:12 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Plymouth State University announced Friday that it has adopted a test-optional admissions policy.

The central New Hampshire institution will no longer require applicants to submit SAT or ACT test scores beginning with students entering in Spring 2015. Instead, the school will continue to concentrate on a student's high school record as the primary factor in offering admission.

"Standardized test scores simply don't provide much value for our counselors when determining an applicant's academic preparation," Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo said in a statement.

Plymouth State University joins a growing movement among universities and colleges nationwide by no longer basing its admissions decisions on standardized test scores.

In recent years they have looked more to high school grades, especially grades in core subject areas of English, math, science, social studies and foreign language, school officials claim. Still, some students find their SAT or ACT scores are a point of pride. Plymouth will continue to accept scores from applicants that choose to submit their test results. But standardized test scores are not as accurate as an applicant's high school career in predicting success in college for most students, Palumbo said.

Palumbo emphasized that a "test-optional" admissions process does not mean the University is lowering admissions standards. The university is more interested in actual academic performance and the rigor of an applicant's course selection than in the applicant's score on a standardized test.

"Plymouth is one of a small number of schools that recalculates each applicant's high school grade point average to focus solely on the core subject areas of English, math, science, social studies and foreign language. We also give extra weight to more challenging courses," he added.

This practice rewards critical reasoning and communication skills over the "quick decision-making skills that timed standardized tests measure."

Plymouth State also considers each applicant's extracurricular involvement, an admissions essay, and an academic recommendation from a high school teacher.

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