AI is very good at answering SAT and ACT questions.
That’s the problem.
Because the answers it gives are clean, logical, and just shallow enough to be dangerous. They sound right. They feel helpful. And they regularly point families in the wrong direction.
So we decided to stress-test AI.
We took a set of common parent questions, looked at the AI answers, and had Wes respond. Not to nitpick, but to show you where the advice is right, isn’t quite right, and is dead wrong.
We asked a ton of questions, but we’re starting with three that we often hear about SAT or ACT scores. Note that the AI gave LONG answers, but we’ve included a summary here (created by AI, of course) for readability. To see the original AI answers along with the summaries and Wes’s corrections, click here.
Note: A parent asked AI these questions on March 11, 2026. The answers have likely changed since then — hopefully for the better!
Question 1: Should my child submit a 1500 or 34 to highly selective schools?
AI Summary:
A 1500 SAT or 34 ACT is usually worth submitting.
- These scores are strong and generally within range for selective schools
- Submit if they align with the school’s middle 50% range
- Scores reinforce academic strength alongside GPA and coursework
- Can help offset uneven academic records
- Superscoring may improve the final submitted score
- Only consider not submitting if the score is clearly below a school’s typical range (rare at this level)
Wes’s Correction:
The real answer is: ask your college counselor. If you’re aiming at highly selective schools, you’re already paying someone to help you make decisions like this. This is exactly the kind of judgment call they’re there for.
That said, the answer is almost always yes.
A 1500 or 34 might put you below the median at the most selective schools, which is what makes families hesitate. It feels like submitting it could hurt you.
But the alternative is worse.
If you don’t submit a score, admissions isn’t going to assume your child had a 1500 and chose not to send it. They’re left to wonder. And that uncertainty rarely works in your favor.
That’s the tradeoff that gets missed in more generic advice. It focuses on where the score falls in a range, but not on what happens when you remove the data entirely.
So in most cases, you submit. And if you’re in one of the rare edge cases where it’s not obvious, that’s not a sign you need a more nuanced blog post. It’s a sign you need context. That’s what your counselor is for. Stop asking AI (please).
Question 2: Is the difference between a 34 and a 36 meaningful for elite schools?
AI Summary:
- Both a 34 and 36 are extremely strong and competitive scores
- Admissions committees view scores in this range as proof of academic readiness
- The difference between them rarely determines admission decisions
- A higher score may slightly strengthen an application but has limited impact
- Returns diminish once a student reaches the mid-30s
- Students may benefit more from focusing on other parts of their application
Wes’s Clarification
Good question. Mostly good answer — except for the phrase “mid-thirties.”
The ACT is scored out of 36. “Mid-thirties” describes scores within two points of perfect. That’s like saying “tall people — specifically those over 5’3.” Technically not wrong. But deeply misleading.
Here’s the right frame: every school has a threshold. Get above it.
Past that point, additional points still help, but the returns diminish quickly. If the average incoming student at your target school has a 34, make damn sure you hit 34.
Killing yourself to get a 35 is usually less valuable than being exceptional in whatever else that school actually cares about.
Question 3: Is test-optional really optional for elite college admissions?
AI Summary:
Test-optional is real, but strong scores still help.
- You can apply without scores, and schools will review your application
- Strong scores strengthen your application and provide useful comparison across schools
- Without scores, other parts of the application need to stand out more
- Scores may still matter for scholarships or honors programs
- Submit if your score is strong; withhold if it’s below the school’s typical range
Wes’s Comment:
The AI answer here is close enough to correct. Read it.
If you’re making decisions like these for your child, generic advice stops being useful.
AI can give you answers, but it can’t give you judgment.That’s the difference between guessing and knowing what to do next.
If you want to actually understand what applies to your child, talk to Wes.
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