A crucial proviso, though, is that they're comparing the applicant's test scores to their high school peers rather than to other applicants.

> They don't know that their 1400 might be a great score given the challenges of their neighborhood and educational environment.

"standardized testing—when assessed using the local norms at a student's high school—is a valuable element of Dartmouth's undergraduate application" https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/update-testing-policy

And MIT: https://news.mit.edu/2022/stuart-schmill-sat-act-requirement...