You should absolutely not think that the undergraduate application process in the U.S. does not emphasize test scores. In fact, the SAT and TOEFL exams are important foundations for undergraduate applications. The level of the school corresponds to the score range; that is, if you meet the exam score requirements for a certain tier of schools, you generally have a chance to apply successfully. Of course, there may be cases where students with relatively low scores are admitted to some prestigious schools.