Princeton University has announced its decision to reinstate SAT or ACT testing requirements for undergraduate applicants, effective for the Fall 2027 admission cycle. This move concludes a seven-year period of test-optional admissions, a policy initially adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic due when access to testing centers was significantly limited.
With Princeton’s return to mandatory testing, Columbia University now stands as the sole Ivy League institution committed to a permanently test-optional policy. Princeton’s decision aligns it with several other prestigious universities, including Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania, all of which have either already reinstated or plan to reinstate standardized testing requirements in their upcoming admissions cycles.
Academic Data Spurs Policy Review
Princeton states that its decision followed an extensive institutional review of five years of admissions data from its test-optional period. The analysis revealed that students who chose to submit their test scores consistently demonstrated stronger academic performance once they were enrolled at the university.
This finding is consistent with the reasoning provided by other Ivy League schools that have recently brought back test requirements. Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania, for instance, have all publicly committed to requiring standardized tests again, starting with the 2025 admission cycle.
A Universal Benchmark for Diverse Educational Backgrounds
Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT provide universities with a consistent, common metric to evaluate applicants hailing from a wide array of secondary school systems. Given the significant variations in grading policies and academic rigor across different schools and regions, test scores serve as a crucial baseline for assessing an applicant’s academic preparedness.
The College Board, which administers the SAT, emphasizes that the test is designed to measure college readiness in a uniform way, independent of a student’s background or curriculum. This objectivity allows admissions officers to compare applicants more equitably when high school records might otherwise be difficult to compare directly.
Predictive Power for University Success
Numerous research initiatives, including studies conducted by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA), underscore the validity of standardized test scores as a predictor of university performance. Findings suggest that SAT or ACT scores, when combined with high school grade point averages, offer a more accurate forecast of a student’s academic success in higher education than GPA alone.
This predictive capability has become particularly vital as admissions officers at elite institutions increasingly rely on data-driven methods to identify and select students who are best prepared for the rigorous academic demands of their programs.
Addressing Inconsistencies Introduced by the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the temporary suspension of testing requirements by many universities due to widespread test center closures and other logistical challenges. However, these temporary policies inadvertently introduced new inconsistencies into the applicant evaluation process, especially as students’ academic experiences diverged significantly during that unprecedented period.
A report by the Brookings Institution highlighted how such disparities could impede fair assessment. By reinstating test requirements, Ivy League universities are aiming to restore a more uniform and consistent framework for their admissions processes.
Managing High Application Volumes and Complexity
Elite universities are experiencing a continuous rise in application volumes and a growing pool of highly qualified candidates. Standardized tests offer a valuable tool for differentiating among applicants who possess similarly strong academic records and impressive extracurricular profiles.
Harvard and other institutions have noted that test scores provide an additional, objective data point that helps inform admissions decisions when many applicants present comparable strengths across other elements of their applications.
Upholding a Holistic Review Process
Despite the reintroduction of test score requirements, institutions like Princeton have made it clear that there are no absolute minimum score thresholds for admission. Test results will continue to be evaluated as one component within a broader, holistic review process that considers essays, recommendations, the applicant’s school context, and extracurricular achievements.
Princeton has also confirmed that active military personnel will be exempt from the testing requirement, acknowledging the ongoing logistical challenges some applicants in these circumstances may face.
Equity Initiatives and Flexible Testing Options
While standardized tests have historically faced criticism for potentially exacerbating socioeconomic disparities, universities and testing organizations have implemented measures to address these concerns. The College Board and ACT, Inc. provide fee waivers and free test preparation resources to support applicants from under-resourced backgrounds.
Furthermore, some institutions, such as Yale, have adopted test-flexible policies, allowing applicants to submit a broader range of assessment scores, including SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) results.
Enhancing International and Transfer Student Evaluations
Standardized tests remain especially valuable for evaluating international and transfer applicants, whose diverse educational qualifications may not directly align with traditional U.S. high school standards. Organizations like the Council of International Schools have voiced support for the continued use of these assessments to ensure greater comparability in global admissions decisions.
Current Ivy League Testing Policies: A Snapshot
| Ivy League school | Testing policy pre-Covid | Test-optional period | Planned reinstatement year |
| Princeton | Required | Test-optional (2020–2027) | Fall 2027 |
| Harvard | Required | Test-optional (2020–2025) | Fall 2025 |
| Brown | Required | Test-optional (2020–2025) | Fall 2025 |
| Dartmouth | Required | Test-optional (2020–2025) | Fall 2025 |
| University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) | Required | Test-optional (2020–2025) | Fall 2025 |
| Yale | Required | Test-flexible | Fall 2025 |
| Cornell | Required | Varies by school | Fall 2025 |
| Columbia | Required | Permanently test-optional | N/A |
Summary of Current Ivy League Admissions Policies
| Ivy League school | Current policy status | Notes |
| Columbia | Permanently test-optional | No test score required for admission |
| Yale | Test-flexible | Accepts SAT, ACT, AP, or IB scores |
| Princeton | Will require SAT/ACT starting 2027 | Test-optional until fall 2027 |
| Harvard | Reinstated SAT/ACT from fall 2025 | Test scores now required |
| Brown | Reinstated SAT/ACT from fall 2025 | Test scores now required |
As of now, Columbia remains the only Ivy League university that does not plan to reintroduce any form of standardized testing requirement. Other institutions continue to emphasize a holistic review process but have moved to restore SAT or ACT scores as a formal and significant component of their admissions process.