Discovery College Consulting

MARCH 4, 2025

Test-optional policies took off during the Covid 19 pandemic, though some institutions, mostly small liberal arts colleges, had adopted these policies in the early 2000s. Recently, some of the most selective colleges in the nation have been reverting to test-required policies. on February 14.

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Peterson's Blog

OCTOBER 23, 2024

ACT and SAT scores decline across the U.S. Standardized tests, like the SAT and ACT, are used to determine academic readiness and skills for entering university. Current Data on ACT & SAT Scores Decline ACT —In 2024, average ACT composite scores were 19.4 In 2022, ACT composite scores were 19.8,

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Admissions Village

JUNE 19, 2024

Historically Black College or University (HBCU): In Title III of the Higher Education Act of 1965, Congress officially defined HBCUs as institutions of higher learning that were accredited and established before 1964, and whose principal mission is the education of Black Americans. For more on test optional please read this blog.

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Spark Admissions

APRIL 11, 2023

In March 2023, Columbia University announced that it would permanently drop the SAT/ACT requirement for undergraduate admissions. The decision by Columbia to abandon the SAT/ACT requirement represents a significant milestone in the ongoing debate around standardized testing in higher education and in the overall future of college admissions.

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Spark Admissions

APRIL 11, 2023

In March 2023, Columbia University announced that it would permanently drop the SAT/ACT requirement for undergraduate admissions. The decision by Columbia to abandon the SAT/ACT requirement represents a significant milestone in the ongoing debate around standardized testing in higher education and in the overall future of college admissions.

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Top Tier Admissions

JULY 22, 2024

As the school year approaches, it’s time to finalize your standardized test prep plan and mark your calendar with upcoming SAT and ACT test dates. Not sure which test is your forte? In an ideal world, we recommend beginning one-on-one test prep a few months ahead of your scheduled test date.

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AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

As a high school student, you’re probably no stranger to big tests like AP exams, the PSAT, or the SAT and ACT. Here’s some good news: more colleges than ever are making the SAT and ACT optional. won’t require standardized test scores. What Are the Best Test Optional Colleges in 2025?

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BestColleges

JULY 18, 2024

Students will have the option to take the science portion of the ACT, similar to the optional writing portion. The math, reading, and English core test will be reduced from three hours to two hours to curb test-taking fatigue. The new ACT will roll out online in spring 2025 and in school in spring 2026.

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Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

These were the first applicants to apply under Yales new test-flexible policy which requires at least one ACT, SAT, AP, or IB set of test scores. The Class of 2029 saw a 14% decrease in early applications, likely due to the implementation of the new testing policy.

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Berkeley² Academy

MARCH 8, 2025

As a result of this increasing demand, UT Austin announced it would be lowering its auto admission threshold to the top 5% and other admissions data supports this increase in competitivenessthe middle 50% of SAT and ACT scores for admitted UT Austin students drastically increased, jumping from 1230-1500 to 1310-1520.

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Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

The landscape of college admissions continues to shift as universities re-evaluate the role of standardized testing in the application process. In a major policy change, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has announced that it will reinstate its standardized testing requirement for the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.

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AdmissionSight

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

For Fall 2025 applicants, Cornell remains test-optional, giving students the choice to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, this policy will change for Fall 2026 admissions, when standardized test scores will once again be required. Understanding Cornells shifting test policies is crucial for applicants.

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Top Tier Admissions

NOVEMBER 15, 2024

Applicants to the Class of 2029 will need to submit an SAT or ACT score although there are some exceptions for those unable to take these exams. Transfer students may still take advantage of a test-optional policy. The regular decision acceptance rate was 3.8%, slightly higher than recent years due to a smaller applicant pool.

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BestColleges

MARCH 8, 2024

Starting in fall 2024, Brown University will require students to submit SAT or ACT scores. Brown becomes the third Ivy League school, following Yale and Dartmouth, to reinstate standardized testing requirements. So did Dartmouth, which became the first Ivy to return to standardized testing.

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BestColleges

FEBRUARY 7, 2024

Dartmouth researchers found SAT and ACT scores can help identify high-achieving, under-resourced students since the college looks at scores in context to where a student is from. Dartmouth College is reinstating its standardized testing requirements after removing them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Top Tier Admissions

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

As of this morning, Yale is the second Ivy League school to require standardized test scores, following Dartmouth’s lead and citing research that test-optional policies adversely affect high-scoring low-income students. This new policy will begin with students applying to enter in the fall of 2025.

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BestColleges

AUGUST 27, 2024

Johns Hopkins University has reinstated standardized test requirements. Students applying in fall 2025 must submit SAT or ACT scores, while those applying this fall are encouraged to do so. Hopkins says test scores more accurately predict academic success and enable disadvantaged students to demonstrate their potential.

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Top Tier Admissions

APRIL 23, 2024

Cornell will reintroduce standardized testing requirements for undergraduate admissions starting in fall 2026, based on findings from a university Task Force on Standardized Testing in Admissions and pressure from peer institutions.

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BestColleges

OCTOBER 12, 2023

The average composite ACT score dropped from 19.8 More students in the class of 2023 took the ACT test from the previous year. More students met none of the ACT benchmarks, compared to the previous year. The average composite score on the ACT dropped for the sixth-straight year from 19.8 for the class of 2023.

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Georgia Tech Admissions Blog

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

I avoid knowing those numbers specifically because they dont really signify much these days; plus I dont want to give the impression that we see prospective students as potential test scores in next years app pool. The Reality Im going to level with you: SAT or ACT scores are a required element of our application process here at Georgia Tech.

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Admissions Village

FEBRUARY 25, 2024

This week, Yale announced that they will require testing but that they are flexible on which type of testing, SAT, ACT, AP, or IB exam score. This is a new definition of the testing required and one we would love to see more widely implemented. Perhaps not surprisingly, demand for SAT and ACT testing has been rising.

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College Kickstart

APRIL 19, 2020

With more colleges shifting to test-optional admissions, we're pleased to introduce two new capabilities in College Kickstart to help you stay on top of the changes and consider when applying test-optional makes sense for you. Active tracking of test-optional schools. Personalized analysis. GPA or class rank).

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Solomon Admissions

MAY 4, 2023

Understanding the Pros and Cons For decades, the SAT and ACT have been a staple in the college admissions process. However, in recent years, there has been debate about whether these standardized tests are still relevant in today's college admissions landscape. So, are the SAT and ACT still relevant for college admissions?

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ACM College Consulting

MAY 3, 2024

In 2024, we have already seen several selective universities, including MIT, Cornell, Yale and Brown announce that they will once again require test scores of some sort (each policy is frustratingly different or vague) for the next application year. Students should research the admissions policies and data of the schools on their list.

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Top Tier Admissions

MARCH 5, 2024

As of this morning, Brown is the third Ivy League school to reinstate standardized test scores, following Yale and Dartmouth’s lead and citing academic performance as the leading factor that influenced the decision. This new policy will begin with the class of 2029.

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Spark Admissions

JANUARY 28, 2022

Then, as the pandemic continued, many colleges extended their policies for another year or longer. Initially, however, it seemed like the Ivy League was eager to return to requiring test scores. Well, for one thing, the number of applications to top colleges shot up once the testing requirement disappeared. Final Thoughts.

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Koodoos Learning

OCTOBER 9, 2022

that are now test-optional, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.” Now more than ever, public and private institutions alike are opting for test-optional or test-flexible. 4 Frequently Asked Questions about “Test-Optional”. Why would I take the SAT or ACT if I don’t have to take it?

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AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Thats according to a recent analysis of ACT scores. Heres whats even more concerning: more than 40% of new graduates didnt meet the ACTs college-readiness benchmarks in any subject, and only 21% hit the mark in all four. When spring or summer rolls around, its also a great time to start taking practice tests for the PSAT, ACT, or SAT.

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Admissions.Blog

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College has announced that it will yet again require high school students to share either an SAT or ACT score as part of their application for admission. The change takes effect for students applying for Fall 2025 admission (those students who will begin their applications in Summer or Fall 2024).

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Admissions Village

APRIL 25, 2023

Part 3: This Process Is Opaque In the first part of this series, we discussed the role that the rise of test-optional (it is now optional to submit standardized test scores, SAT or ACT, at most colleges) has played in opening up the applicant pool to highly selective colleges. So, should you even be trying to test?

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Spark Admissions

JUNE 9, 2023

In addition to being administered completely digitally, the test will have some new features that could make it a better or worse option for you, particularly in the context of extended test-optional admissions policies. you already have a choice between the SAT and the ACT. What are the major changes to the SAT?

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Expert Admissions

MARCH 20, 2023

With so many colleges extending test-optional policies put in place during the pandemic, you may be wondering how much effort you should put into standardized testing. So, knowing that test scores can be important, how do you decide whether to take the SAT or the ACT?

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Spark Admissions

JANUARY 28, 2022

The past few years have seen an unprecedented number of American colleges and universities suspend or even completely drop their requirement that applicants submit standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT. Recently, in response, the College Board has announced major changes to the SAT.

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Top Tier Admissions

MAY 17, 2024

Yale’s Class of 2028 early acceptance rate was the lowest since Yale adopted its current single-choice non-binding early action policy — 9.02%. Brown University , Harvard University and Cornell University have also shifted their policies to require SAT or ACT scores, as have many other highly selective schools.

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College Kickstart

APRIL 19, 2020

When you add a test-blind school to your list and run College Kickstart, we exclude test scores when assessing academic performance and rely solely on GPA and class rank. For example, let’s say you’ve got a 33 ACT, 4.18 weighted GPA and top 5% class rank. Now let’s look at another school in your list, Caltech.

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BestColleges

MARCH 1, 2024

Yale University announced it is reinstating standardized test requirements. Beginning next fall, students can submit SAT or ACT scores, or AP or IB exam results. The university believes mandatory test requirements can help level the playing field for disadvantaged students. Yale has officially become "test-flexible."

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College Wise

JANUARY 29, 2025

As of January 2025, the landscape of standardized testing requirements in college admissions has changed. During the height of COVID-19, many schools released new policies to offer flexibility to students who may have experienced disruptions in taking the SAT or ACT exams.

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