Key takeaways
Top colleges in the U.S. are reinstating SAT and ACT requirements for the 2025 admissions cycle, signaling a shift back to standardized testing as a measure of academic readiness. This change reflects a broader reevaluation of admissions criteria, emphasizing the importance of test scores alongside GPA and student background to ensure fairness and consistency in evaluating applicants.
- Research from MIT and Dartmouth indicates that SAT scores help predict first-year college success, reinforcing their value in admissions decisions.
- Colleges argue that standardized test scores provide a consistent way to compare students, especially from diverse educational backgrounds.
- Ivy League schools typically expect SAT scores between 1480-1580 and ACT scores between 33-36 for competitive admissions.
- Applicants should carefully check individual college testing policies, as many elite institutions have reinstated requirements while others remain test-optional.
Contents
Some of the most selective colleges in the U.S. are changing direction. Top schools like Harvard are once again requiring SAT or ACT scores for the 2025 admissions cycle. This is more than just a return to old habits—it’s part of a broader reevaluation of how fairness and readiness are measured in college admissions.
College leaders say that standardized test scores, when viewed alongside GPA and student background, provide helpful insight into academic potential. This means test scores are officially back in play. It raises the big question again for many families: should you prepare for the SAT? Let’s explore this topic.
Why Are Colleges Bringing Back Standardized Testing?
Test-optional policies worked during the pandemic, but now, many schools believe test scores offer a clearer picture of a student’s readiness—especially when schools and grading systems vary widely.
Here’s why schools are shifting back:
- SAT and ACT scores give colleges a more consistent way to compare students
- Colleges argue that strong test scores can help students from under-resourced schools stand out
- Research from MIT and Dartmouth shows that SAT scores still help predict how well students will do in their first year of college.
As Dartmouth’s President Sian Beilock put it: “A standardized test score doesn’t—and shouldn’t—dictate our admissions decisions, but it should inform those decisions. Reinstating our testing requirement allows us to use all of the data at our disposal to admit and support the broadest and most talented student body possible“.
What Factors Are Driving This Change?
Several key factors are pushing top schools to bring back test requirements:
- Internal research
- Grade inflation
- Equity concerns
- Legal changes
Did the Pandemic Permanently Change Testing Policies?
Not permanently—but it changed how colleges think about testing.
During the pandemic, colleges went test-optional because test centers closed and access wasn’t equal. Colleges noticed problems over time:
- Application numbers soared, but it was harder to compare students
- GPA inflation made it tough to trust grades alone
- Internal reviews showed that test scores still helped predict success
Now, while some schools stay test-optional or test-free, others—especially elite colleges—are bringing tests back.
What Does This Mean For 2025 Applicants?
You need to check testing policies carefully if you’re applying for college in 2025:
- Schools like Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth have updated their policies
- March or June 2025 test dates may be too late for most deadlines
- Some schools accept superscores (best section scores), others don’t
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Which Top Colleges Are Reinstating SAT Or ACT Scores?
Let’s see the most important examples:
| Private/Public Institutions | Type | Testing Policy for 2025 | Additional Information |
| Harvard University | Private | Required | Accepts SAT or ACT |
| Yale University | Private | Required | Accepts AP or IB scores only in special cases where students had limited access |
| Dartmouth College | Private | Required | Says fairness and equal opportunity are the main reasons |
| Brown University | Private | Required | Emphasizes holistic review with test inclusion |
| MIT | Private | Required | Superscores both SAT and ACT |
| Caltech | Private | Required | Reinforced after temporary pause during pandemic |
| University of Florida | Public | Required | State-mandated; required for all applicants |
| University of Georgia | Public | Required | State-mandated; competitive score expectations |
| University of Texas at Austin | Public | Required | Required by state policy—students must submit test scores to get in |
| UNC Chapel Hill | Public | Test-Preferred | Test scores are recommended, but you don’t have to submit them |
Always confirm directly with the school’s admissions website or the FairTest database before applying, as policies may continue to evolve.
What Scores Are Considered Competitive Now?
Here are typical score ranges at top schools:
| College | SAT | ACT |
| Harvard | 1480-1580 | 33-36 |
| Yale | 1460-1580 | 33-35 |
| MIT | 1530 (median) | 35 (median) |
| UF | 1330-1470 | 29-33 |
| UGA | 1240-1420 | 27-32 |
Do Score Expectations Vary Between Top Colleges?
Yes. Expectations depend on the college and even the major:
- MIT expects very high math scores
- Harvard/Yale look for balance across sections
- UT Austin and UF may have lower score ranges, but programs like engineering often expect more
Are There Still Test-Optional Colleges?
Yes. Over 2,000 U.S. colleges still let you apply without test scores:
Test-optional:
- University of Chicago
- Columbia University
- Amherst College
- Boston University
Test-free:
- University of California (all campuses)
- California State University system
- Hampshire College
- Washington State University
Even test-optional schools may require scores for some programs or scholarships.
What Other Parts Of Your Application Matter Most?
Colleges pay closer attention to these factors when test scores are missing or optional:
- Transcript
- Essays
- Recommendations
- Activities
- Context
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Top Tips from Our Expert
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Alyssa Mendoza, AP Coordinator and College Prep Specialist
Sources: College Board, Dartmouth College, MIT, FairTest, LinkedIn
