One of the most common questions sophomores and juniors are asking right now is “Do I really need to take the SAT/ACT?”
For most students, the answer is a categorical YES.
Many of the most selective colleges in the country still have not committed to a permanent test-optional policy, and instead, have created 2-year or 3-year “pilot programs” with the intention of reevaluating in the coming years. The 2-year pilot programs will expire next year and we don’t yet know if those colleges will extend them or make them permanent.
While the current test-optional environment suggests the possibility of a more enduring trend, few schools have made permanent changes to their testing policies. If you’re interested in any colleges that have not committed to permanent test-optional admissions (see below), you should certainly plan to submit SAT or ACT scores. Additionally, even in a test-optional environment, SAT and ACT scores can be meaningfully additive to your application.
Make your testing experience successful by preparing early. Juniors, now is the time to choose either the SAT or the ACT and begin studying in earnest. Sophomores and Freshmen, plan to take both a practice SAT and ACT during the second semester of your Sophomore year - our Diagnostic Process will help you learn which test to prepare for.
LogicPrep Tutors are experienced in the nuances of both tests and will guide you through the entire process from start to finish. You can learn more about our test prep process here.
Not test-optional as of March 2023:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Purdue University
University of Florida*
University of Georgia
Florida State University*
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia College and State University
*Note: all 11 of Florida’s public universities require test scores.
Test-optional through Fall 2023 college entrants only*:
Purdue University
Southern Methodist University
State University of New York (SUNY - all campuses)
Stevens Institute of Technology
Trinity University
Tulane University
University of Richmond
University of San Diego (Test-Free)
University of Southern California
Vassar College
Carleton College
Clemson University
Duke University
Elon University
Emory University
Hamilton College
Howard University
Kenyon College
Ohio State University, The
Middlebury College
Test-optional through Fall 2024 college entrants only*:
Pomona College
Reed College (Test-Free)
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rugters University (all campuses)
Santa Clara University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Stanford University
Syracuse University
Texas Christian University
University of Miami
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina (all campuses)
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Wisconsin (all campuses)
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Washington and Lee University
Washington University in St. Louis
Wellesley College
Williams College
Yale University
Amherst College
Barnard College
Baylor University
Boston College
Brown University
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
City University of New York (CUNY - all campuses)
Claremont McKenna College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Drexel University
Fordham University
Harvey Mudd College
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
Loyola Marymount University
New York University
North Carolina State University (all campuses)
Northwestern University
Test-optional through Fall 2025 college entrants or later*:
Princeton University
Swarthmore College
Texas Tech University
Tufts University (2027)
University of Connecticut (2026)
University of Maryland - College Park
University of Pittsburgh
University of Vermont (2026)
University of Virginia
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Test-Free, 2029)
Babson College
Bentley University
Boston University
California Institute of Technology (Test-Free)
Colgate University (2027)
College of Charleston
Harvard University (2026)
Johns Hopkins University (2026)
Northeastern University (2026)
Oberlin College (2026)
Pennsylvania State University (all campuses)
Pitzer College (Test-Free)
*Visit fairtest.org for a complete list of college testing policies