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Over the years, the college admissions landscape has changed vastly, with many events and circumstances changing how schools process applications. One of the most significant changes over the past few years has occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which many students lost access to standardized testing. Because of this, many US colleges, especially those at the top level, changed their testing policies to make applications more accessible for students. However, as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have subsided, many schools have reverted their pandemic-era policies, leaving many students and families wondering what the new test policies are with each admissions cycle.

Here, InGenius Prep presents a list of the standardized testing policies for the top US schools, including Test Required, Test Optional, Test Flexible, and Test Blind policies.

Test Required:
Colleges with test-requires policies mandate students to submit their standardized test scores within their college applications. Usually, these include SAT or ACT test scores, with many schools quoting that these test scores are solid indicators of students' potential performance at their institution.  

However, many top schools with "Test Required" policies employ holistic review and will consider all aspects of a student's application in their decisions—not just their test scores.

Test Optional:
A policy in which students can choose whether or not to include their test scores with their college applications. Students can opt not to submit their test scores. However, admissions officers at the top schools will still consider other factors when selecting candidates, such as applicants' academic performance and extracurricular accomplishments.

Even if students decide not to submit their test scores, they must still display strong candidacy in other areas of their student profile.

Test Blind:
Schools that are test-blind will not consider test scores in their applicant reviews. Whether students submit test scores or not, they will not play a factor in an applicant's acceptance but may help in course selection.

Only four top 30 universities have a "Test Blind" policy for the 2024–2025 application season.

Test Flexible:
Test-flexible policies still require students to take the SAT or ACT test, but some students can substitute these tests for others, such as with AP/ IB scores. This is sometimes a good option for international students or those who do not have access to SAT or ACT tests, but only one of the schools within the top 30 ranking offers a test-flexible application policy.

Standardized Testing Policies For the Top 30 U.S. Universities 2024-2025

Learn More from the Experts in College Admissions

Higher education is a highly competitive landscape, and schools' policies and standards change over time. Some have deemed this previous admissions cycle one of the most chaotic in recent memory, and schools continue to change their policies to better suit their missions and their students—such as Harvard, UT-Austin, and Yale, which all recently reverted to test-optional policies just this Spring of 2024.

As the college admissions landscape continues to change over the years, InGenius Prep is here to guide you with the best in college admissions strategy, with expert insights from our team of Former Admissions Officers and professionals in the education sector. To learn more about our programs and how to give your student the best chance at acceptance into a top US school, schedule a free consultation call with one of our advisors today!