The Return of Standardized Testing: Why UPenn and Other Elite Universities Are Going Back to Test-Required Admissions

Posted on: February 21, 2025

The University of Pennsylvania just announced they're going back to requiring the SAT or ACT for admission.

First, let's put this in context. UPenn is now the sixth Ivy League school to make this change. When I look at my Class of 2024 seniors who are hearing back from colleges right now, the majority of them took these tests anyway, even when they were optional. Why? Because we had looked at the data from years past, and it was clear—admitted students were still submitting scores.

Here's what I'm seeing on the ground: Among the most selective (i.e. famous) colleges, the testing landscape looks like this:

  • 7 out of the top 10 universities now require tests

  • Half of the top 20 colleges require them

  • And in the "Ivy Plus" group (that's the Ivies plus Stanford, Duke, MIT, and University of Chicago), 8 out of 12 schools now require testing

To get a better sense, here’s a look at the percentage of enrolled students who submitted SAT and ACT scores at top universities. This data, sourced from the 2023-2024 Common Data Set, shows that even when tests were optional, many students still chose to submit scores.

*Data for Duke, Columbia, Dartmouth and UT was sourced from alternative references due to the unavailability of current CDS data for these schools.

 
 

Now, I know what you're thinking - "Does this mean applications will drop? Will this hurt my chances?" Actually, the data I'm seeing suggests the opposite. Most schools that went back to requiring tests saw their application numbers go up, not down. Even the University of Texas saw a 24% jump in applications after requiring tests again.

Here's what I tell my students: This shift is actually making things clearer, not harder. Remember how confusing it was when some schools were test-optional? My students would constantly ask me, "Should I submit my 1380? What about my 1420? What's the cutoff?" The flexibility that was supposed to reduce stress often ended up creating more anxiety.

For those of you working with us now or planning ahead, here's my practical advice:

  1. If you're a sophomore or freshman, build standardized testing into your long-term plan. This doesn't mean stress about it now - it means giving yourself plenty of time to prepare thoughtfully.

  2. If you're a junior, don't wait to see which schools might change their policies. Get your testing done this spring so you have options.

  3. For my current seniors - nothing changes for you. Your applications are already in, so take a deep breath.

Looking ahead, I expect we'll see more schools follow Penn's lead. Princeton, Northwestern, UChicago, and several others have student bodies where most admitted students submitted test scores anyway - they might be next.

And for students interested in the Super Publics, keep an eye on schools like UNC, UVA, and Michigan. They might follow other top public universities in returning to testing requirements.

Remember, we’ve guided hundreds of students through changes in the admissions process, and we always find the right path forward. This is just another shift in the landscape, and we'll navigate it together.

Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss how this affects your specific situation. My door (and Zoom room) is always open.

P.S. For my juniors who haven't started test prep yet - don't worry, but let's chat soon. And no, you don't need to cancel your spring break plans! We'll figure out a balanced approach.

- Mike Wagner

Lead Instructor and Founder

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