For a short while, we waved goodbye to standardized test requirements at many of the best universities in the US, including the Ivy Leagues. Slowly, these requirements are making their way back.
Why Standardized Testing Requirements Were Removed
Over the global COVID-19 pandemic, many schools removed their SAT/ACT score reporting requirements to make their applications more accessible to prospective students, particularly those who had lost access to testing centers and preparation opportunities. This was a measure also to reduce stress during a globally taxing time.
SAT/ACT Requirements Are Slowly Coming Back. What’s Next?
As the world moves forward, we’re seeing the return of standardized tests as a necessary criterion of applications to top US universities, including several Ivy Leagues.
Find Out if Your Dream School is Reinstating SAT/ACT Requirements
- These are the Ivy Leagues reinstating requirements for the Class of 2029: Harvard University, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Yale University
- Other notable schools include: Stanford University, Georgetown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
We suggest that you look up every college on your list, to confirm what their requirements are following these changes. Stay updated on what you need to submit with your university application, always!
So, Should You Take the SAT/ACT?
This depends on the individual. Where you aim to go plays a huge role in this question, but as general advice to all applicants aiming to get into US universities, yes! In college applications, particularly if you are aiming for Ivy League admission or any other prestigious US university, you want to maximize your chances. Each data point you provide in your application, including that of a high SAT/ACT score, will play a role in boosting your likelihood of admittance. Our advice is to never miss an opportunity to show your strength as an applicant. A high SAT/ACT score is another way to show how competent you are, and competitive as an applicant.
But I’m Not Confident About My Ability to Score…
Firstly, breathe. It’s totally normal to be worried about standardized test scores, especially if you’re juggling other exams like the IB or A-Levels. The important thing is to know that SAT/ACT test success is often a matter of clever preparation. Make use of Collegeboard resources and mock tests to get a sense of where your levels are, but consider a more robust SAT Prep experience and specialized help for a drastic improvement in your score.
The newly reinstated requirements may seem, initially, like an additional stress point. But, they are also offering you another opportunity to help yourself stand out. The team at IvyPrep is wishing you all the best with your SAT prep, and reminding you that we’re always here to help!
Learn more about our SAT programsFAQ
We suggest that all students applying to the US, particularly top US Universities, consider taking the SATs. All data points are crucial, especially when applications are so competitive. We encourage our students to take every opportunity to show their competence to admissions officers.
Over the pandemic, requirements became harder to meet for various social and economic reasons. Now that the world is moving towards normalcy, colleges are keen to have more information about applicants’ academic performance through standardized tests, which are more centralized and comparable metrics.
We have witnessed huge score jumps among our hardworking students, and have seen that with the right preparation and effort, drastic improvements are possible.
The first thing to do is to take a diagnostic test to see where your weak areas are. With less time before the test, you have to work harder and smarter to prepare yourself quickly. Having a pinpoint focus on problem areas will be a great start in your test prep journey.
Standardized tests give schools a general idea of your performance in pressure conditions, as well as a sense of your aptitudes in basic reasoning, reading, writing, and math.
