Elton Lin, Founder and CEONow, it seems that more and more schools are returning to testing requirements. This reversal has left students and families scrambling, asking: Was test-optional just a trend, one that has become a bygone era? What is the state of test-optional policies as we approach 2025? Is test-optional no more, and if so, what does this mean for college applicants moving forward?
The height of test-optional policies
Test-optional policies had existed prior to COVID-19 in schools like Brandeis (since 2013) and Bowdoin (since 1969, making it the first institution to do so in the States), but more test-optional policies began cropping up in more and more schools across the U.S. when the pandemic made taking the SAT and ACT highly difficult for college applicants.
However, most test-optional policies came with an important caveat: they would be temporary, with colleges planning to reevaluate the situation in a couple years as the status of the pandemic inevitably changed, and possibly bring back standardized test requirements if they thought it best to do so.
Indeed, over the following years, schools began readdressing their standardized test policies. Some doubled down on their policies; the University of California and California State University systems even went test-blind. Many schools decided that the lack of test scores did not compromise the quality of their applicant pool; in fact, they believed that standardized testing could disadvantage potential applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, and that making test scores optional created a more diverse student body.
However, many other schools—including but not limited to Purdue, Stanford, Harvard, and MIT—have since returned to test-required policies.
Why are so many top schools reinstating testing requirements?
When MIT reinstated testing requirements in 2022, they stated that test scores helped them “better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants, and also help us identify socioeconomically disadvantaged students.”
In other words, the return to testing requirements is a strategic decision, not simply a return to the status quo for the sake of tradition. These schools have found that test scores are one of the most reliable predictors (beyond GPA) of a student’s academic preparedness. Additionally, these schools claim that test scores could be a more accessible and accurate method of demonstrating academic preparedness than grades and extracurriculars, and thus increase opportunities for underrepresented communities.
Is test-optional a thing of the past?
While many schools have indeed reinstated testing requirements, that by no means test-optional policies are obsolete. As of the 2025-26 admissions cycle, over 2,000 colleges and universities abide by test-optional or test-blind policies, constituting more than 80% of U.S. four-year colleges and universities.
However, what about the test-optional trends in top schools specifically? Six out of the eight Ivies have reinstated test requirements for Fall 2025: Harvard, Brown, Dartmouth, UPenn, Yale, and Cornell (depending on the Cornell school students apply to). The seventh, Princeton, has announced its return to test requirements for the 2027-28 cycle. Other highly-selective schools have also reinstated test requirements, including MIT, Stanford, Georgetown, Purdue, Caltech, and UT Austin.
On the other hand, a large handful of top schools remain test-optional or test-blind (as of October 2025): Columbia (the last Ivy), for example, as well as Northwestern, Duke, UChicago, the UCs, Emory, Rice, University of Notre Dame, USC, Vanderbilt, and UMich.
Test-optional and test-required policies are much more evenly distributed across high-ranking colleges and universities, indicating that the role of standardized tests like the SAT and ACT is far from straightforward.
What does this mean for you, the college applicant?
For students currently navigating the college application process, this inconclusive news can certainly add a dense layer of stress! However, students should try not to fear the SAT/ACT, and instead think about how they can use it to their advantage.
In other words, if you are able to take the SAT or ACT, you should. By taking the SAT or ACT, students create options for themselves:
• If this results in a good score, students gain a powerful data point to strengthen their application to schools that will accept test scores—that is, test-optional and test-required schools! (Test-free schools, of course, will not allow you to submit your test scores at all.)
• If students don’t achieve the score they wanted, test-optional policies allow students to simply choose not to submit that score to schools that don't require it, allowing stronger parts of their application—essays, grades, and extracurriculars—to take center stage.
Though many schools have reinstated testing requirements, the remaining prevalence of test-optional policies allows students to have a choice of how to use their test scores, and that can be a crucial factor in the strength of a college application.
More than just a test score
The admissions landscape will undoubtedly continue to evolve. More schools may follow MIT's lead, while others may double down on their test-optional or even test-blind policies. Instead of getting caught up in the uncertainty, focus on building the strongest, most authentic application you can. That includes preparing for the SAT or ACT to give yourself the most strategic flexibility possible.
At ILUMIN, we know that a successful application tells a compelling narrative, with test scores being only a fraction of that story. Our experts have guided their students through their college journeys, each with their own unique victories and challenges—and we would love to help your student reach their full potential as well!
If you would like to learn more about how we can create a personalized application strategy for your student and build an application that stands out, please feel free to book a free consultation with us today.
