Test-Optional Ivy League Schools 2026
For students applying in the 2026-2027 admissions cycle (fall 2027 entry), only two Ivy League schools are test-optional: Columbia and Princeton. All other Ivies have returned to requiring standardized testing, though Yale offers a "test-flexible" policy that accepts AP or IB scores as alternatives to the SAT/ACT.
The landscape of Ivy League testing policies has shifted dramatically since the COVID-era adoption of test-optional admissions. While all eight Ivies initially went test-optional in 2020, six have now reinstated testing requirements as of the 2026-2027 cycle.
Brown University: Required (SAT or ACT)
Brown has returned to requiring standardized test scores beginning with the 2024-25 admission cycle. All first-year applicants must submit either SAT or ACT scores.
Testing Details:
Accepts Score Choice
Superscores both SAT and ACT
SAT Essay and ACT Writing sections are optional
Applies to all first-year applicants, including recruited athletes
Brown made this decision following a comprehensive data review announced in March 2024. The policy applies to both domestic and international students.
English Proficiency: Brown requires English proficiency testing (TOEFL, IELTS, DET, PTE, or Cambridge) for applicable international students. Note that TOEFL updated its scoring scale in January 2026 to a 1-6 scale, and Brown's requirements reflect this new system.
Columbia University: Test-Optional
Columbia is one of only two Ivy League schools remaining test-optional for the 2026-2027 cycle. According to their admissions FAQ, "Columbia is test-optional for applicants applying to either Columbia College or Columbia Engineering."
Testing Details:
No preference between ACT and SAT
Will consider the higher score if both tests are submitted
Policy applies broadly to all applicants (domestic and international)
Columbia moved to test-optional on an indefinite basis beginning in March 2023, and unlike most other Ivies, has maintained this policy rather than reverting to required testing. This makes Columbia particularly attractive for strong students whose test scores don't reflect their academic capabilities.
Cornell University: Required (SAT or ACT)
Cornell explicitly requires standardized test scores for "students applying for Fall 2026 or beyond." This requirement was announced in April 2024 and applies across all undergraduate colleges at Cornell.
Testing Details:
Applicants may self-report scores on the application
Superscores both SAT and ACT
The science section of the ACT is not required
SAT/ACT scores are neither required nor expected for transfer applicants
Cornell had used a hybrid approach for fall 2025, with some colleges implementing "score-free" policies, but has now standardized the requirement across all programs.
English Proficiency: Cornell requires proof of English proficiency in specified cases, with a minimum TOEFL score of 5.0 on the new scale (recommends 5.5).
Dartmouth College: Required (with flexible options for international students)
Dartmouth's testing guidelines explicitly state that "Standardized testing is a required element of Dartmouth's undergraduate application," effective beginning with the Class of 2029 applicants.
Testing Details for U.S. High School Students:
Must submit SAT or ACT
Dartmouth superscores both tests
Testing Details for Students Outside the U.S.: Dartmouth offers more flexibility for international applicants, accepting:
SAT or ACT, OR
Three AP exam scores, OR
IB predicted/final scores, OR
A-levels predicted/final scores, OR
Final national exam results (predicted national exam scores not accepted)
Additional Options:
SAT Subject Tests are optional but can be submitted to illustrate academic strengths
English Proficiency: Required if English is not the first language and curriculum has not been delivered in English for at least two years. Dartmouth does not accept TOEFL MyBest or TOEFL Essentials.
Harvard College: Required (SAT or ACT)
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT to meet its standardized testing requirement, with exceptions only in cases where tests are genuinely inaccessible. This requirement began with applicants to the Class of 2029.
Testing Details:
Application requirements are the same for domestic and international students
Standard requirement: SAT or ACT
Exceptional access cases: May submit AP, IB (actual/predicted), GCSE/A-level (actual/predicted), or externally assessed national leaving exam results, but students who have access to these are still expected to take SAT/ACT if able
Important Notes:
SAT Subject Tests and SAT Essay have been discontinued but can be submitted if already taken
English proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) cannot be used to satisfy Harvard's standardized testing requirement
Harvard emphasizes that the same standards apply to all applicants regardless of citizenship or location.
University of Pennsylvania: Unspecified for 2026-2027
Penn's testing policy for the 2026-2027 cycle (fall 2027 entry) has not yet been explicitly stated on official admissions pages. However, Penn did reinstate testing requirements for the 2025-2026 cycle (fall 2026 entry) in a February 2025 announcement.
Most Recent Policy (2025-2026 cycle):
Required SAT or ACT for all applicants
Applies to first-year, domestic, international, homeschooled, transfer, and QuestBridge applicants
Superscores both SAT and ACT
ACT science section not required
Hardship-based testing waiver available for applicants who have not taken SAT/ACT
If applicants have taken testing, they must submit scores (scores supersede waivers)
Given Penn's pattern of announcing policies cycle-by-cycle, prospective applicants should monitor Penn's admissions website for updates about the 2026-2027 requirements.
English Proficiency: Penn requires TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test when English is neither native nor the language of instruction. Does not accept IELTS Indicator or TOEFL MyBest.
Princeton University: Test-Optional (until fall 2028)
Princeton explicitly remains test-optional for students seeking to enroll in fall 2026 or fall 2027. This makes Princeton the second test-optional Ivy for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Testing Details:
Test-optional policy applies to both first-year and transfer applicants
Future change: Princeton will require testing again for students applying for fall 2028 entry (2027-2028 application cycle)
SAT Subject Tests not required (College Board eliminated them in 2021)
Princeton's decision to return to required testing for fall 2028 was based on a five-year data review, but for now, strong applicants can apply without submitting test scores.
English Proficiency: Required in defined cases (accepts TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test, and PTE Academic).
Yale University: Required, Test-Flexible
Yale offers a unique "test-flexible" policy: all first-year and transfer applicants must submit standardized test scores, but applicants can choose from multiple test types. This policy went into effect for the 2024-25 admissions cycle.
Testing Details:
Required: scores from ACT, SAT, AP, or IB
Superscores SAT and ACT
ACT Science and Writing sections are optional
A single AP or IB exam score can fulfill the requirement (though Yale advises submitting all completed exams)
Predicted IB scores do not fulfill the requirement but can be shared
Yale's test-flexible approach recognizes that students demonstrate academic preparation through various assessment formats, giving applicants more choice in how they present their testing profile.
English Proficiency: Required in defined cases. Accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English, and InitialView.
The Broader Trend: Return to Testing
The shift back toward required testing represents a significant change from the COVID-era consensus. Between 2023 and 2025, Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Cornell, and Penn all publicly announced returns to required or required-but-flexible testing policies. These decisions followed institutional data reviews showing that standardized test scores remained valuable predictors of academic success.
For students applying to Ivy League schools in the 2026-2027 cycle, the message is clear: unless you're applying to Columbia or Princeton, you'll need to submit standardized test scores. Even for test-optional schools, submitting strong scores remains advantageous for most applicants.
If you're targeting an Ivy League or other highly selective schools, schedule a consultation with an admissions expert to discuss how we can help you present your strongest possible candidacy.
