Test-optional admissions policies give applicants the choice whether to submit testing. Test-blind admissions policies do not consider scores at all. Test-flexible admissions policies require an applicant to send test scores but allow them to submit other standardized test scores in lieu of the SAT or ACT (think 3 Subject Tests instead of the SAT or ACT).
It’s a small number of schools that are test-flexible but the option is notable, especially for students who do better on APs and Subject Tests compared to the SAT or ACT. Small liberal arts colleges such as Hamilton and Middlebury are test-flexible and NYU, one of the largest universities in the US, has one of the most flexible testing policies of any college or university. Take a look at the language from NYU’s website:
To be eligible for admission, you must submit ONE of the following:
- SAT; or
- ACT; or
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma; or
- Three (3) SAT Subject Test scores; or
- Three (3) AP Exam scores; or
- Three (3) IB higher-level exam scores if not an IB Diploma candidate; or
- Other international examinations that show you completed, or if submitting predicted results show you will complete your secondary education. You can use our International Qualifications Tool for information about credentials we accept from the country in which you are enrolled in secondary school
- Applicants to programs in our Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and our Tisch School of the Arts requiring an audition or portfolio are not required to submit standardized testing for consideration and doing so is entirely optional. For other programs where an audition or portfolio is optional but not required, testing is required.
- All applicants to our campus in New York must meet our English language requirements.
While these schools typically offer test-flexible policies, note that in light of the pandemic, Hamilton, Middlebury, and NYU all moved to a test-optional policy for the 2021-2022 application cycle.
If you’re currently a high school senior, double-check the schools on your college list to see if they’ve made adjustments to their testing requirements for the current application cycle.
For specific questions on the admissions process, essay writing, or testing advice, please reach out to Expert Admissions for more information.
| College/University | Policy | Dates | Link | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY System | Test-Flexible | This Year | SUNY Policy | |
| University of Michigan | Test-Flexible | This Year | University of Michigan Policy | |
| University of Minnesota | Test-Flexible | This Year | University of Minnesota Policy |
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