📚 Trends and College Roundup: US Universities Reinstating Standardized Test Requirements | 美国大学恢复标化考试要求的趋势与院校盘点
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all US higher education institutions temporarily suspended their SAT and ACT requirements, ushering in an era of test-optional admissions. As testing centers shuttered and exam dates were cancelled, even the most selective universities concluded that it was unfair to mandate scores that many students simply could not obtain. Now, a growing number of schools are reversing course, reinstating standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants. This article examines the driving forces behind the policy reversal, provides a comprehensive roundup of institutions that have brought back testing, and explores what the trend means for future applicants and international students.
新冠疫情爆发后，几乎所有美国高校都暂时取消了SAT和ACT要求，标化可选（test-optional）录取时代随之来临。由于考场关闭、考试日期被大规模取消，就连最挑剔的大学也认为，强制要求许多学生根本无法取得的分数是不公平的。如今，越来越多院校正在扭转这一政策，重新要求本科申请者提交标化成绩。本文考察了这一政策反转的推动力，盘点了已恢复考试要求的院校，并探讨这一趋势对未来申请者与国际学生意味着什么。
1. The Rise and Fall of Test-Optional Policies | 标化可选政策的兴衰
When the University of California system announced a phased move toward test-blind admissions in 2020, many predicted that the SAT and ACT were on their way out. By the 2021–22 admissions cycle, over 1,800 four-year colleges in the US had adopted test-optional or test-blind policies. The rationale was clear: eliminate a barrier that disadvantaged low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minority students. These policies were initially framed as temporary, but a significant number of institutions extended them indefinitely, citing early data that suggested holistic review could maintain academic quality without requiring standardized scores.
2020年，当加州大学系统宣布逐步转向完全不看标化成绩的“test-blind”录取时，许多人预测SAT和ACT即将退出历史舞台。到2021–22申请季，全美已有超过1800所四年制大学实行标化可选或免试政策。其理由十分明确：消除一种对低收入、第一代大学生以及少数族裔申请者构成障碍的门槛。这些政策最初被定位为临时措施，但大量院校以早期数据为由无限期延长，声称即便不要求标化成绩，全面评估仍能维持学术质量。
However, beginning in early 2024, the narrative shifted dramatically. A string of high-profile universities, backed by new research on predictive validity and equity, announced that they would once again require SAT or ACT scores. The test-optional wave has not completely receded, but it is now being countered by a test-required resurgence, especially among selective and highly selective institutions. This pendulum swing underscores the contested role of standardized testing in American higher education and the competing interpretations of what constitutes fair access.
然而，从2024年初开始，叙事急剧转向。一系列知名大学在预测效度与公平性方面的新研究支持下，宣布重新要求提交SAT或ACT成绩。标化可选的浪潮尚未完全退去，但正受到标化要求复潮的制衡，尤其是在选拔性较强的院校中。这种钟摆式变化凸显了标化考试在美国高等教育中的争议性角色，以及人们对于如何实现公平录取的相互矛盾的理解。
2. Why Are Universities Bringing Back Standardized Tests? | 为什么大学重新要求标化成绩？
One major catalyst is the mounting evidence that standardized test scores provide better predictive information about college performance than high school GPAs in an era of grade inflation. A widely cited study from Opportunity Insights, led by researchers from Harvard and Brown, found that SAT and ACT scores are strong predictors of academic success in college, long-term career outcomes, and even graduate school attendance. Critically, the study demonstrated that using test scores in conjunction with other factors helped admissions offices identify talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who might otherwise be overlooked due to weaker extracurricular profiles or less rigorous high school curricula.
一个主要的催化剂是，越来越多的证据表明，在分数通胀时代，标准化考试成绩比高中GPA更能预测大学表现。一项由哈佛大学和布朗大学研究人员引领、由Opportunity Insights发表的广受引用的研究发现，SAT和ACT成绩能够有力预测大学学业成功、长期职业成果甚至研究生院入学。尤为关键的是，该研究表明，将考试成绩与其他因素结合使用，有助于招生办识别出来自弱势背景的资优生，他们可能因课外活动较弱或高中课程不够严苛而被忽视。
Furthermore, admissions officers have expressed concern that test-optional policies inadvertently encourage students to withhold information that could benefit their applications. For example, a high-achieving student attending a less-resourced high school might have a test score that validates their academic potential far more clearly than a mediocre GPA inflated by lax grading. By making scores optional, universities may lose a tool that can level the playing field and provide context for academic achievement. Several institutions also noted that their internal analyses showed test-inclusive models improved diversity, particularly socioeconomic and racial diversity, contradicting the original argument that testing hurts minorities.
此外，招生官们表示担忧，标化可选政策无意中鼓励学生隐去可能对申请有利的信息。例如，一个就读于资源匮乏高中的高成就学生，其考试成绩可能比因评分宽松而虚高的中等GPA更能清晰地证明其学术潜力。将成绩设为可选，大学可能丧失一种能够公平竞争并为学业成就提供背景的工具。若干院校还指出，内部分析显示纳入考试分数的模型提升了多样性，尤其是社会经济和种族多样性，这与考试伤害少数族裔的原始论点相矛盾。
3. Key Research Driving the Change | 推动变革的关键研究
The most influential research paper in this policy reversal was released by Harvard Professor Raj Chetty and colleagues at Opportunity Insights in July 2023, with updated findings in early 2024. The study analyzed data from the Ivy League and other selective institutions, concluding that SAT/ACT scores are far better than high school grades at predicting college grades, graduation rates, and post-college success. Importantly, the research showed that relationships between test scores and outcomes were nearly identical across income brackets, suggesting the tests do not systematically underestimate low-income students' potential.
在这场政策反转中最具影响力的研究论文，是由哈佛大学教授Raj Chetty及其在Opportunity Insights的同事于2023年7月发布的，并于2024年初更新了研究结果。该研究分析了常春藤及其他选拔性院校的数据，得出结论：SAT/ACT成绩在预测大学成绩、毕业率和毕业后成功方面，远优于高中成绩。重要的是，研究表明考试成绩与结果之间的关系在不同收入阶层中几乎一致，这说明考试并没有系统性地低估低收入学生的潜力。
Brown University conducted its own internal review, chaired by Provost Francis Doyle, and found that test scores, even when high school grades are controlled for, add meaningful predictive power. Their analysis also revealed that in a test-optional world, many qualified low-income students chose not to submit scores, potentially hurting their admission chances. Similarly, Dartmouth College released an internal study showing that students who submitted test scores under the optional policy had significantly higher first-year GPAs than those who did not, raising concerns about underprepared enrollees. These campus-specific findings gave institutional leaders the confidence to reinstate testing requirements.
布朗大学在教务长Francis Doyle的主持下进行了内部审查，发现即使在控制高中成绩的情况下，考试成绩也能提供有意义的预测力。他们的分析还表明，在标化可选的世界中，许多有资格的低收入学生选择不提交分数，这可能损害了他们的录取机会。类似地，达特茅斯学院发布的一项内部研究显示，在可选政策下提交了考试成绩的学生，其大一GPA显著高于未提交者，引发了对于部分入学学生准备不足的担忧。这些校本研究结果给了院校领导恢复考试要求的信心。
4. Notable Universities That Have Reinstated SAT/ACT | 已恢复标化要求的知名院校
The list of colleges moving back to test-required admissions has grown rapidly. Below is a summary table of some of the most prominent institutions and their revised policies. Note that effective dates refer to the first entering class for which scores will be required.
恢复标化要求录取的院校名单正迅速扩大。下表汇总了部分最著名院校及其修订后的政策。请注意，生效日期指的是第一个将被要求提交成绩的入学年级。
| University | Policy | Effective Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Test-Required | Class of 2027 (Fall 2023 entry) | First major university to reinstate after pandemic; SAT/ACT required since 2022 announcement. |
| Georgetown University | Test-Required | Always required; never went test-optional | Maintained requirement throughout pandemic; requires all scores. |
| Harvard University | Test-Required | Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry) | Announced April 2024; SAT or ACT required, with limited exceptions if tests are inaccessible. |
| Yale University | Test-Flexible | Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry) | Requires standardized testing but allows AP or IB exam results in lieu of SAT/ACT. |
| Brown University | Test-Required | Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry) | Announced March 2024; cited own research showing testing aided diversity. |
| Dartmouth College | Test-Required | Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry) | First Ivy to announce reinstatement (Feb 2024); internal study played key role. |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | Test-Required | Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry) | Reversed its 2020 test-blind policy; emphasizes math proficiency. |
| University of Texas at Austin | Test-Required | Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry) | Announced March 2024; largest public university to return to requirement. |
| Stanford University | Test-Required | Class of 2030 (Fall 2026 entry) | Announced June 2024; reinstating for 2025-26 application cycle. |
| Johns Hopkins University | Test-Required | Class of 2030 (Fall 2026 entry) | Will require SAT/ACT for applicants starting in 2025. |
| Cornell University | Test-Required (most colleges) | Class of 2030 (Fall 2026 entry) | After remaining test-optional for 2025, most undergraduate colleges will require scores for 2026 entry. |
The table illustrates that the reinstatement timeline is concentrated between the 2025 and 2026 entering classes, with many of the most selective institutions aligning their policies. Notably, Yale’s test-flexible approach represents a middle ground, recognizing that rigorous high school curricula and alternative assessments like AP and IB exams can also signal preparedness. Dartmouth, Brown, and Harvard have all emphasized that test scores are used in context and are not the sole determinant of admission, but they are now a mandatory piece of the application puzzle.
上表显示，恢复要求的时间线集中在2025年和2026年入学年级之间，许多选拔性最强的院校政策趋于一致。值得注意的是，耶鲁的“标化灵活”（test-flexible）方式代表了一种中间立场，承认严格的高中课程以及AP和IB等替代评估也能预示准备程度。达特茅斯、布朗和哈佛均强调，考试成绩会放在具体背景中考察，并非录取的唯一决定因素，但现在它们是申请中不可或缺的一部分。
5. A Closer Look at Ivy League and Top-tier Reinstatements | 常春藤及顶尖院校的恢复情况
The Ivy League has been the epicenter of the test-required resurgence. Harvard’s decision was particularly influential given its brand; the university’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted to reinstate the requirement after reviewing internal data that showed test scores helped admissions officers identify talented students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds. Harvard offers a rare exception for students who genuinely cannot access testing, but the overwhelming majority of applicants will be expected to submit scores.
常春藤联盟一直是标化要求复潮的震中。哈佛的决定因其品牌影响力而格外引人注目；该校文理学院在审查内部数据后投票决定恢复要求，数据显示考试成绩有助于招生官识别来自低收入和第一代大学生背景的资优生。哈佛为确实无法参加考试的学生提供了罕见的例外，但绝大多数申请者都需提交成绩。
Yale’s test-flexible policy, announced in February 2024, allows applicants to submit Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other national examination results instead of SAT/ACT scores. This policy nods to international diversity and recognizes that many students outside the US engage in rigorous examination systems. Brown and Dartmouth reverted to straightforward test-required policies, each supported by faculty votes and internal reports. Meanwhile, Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania have extended test-optional policies through the 2024-25 admissions cycle, but both are expected to revisit their policies amid growing pressure from peer institutions and emerging data.
耶鲁大学于2024年2月宣布的标化灵活政策，允许申请者提交AP、IB或其他国家考试成绩以替代SAT/ACT。这一政策兼顾了国际多样性，承认美国以外许多学生参与的严格考试体系。布朗大学和达特茅斯学院则回归了直接的标化要求政策，两者均由教职工投票和内部报告支持。与此同时，普林斯顿大学和宾夕法尼亚大学已将标化可选政策延长至2024-25申请季，但在同行院校日益增大的压力和新数据的推动下，预计两者都将重新审视其政策。
6. Public University Systems Reverting to Test Requirements | 公立大学系统恢复标化要求
While private elite institutions have captured headlines, public universities have also begun to shift. The University of Texas at Austin’s announcement in March 2024 that it would require SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2025 applicants marked a significant departure from the test-optional stance it had held since 2020. UT Austin leaders cited data showing that students who submitted scores had higher grades and were more likely to graduate on time. Similarly, the University of Georgia system had already reinstated test requirements earlier, and Florida’s public universities—including the University of Florida and Florida State University—have required tests throughout the pandemic.
尽管私立精英院校占据了头条新闻，公立大学也已开始转向。德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校于2024年3月宣布，要求2025年秋季入学的申请者提交SAT或ACT成绩，这标志着该校自2020年以来一直坚持的标化可选立场发生了重大转变。校领导援引数据称，提交了考试成绩的学生成绩更高，且更有可能按时毕业。类似地，佐治亚大学系统此前已恢复考试要求，而佛罗里达州的公立大学——包括佛罗里达大学和佛罗里达州立大学——在整个疫情期间一直要求提交考试成绩。
On the other hand, the University of California system stands as a prominent outlier. In 2021, UC settled a lawsuit by agreeing to remain test-blind for freshman admissions through at least 2025. The UC Board of Regents has not signaled any intention to revisit the test requirement, and it is developing its own assessment, though progress has been slow. The contrast between California and flagships in Texas, Georgia, and Florida illustrates the deep divisions that remain in American higher education regarding standardized testing.
另一方面，加州大学系统仍是一个突出的例外。2021年，加州大学达成诉讼和解，同意至少在2025年之前对新生录取保持test-blind政策。加州大学董事会尚未释放出重新考虑考试要求的信号，虽然其正在开发自己的评估工具，但进展缓慢。加利福尼亚州与德克萨斯州、佐治亚州和佛罗里达州旗舰大学之间的对比，显示了美国高等教育在标化考试问题上依然存在的深刻分歧。
7. Universities Remaining Test-Optional or Test-Blind | 仍维持标化可选或免试的院校
Not all prestigious schools have joined the test-required bandwagon. Columbia University became the first Ivy League institution to permanently adopt a test-optional policy in March 2023, arguing that the decision was rooted in equity and access. The University of Chicago, Wake Forest, and Bowdoin College are among selective liberal arts colleges that have maintained test-optional policies for years and have no plans to change. In addition, many large public systems, including the University of Washington and the University of Illinois system, remain test-optional for the near future.
并非所有名校都加入了标化要求的行列。哥伦比亚大学于2023年3月成为第一所永久采用标化可选政策的常春藤盟校，该校主张这一决定植根于公平与机会。芝加哥大学、维克森林大学和鲍登学院等选拔性文理学院多年来一直实行标化可选，并无计划改变。此外，华盛顿大学和伊利诺伊大学系统等许多大型公立系统，在近期内仍将保持标化可选。
Test-blind institutions, which do not consider test scores even if submitted, are rarer but include the University of California system, California State University, and a handful of liberal arts colleges. For applicants targeting test-optional schools, the decision of whether to submit scores can be strategic: strong scores should always be submitted, while weaker ones may be withheld at institutions that truly practice holistic review. However, as more peer institutions return to testing, some experts predict that applicants may face implicit pressure to submit scores regardless of official policy.
免试院校（即便提交成绩也不予考虑）相对较少，但包括加州大学系统、加州州立大学以及少数文理学院。对于瞄准标化可选院校的申请者来说，是否提交成绩可以成为一种策略：高成绩总应提交，而较低的成绩在真正践行全面评估的院校则可以隐藏起来。但专家预测，随着更多同行院校恢复考试要求，无论官方政策如何，申请者都可能面临隐性的提交压力。
8. The Impact on International Applicants | 对国际申请者的影响
International students who plan to apply to US universities must pay particular attention to these policy shifts. The requirement to submit SAT or ACT scores adds another layer of preparation, especially given that test centers outside the US may still face limited availability or have different fee structures. Fortunately, the College Board has expanded its international testing infrastructure, and the SAT is now offered in a digital format in most countries, improving accessibility.
计划申请美国大学的国际学生必须格外关注这些政策变化。要求提交SAT或ACT成绩增加了一层准备压力，特别是考虑到美国以外的考试中心仍可能面临考位有限或费用结构不同的问题。幸运的是，美国大学理事会已经扩展了其国际考试基础设施，SAT现已在大多数国家以数字化形式提供，提升了可及性。
For students whose educational systems culminate in rigorous external examinations—A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate, or national school-leaving exams—Yale’s test-flexible policy offers a valuable alternative. Other institutions have indicated they will consider such credentials as part of the holistic review, even if SAT/ACT scores are additionally required. International applicants should carefully consult each university’s admissions website to confirm the exact testing requirements for their intended entry term. Additionally, non-native English speakers must still satisfy English proficiency requirements through TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, which remain separate from the SAT/ACT discussions.
对于来自那些以严格外部考试为最终学业成果的教育体系的学生——如A-Level、国际文凭（IB）或国家毕业考试——耶鲁的标化灵活政策提供了一种宝贵的替代途径。其他院校则表示，即使额外要求SAT/ACT成绩，也会将这些资质作为全面评估的一部分加以考虑。国际申请者应仔细查阅每所大学的招生网站，以确认其目标入学年份的确切考试要求。此外，非英语母语者仍需通过托福、雅思或多邻国英语测试满足英语水平要求，这些要求与SAT/ACT的讨论是分开的。
9. Timeline of Policy Changes (2023-2025) | 政策变化时间线（2023-2025）
The following timeline highlights key announcements that marked the reversal of test-optional trends:
以下时间线突出了标志标化可选趋势逆转的重大公告：
- March 2023: MIT reaffirmed its test-required policy, solidifying its early mover status. | 2023年3月：麻省理工学院再次确认其标化要求政策，巩固了先行者地位。
- July 2023: The Opportunity Insights study was released, providing robust evidence for the predictive power of SAT/ACT scores. | 2023年7月：Opportunity Insights研究发布，为SAT/ACT的预测力提供了有力证据。
- February 2024: Dartmouth College became the first Ivy to announce reinstatement, followed shortly by Yale’s test-flexible policy. | 2024年2月：达特茅斯学院成为第一所宣布恢复要求的常春藤盟校，紧随其后的是耶鲁的标化灵活政策。
- March 2024: Brown University and the University of Texas at Austin both announced test requirements for Fall 2025. | 2024年3月：布朗大学和德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校均宣布对2025年秋季入学实施标化要求。
- April 2024: Harvard University and Caltech announced their return to test-required admissions for the Class of 2029. | 2024年4月：哈佛大学和加州理工学院宣布对2029届新生恢复标化要求。
- June 2024: Stanford University announced test-required policy for Fall 2026 entry. | 2024年6月：斯坦福大学宣布对2026年秋季入学实行标化要求政策。
- Late 2024 onwards: Cornell and Johns Hopkins confirm test-required policies effective for the Class of 2030. | 2024年底起：康奈尔和约翰霍普金斯确认对2030届新生实施标化要求。
This concentrated wave of announcements has reshaped the admissions landscape, forcing high school juniors and their families to recalibrate their testing timelines and college lists.
这一系列密集的公告重塑了录取格局，迫使高中三年级学生及其家庭重新调整考试时间表和选校清单。
10. How to Prepare Your Standardized Test Strategy | 如何准备标化考试策略
Given the shifting landscape, a proactive testing plan is essential. Students should aim to take the SAT or ACT at least once by the spring of junior year, with opportunities for
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