Standardized Testing
Colleges are preparing for the 2024-2025 application cycle, and you should too! REACH has compiled information and resources on standardized testing to ensure that you are informed as the school year approaches.
Testing Dates
Many colleges in the United States continued their test optional or test blind policies for the 2023-2024 application cycle, but these policies may change for the 2024-2025 cycle. Thus, it is important that you check whether you are applying to a test optional school. You can find a list of colleges that were test optional during 2023-2024 here. Also, check to see if you can apply for a fee waiver on this page before registering for the SAT, and on this page before registering for the ACT.
Beginning in March 2024, the SAT became digital, shortened, and adaptive. It is divided into two parts. The difficulty of the second part is correlated with your performance on the first part. Dates for the SAT in 2024 are listed in this table. Registering late will incur an additional fee.
The ACT started to offer a digital format for the test as of December 2023. You can choose to take it digitally or on paper. Dates for the ACT in 2024 are listed in this table. Registering late will incur an additional fee.
Application Requirements
This application cycle, there is a major change to the SAT requirements. As of June 2021, the College Board is no longer administering SAT Subjects Tests or SAT with Essay. Visit this helpful page for information about what to expect on test day as well as links to monitor COVID-19 updates and test center closings.
Due to the pandemic, many colleges and universities have gone test optional for the foreseeable future. Institutions that have were not previously test optional–including leading schools such as Dartmouth, Penn, and Virginia–have waived all testing requirements for the upcoming admissions cycle. Check the website of all colleges on your list to find their updated testing requirements.
The Common Application is adding an additional section that will allow students to describe the impact of COVID-19 on their personal circumstances: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. Do you wish to share anything on this topic? (250 words)
If you are unsure as to whether this question applies to you, visit this page to see some examples of impacts you might discuss.