What is Penn’s Testing Policy?
Testing Policy for 2025-26 Admissions Cycle
Beginning with 2025-2026 admissions cycle, the University will require standardized testing, or a testing waiver, for all Undergraduate Admissions applicants. You can read the full announcement on Penn Today.
Comprehensive Review
We know that a test result does not fully reflect each applicant's potential. This is why testing has always been only one part of our larger comprehensive review process.
In our evaluation process, the primary academic assessment includes curriculum, grades, writing, and recommendations. We review these components together to scaffold contextual understanding of a student's preparedness for the work they will undertake at Penn. Testing serves as a single datapoint alongside a variety of other important application materials.
You can find more detailed information about our testing policies and approach to evaluating testing as part of an application on our testing page.
We are excited to get to know all parts of you, not just your test scores!
Clear Requirements
We know from the many questions we receive from prospective applicants, and those that support them, that the flexibility of a test-optional policy has escalated decision-making stress in an application process that is already stressful. Requiring submission of SAT or ACT results removes the “submission choice” stress and allows students to focus their energy on preparing the components of the application that are personal and provide breadth and depth for our review.
Awareness and Understanding
Our updated policy also maintains a commitment to understanding and accommodating the circumstances of students who may not be able to access testing. Our simple waiver process will be included within next year's application (and we'll tell you more about this in the spring!).
As always, we will continue to evaluate applicants based on the material we have, not on what is missing.
