Three years ago, almost every top US university let you apply without an SAT or ACT score. That picture has changed fast. For the 2026-27 cycle — students applying now for entry in fall 2027 — 74 of the top 100 US universities are still test-optional, but 18 now require scores, and the most selective universities are the ones that changed their minds. This guide explains the 2027 position, which universities still let you skip the test, and how to decide whether to submit a score.
What test-optional, test-blind and test-flexible mean
- Test-optional: you may submit SAT or ACT scores if you want, but you will not be disadvantaged if you do not. Most universities in this group still read scores when they are sent, and a strong score can help a borderline application.
- Test-blind (test-free): scores are not considered at all, even if you send them. All six University of California campuses — including UCLA and UC Berkeley — are test-blind.
- Test-flexible: you must submit some standardised test, but it does not have to be the SAT or ACT. Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University are test-flexible by college for 2026-27.
- Test-required: your application is incomplete without an SAT or ACT score (with narrow exceptions where the test is genuinely inaccessible).
About 80% of US four-year colleges are still test-optional, according to FairTest — roughly 1,815 of the 2,330 institutions it tracks. The headline change is at the top: the Ivy League and other highly selective universities have mostly gone back to requiring tests.
Which selective universities now require scores
| University | 2027 position |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | Required — reinstated for the Class of 2029 cycle. In exceptional cases where the SAT or ACT is inaccessible, AP, IB, GCSE/A-Level or national leaving-exam results can meet the requirement. |
| Yale University | Required — reinstated; test-flexible options exist for some applicants. |
| Dartmouth College | Required — reinstated. |
| Brown University | Required — reinstated. |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Required — reinstated; MIT was the first selective university to bring the requirement back. |
| Stanford University | Required — reinstated for the 2026-27 cycle. |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | Required — reinstated. |
| Georgetown University | Required — reinstated. |
| Purdue University | Required — reinstated. |
Two Ivy League universities are in their final test-optional cycle: Columbia University and Princeton University will require scores starting with the 2027-28 cycle. That makes this year the last chance to apply to either without a test score.
Which strong universities are still test-optional for 2027
- Boston University — test-optional for first-year applicants through fall 2028 and spring 2029 entry, confirmed on the university's own website.
- Barnard College — test-optional for students applying for fall 2027 (first-year class of 2031) and for transfer applicants in spring and fall 2027.
- University of Chicago — test-optional, and its policy has been in place longer than most.
- New York University — test-optional with flexible alternatives.
- Most large public universities outside the most selective tier remain test-optional, including many state flagships. Always check the specific university's admissions page — policies differ even inside the same state system.
The rule is simple: never assume. A university's policy can change between cycles, and the policy for international students is sometimes different from the domestic one. Check the admissions page for the exact cycle you are applying in, and take a screenshot for your records.
Should you take the SAT or ACT anyway?
For most Pakistani applicants in 2027, the answer is yes — take the test if you can. Here is why:
- It keeps every door open. A good score lets you apply to Harvard, MIT, Yale and the other reinstated universities. Without one, those applications are not possible.
- It strengthens scholarship cases. Merit scholarships at test-optional universities still reward high scores. A Digital SAT score of 1500+ is a strong signal at any university.
- It compensates for a weaker transcript. If your school's grading is unfamiliar to a US admissions officer, a standardised score gives them a number they trust.
- It costs less than a wasted application. An application fee is typically US$50–120. Applying to a test-required university without a score is money thrown away.
The exception: if your score is well below the university's published middle range and the university is test-optional, withholding it is the better choice. A 1200 will not help an application to a university whose admitted students typically score 1450–1550. In that case, let your grades, essays and recommendations carry the file.
The test itself in 2027
The Digital SAT has 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes — Reading and Writing 54 questions in 64 minutes, Maths 44 questions in 70 minutes — scored 400–1600, with adaptive modules and a calculator allowed throughout Maths. There is no penalty for wrong answers. International test dates for 2027 include 6 March, 1 May and 5 June (confirm on the College Board website). The ACT is the alternative: it is also accepted everywhere, and some students score better on it because its Maths and Science sections suit them.
English tests are separate — and still required
Test-optional does not mean English-test-optional. Pakistani applicants still need to prove English proficiency with the IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Duolingo English Test, unless they qualify for a waiver (for example, several years of English-medium schooling). Typical minimums at selective universities are IELTS 7.0–7.5 or TOEFL 100+. The IELTS and TOEFL guides on Pakunii explain the formats and preparation in detail.
FAQ
Can I get into a top US university in 2027 without the SAT? Yes — at the 74 test-optional universities in the top 100, and at most other US universities. But the most selective group (Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Caltech and others) now requires a score, so a test-free application list cannot include them.
Does "test-optional" mean scores do not matter? No. It means they are not required. A strong score still helps, especially for merit scholarships and for applicants from schools the admissions office does not know well.
Is Columbia still test-optional? For this cycle, yes — but Columbia is in its final test-optional cycle and will require scores from the 2027-28 cycle. Princeton is in the same position.
What score should I aim for? For a selective university, 1450+ on the Digital SAT is competitive; 1500+ is strong. For a test-optional university where you plan to submit, aim for at or above the university's published middle 50% range.
Figures checked 2026-11-06: 74 of the top 100 universities test-optional, 18 test-required, 6 UC test-blind and 2 test-flexible for the 2026-27 cycle (SAT & ACT Policy Tracker, Top 100 Colleges 2026-27); Harvard reinstated for the Class of 2029, Columbia and Princeton in their final test-optional cycle; Boston University test-optional through fall 2028/spring 2029; Barnard test-optional for fall 2027; FairTest count about 1,815 of 2,330 institutions test-optional. Digital SAT format as published by the College Board. Policies change every cycle — confirm the exact 2027 policy on each university's admissions page before you apply.
Related guides on Pakunii
Digital SAT 2027 Guide · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide · IELTS Academic Guide · TOEFL iBT 2027 Guide
Sources and verification: SAT & ACT Policy Tracker (Top 100 Colleges 2026-27); FairTest; Harvard, Boston University and Barnard admissions pages; College Board Digital SAT format.