Testing Returns to Princeton: What It Means for the Next Generation of Applicants
It’s official — Princeton will once again require SAT or ACT scores beginning with the 2027–2028 admission cycle. For students aiming to enroll in fall 2028, this change reflects how top universities are redefining academic readiness in the post-pandemic, post-affirmative-action era.
A Return to Context
After five years of test-optional admissions, Princeton found that students who submitted SAT or ACT scores generally performed better once on campus. Scores don’t define potential — but when viewed alongside grades, essays, and recommendations, they help illustrate how prepared you are for the rigor ahead.
Testing will again be one element of Princeton’s holistic review. There are no minimum scores, and active-duty military applicants remain exempt due to limited testing access; they will not be disadvantaged.
What’s Changing — and What’s Not
Princeton remains test-optional for applicants entering in 2026 or 2027, but starting with fall 2028, all first-year and transfer students must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Here’s what to know:
Testing deadlines: SAT or ACT by October for Single-Choice Early Action; December for Regular Decision. Transfers: ACT by February, SAT by March. Plan to finish testing by the end of junior year so senior fall can focus on essays, not retakes.
Score policy: Princeton allows SAT Score Choice and reviews only your highest ACT composite, without superscoring between paper and digital formats. Send the scores that tell your best story — focus on one test and master it.
ACT updates: Beginning in 2025–2026, Princeton will accept both the original and redesigned ACT, with no preference. The redesigned version makes the science section optional, but data reasoning and evidence analysis still matter.
English proficiency: If your school doesn’t teach primarily in English, you’ll need TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test, or PTE Academic results. Schedule early so testing doesn’t overlap with SAT or ACT dates.
Additional testing: Princeton recommends self-reporting AP or IB scores, which can help demonstrate rigor and clarify your school’s grading context.
What This Means for Applicants
This decision reflects a broader return to evidence-based admissions practices among leading universities. MIT, for instance, reinstated testing in 2022 after finding that SAT and ACT results helped identify students who were well-prepared for rigorous coursework — including those from less-advantaged backgrounds. While each institution has its own reasoning, the shared goal is clarity and context: using standardized tests thoughtfully as one of many tools to assess readiness.
Within the Ivy League, Princeton’s move aligns with Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, and Harvard, which have already reinstated testing. Columbia remains the only Ivy still test-optional.
This shift isn’t about pressure — it’s about preparation. Strong scores can reinforce the rigor your transcript already reflects. Students who start early have the time to plan, practice, and adjust — building confidence long before deadlines arrive.
If you’re a junior, begin your prep now. Take a diagnostic SAT and ACT by mid-junior year to identify which test fits you best, then map out a steady timeline. Many assume one test is “easier,” but both are equally valued by colleges. What matters is alignment with your strengths, pacing, and style.
Our ACT vs. SAT: FAQs Answered by Ivy Link breaks down the 2025 updates, explains how to choose between them, and shares how our tutors help students build strategies that play to their advantage.
At Ivy Link, testing is never viewed in isolation — it’s part of a larger plan connecting academics, interests, and long-term goals. Our advisors work one-on-one with students, often beginning as early as 9th grade, to craft strategies, build measurable accomplishments, and tell authentic stories.
For more than a decade, Ivy Link has guided students toward admission at their top-choice universities through early planning and expert mentorship. If Princeton is on your list, start early and stay consistent. The admissions landscape is shifting, but with foresight and preparation, your story will stand out for the right reasons.
