Yale Reverts to Requiring SAT/ACT Test Scores for Its Class of 2029


Yale acknowledged that reviewing applications without ACT or SAT scores was a "positive experience," but found that it worked to the disadvantage of prospective students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Because testing had been removed, a greater weight was placed on other parts of the application such as rigorous high school courses and extracurricular activities that were "full of enrichment opportunities."


The recommended ACT requirements for Yale are a 33 to 35 composite score combining all English, mathematics, reading, and science sections. You will need an in order to get into Yale. If your ACT is not what you’d hoped by the time you apply, you may have to make it up by getting above-average scores on the SAT and having an above-average grade point average. If your ACT wasn’t as high as you’d like because of difficulties or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your additional information section.

Applicants should score between to be strong candidates for admission to this school. Having less than this will require compensating by using a substitute ACT score or having an above-average GPA. Either an SAT or ACT score is strongly suggested for application to this school. You can read more about Yale’s .

Is an SAT essay score of 20 out of 24 good enough for Yale ..

For students attending high schools with fewer resources, applications without scores can inadvertently leave admissions officers with scant evidence of their readiness for Yale. When students attending these high schools include a score with their application — even a score below Yale’s median range — they give the committee greater confidence that they are likely to achieve academic success in college. Our research strongly suggests that requiring scores of all applicants serves to benefit and not disadvantage students from under-resourced backgrounds.

The change will be required for all first-year applicants beginning in the fall of 2025. It will also allow prospective students to include Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam scores in place of the ACT or SAT, Yale said.

After years of debate, Yale explained through its data the change would help boost admittance students from low-income backgrounds and underrepresented minorities. But critics argue the tests could worsen inequalities and hurt the chances for many minorities, who tend to score lower, to gain access to better schools.

While Yale no longer requires its applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores, those who do and gain admission to this prestigious university are often high scorers. However, choosing not to submit SAT or ACT scores will not harm an applicant if their AP or IB scores are strong. Ultimately, whether or not to take and submit the SAT is a personal decision for each student to make based on their strengths, priorities, and goals. If you are instead considering taking the ACT, check out our article about !


Yale will accept superscored SAT or ACT scores

The recommended SAT requirements to get into Yale are a 1470 to 1560 composite score, combining the reading and writing, and math sections together. You will need . If your SAT is lower than suggested at the time you apply, you may have to perform above average on your other standardized tests or have spectacular extracurricular activities to compensate. If your grades aren’t as high as they could have been due to life experiences or hardship, you should consider writing about it in your .

What SAT Score Do You Need for Yale University? (2023)

For students who plan to submit applications during their senior year, the best time to take the SAT for Yale is generally during the preceding junior spring semester. However, students applying via Early Action can take the SAT up until October of their senior year and still submit their scores for evaluation by Yale. Students applying Regular Decision can submit scores from tests as late as the December SAT.

Average SAT/ACT Score For Yale: What It Takes To Get In

Yale University on Thursday it is reversing a pandemic-era policy that made standardized test scores like the SAT exam optional for applicants, joining other top colleges such as Dartmouth and MIT.

Yale announces new test-flexible admissions policy

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4.18, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate. This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

Yale SAT Scores: Full Breakdown

“When students attending these high schools include a score with their application – even a score below Yale’s median range — they give the committee greater confidence that they are likely to achieve academic success in college.”Access barriers and goals moving forward