What is Penn’s Testing Policy? | Penn Admissions
Penn Admissions announced that starting with the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, the University will require standardized testing, or a testing waiver, for all Undergraduate Admissions applicants. For more details, you can read the full announcement on Penn Today.
Penn’s Approach to Evaluation
At Penn, we recognize that a test score alone doesn’t capture the full picture of a student’s potential. Therefore, standardized tests are just one component of our comprehensive review process. In our evaluation, we consider a range of factors including academic curriculum, grades, writing samples, and recommendations. These elements are reviewed collectively to gain a holistic understanding of a student’s readiness for the academic rigor at Penn. Standardized tests serve as a single data point among numerous other important application materials.
For a more detailed explanation of our testing policies and how we assess test scores as part of the application, visit our testing page.
Getting to Know You
We are enthusiastic about getting to know all aspects of you, beyond just your test scores. This change aims to reduce the stress associated with test-optional policies by requiring the submission of SAT or ACT results. This ensures students can concentrate on crafting the personal and diverse components of their applications that best showcase their unique qualities and experiences.
Understanding Circumstances
To address the needs of students who might face challenges in accessing testing, Penn has implemented a straightforward waiver process that will be integrated into next year’s application. Additionally, we will continue to evaluate applicants based on the available materials rather than what is missing. Our goal is to maintain a commitment to understanding and accommodating the varied circumstances of our applicants.
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News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.