Yale Ends Test-Flexible Policy, Reinstates SAT/ACT Requirement for Class of 2031

Yale University has reinstated a mandatory SAT or ACT testing requirement for all undergraduate applicants, ending its two-year experiment with a test-flexible policy. The change, announced on May 27, 2026, will take effect for applicants to the Class of 2031 and beyond, according to Yale's official news site [Yale News](https://news.yale.edu/2026/05/27/undergraduate-admissions-updates-testing-policy).

Policy Reversal After Brief Flexibility

Yale had implemented a test-flexible policy in 2024 that allowed applicants to submit SAT, ACT, AP, or IB scores. That policy has now been terminated in favor of a return to pre-pandemic requirements. The university will superscore both the SAT and ACT, but will no longer accept AP or IB exam scores as substitutes for standardized tests, as reported by Oriel Admissions [Oriel Admissions](https://orieladmissions.com/yale-test-flexible-policy/).

Context in Elite Admissions Trend

Yale's move follows similar reinstatements at other Ivy League institutions including Brown, Dartmouth, and Harvard, as noted by Progress Learning [Progress Learning](https://progresslearning.com/news-blog/colleges-dropping-reinstating-act-sat-requirements/). The decision places Yale firmly in the camp of elite institutions that have returned to requiring standardized testing after several years of test-optional or test-flexible policies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The policy change comes as both the SAT and ACT have undergone significant redesigns in 2026, with the SAT becoming fully digital and the ACT implementing a shorter format with more time per question, according to Cosmic NYC [Cosmic NYC](https://www.cosmic.nyc/blog/sat-vs-act-in-2026).