Princeton University pauses standardized testing requirement for 2021-2022

The University’s Office of Undergraduate Admission has announced that it will pause the standardized testing requirement for the 2021-22 application cycle.

Students applying for admission to the Fall 2022 semester can still submit SAT or ACT test scores, but those “who do not submit test scores will not be at a disadvantage during our application review process,” the University’s Office of Admission announced in an Instagram post.

“When considered in context and in conjunction with other academic factors, testing such as the SAT or the ACT can be very helpful in assessing a student’s preparation for Princeton’s curriculum,” the Instagram post stated. “However, in this moment of ongoing public health concerns and a lack of opportunities for applicants to take standardized tests during the pandemic, we must adjust our requirements in the best interest of our applicant pool.”

For students applying to the University, admissions officers “will evaluate applications with the other required components, including the rigor of the academic program, school performance, recommendation letters, and school and community involvement,” the post stated.

The Instagram post clarified that the University will follow policies of the Ivy League regarding testing requirements for applicants expected to participate in the varsity athletic program.

Last August, the Ivy League elected to no longer require the submission of the SAT or the ACT for prospective student-athletes for the 2020-21 application cycle. The policy for the 2021-22 cycle has yet to be determined.

The University moved to a test-optional policy in the 2020-2021 admissions cycle in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Nationwide, standardized testing facilities have canceled operations.

Recently, the College Board announced the cancellation of the SAT essay and subject tests.

In regard to the resumption of on-campus visits and in-person interviews, University Spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss said, “At this time, there is no way to predict what the state of the pandemic and the public health guidelines will be. We will make a decision and an announcement as soon as we are able. That said, when on-campus visits and visits to high schools by our team are able to resume, we will continue to offer some virtual programming as an alternative to the on-campus visit experience.”

Assistant News Editor Kalena Blake contributed reporting.