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It’s July 24, 2026, and the general registration deadline for the August 22 SAT is August 7 – less than two weeks away. If you’re a rising senior without a score you’re happy with yet, this is worth five minutes of your time, because testing policy at the most selective US colleges has shifted significantly this year.
For the past several years, test-optional admissions was the dominant story in US college applications, and many Taiwanese families understandably poured their energy into grades, extracurriculars, and essays instead. But starting in 2025, a wave of top universities began reinstating mandatory testing, and for the 2026-27 cycle that shift is now fully in effect. For students targeting highly selective schools, whether to sit the SAT is no longer really a choice.
Which schools require SAT or ACT scores for 2026-27
Among the eight Ivy League schools, six now require SAT or ACT scores for the 2026-27 cycle – meaning students applying now for fall 2027 enrollment: Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Beyond the Ivies, these highly selective schools also require test scores for 2026-27:
- Stanford University
- MIT
- Caltech
- Georgetown University
- UT Austin
- University of Florida
- Ohio State University (Columbus campus)
If any of these schools are on your list, a test score isn’t optional or a “nice to have” – it’s a hard requirement for your application to be considered complete.
Princeton and Columbia’s timelines: all eight Ivies will require testing for the Class of 2028
Princeton is still test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle, but the university has announced it will require SAT or ACT scores starting with the 2027-28 cycle (fall 2028 enrollment).
Columbia (both Columbia College and Columbia Engineering) announced on June 12, 2026 that it, too, will require scores starting with the 2027-28 cycle.
Here’s what that timeline actually means: for current juniors – the US high school Class of 2028 – by the time you apply, all eight Ivy League schools will require SAT or ACT scores, with no exceptions left. If you’re a rising junior, this is the moment to build standardized testing into your plan for the year ahead, rather than scrambling once senior year begins.
Over 90% of schools are still test-optional – but that doesn’t mean skip the test
More than 90% of ranked four-year US colleges remain test-optional for 2026-27, meaning they don’t require every applicant to submit scores. But there’s an important distinction many families miss: test-optional is not the same as test-blind. Most test-optional schools still read and consider scores from applicants who choose to submit them.
This matters especially for international applicants. US admissions officers are far less familiar with how Taiwanese high schools grade, structure coursework, or rank students than they are with US high schools, which makes it genuinely hard for them to compare an applicant’s academic standing across different school systems using transcripts alone. A strong SAT or ACT score gives admissions officers a common, universally understood benchmark – it adds a layer of credibility to your academic profile that a transcript alone often can’t provide. For that reason, Ivy-Way generally recommends that Taiwanese students applying to selective US colleges prepare and submit a test score even when every school on their list is technically test-optional, unless that score falls clearly below the school’s middle 50% range.
Fall 2026 SAT dates and registration deadlines
The College Board’s fall 2026 SAT dates are listed below. The same test dates apply to both US and international test centers, including Taiwan. All registration deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
| Test Date | Regular Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| August 22, 2026 | August 7, 2026 | August 11, 2026 |
| September 12, 2026 | August 28, 2026 | – |
| October 3, 2026 | September 18, 2026 | – |
| November 7, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | – |
| December 5, 2026 | November 20, 2026 | – |
Choosing a test date for ED/EA vs. Regular Decision
If you’re applying Early Decision or Early Action, deadlines typically fall on November 1, which makes October 3 the last comfortably timed SAT date for early applicants. Scores from the November 7 test may technically still arrive in time at some schools, but score processing and reporting timelines vary, so check each school’s specific policy directly rather than assuming it will work out.
If you’re applying Regular Decision, you have more breathing room – the December 5 test date typically still allows enough time for scores to be reported. Even so, it’s worth planning ahead so a single off day on test day doesn’t leave you without a chance to retake.
Action checklist by grade
Rising seniors (Class of 2027): If any school on your list requires test scores – Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, and the rest of the list above – and you don’t yet have a score you’re satisfied with, act now. Registration for August 22 closes August 7, and registration for September 12 closes August 28. Locking in one of these two dates gives you room for at least one retake before ED/EA deadlines, which matters most if you’re applying early.
Rising juniors (Class of 2028): With Columbia and Princeton both set to require scores starting with the 2027-28 cycle, you’ll be applying into a landscape where all eight Ivies require testing. Build SAT or ACT preparation into your 11th-grade plan now, while your course load still allows time to prepare properly, rather than compressing everything into senior year.
Bottom line
Test-optional admissions hasn’t disappeared, but it looks very different than it did even a few years ago. For Taiwanese students aiming at top US universities, standardized testing is once again a central part of a competitive application. The students who plan ahead, rather than reacting to deadlines as they hit, are the ones who end up with options.
If you’re not sure which schools on your list require test scores, or you want help building a testing timeline that fits your application plan, reach out to Ivy-Way’s advising team. We can help you map out your school list, plan your test dates, and build a preparation plan tailored to your SAT or ACT target score.
