These days, when I attend meetings with moms of high school students, there's a recurring question: "Do we have to take the SAT, or can we just go optional?"

A few years ago, the answer was straightforward. After the pandemic, most prestigious universities adopted a test-optional policy.

However, as of fall 2026, the conversation has completely changed. To put it simply, if you're aiming for the Ivy League, scores are essentially required.

For the 2026-27 application season, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, and UPenn require SAT or ACT scores. That's six out of the eight Ivy League schools.

Looking beyond the Ivies, MIT, Caltech, and Stanford have also shifted in this direction. Stanford began requiring scores from students entering in fall 2026.

The first to change the trend was MIT. In March 2022, they reinstated the testing requirement, arguing that requiring scores is fairer and more transparent.

Among the Ivies, Dartmouth was the first to break the news on February 5, 2024. Following that, Brown and Harvard quickly followed suit.

If you live in Providence, you might feel closest to the news from Brown. They announced on March 5, 2024, that starting with the class of 2029, they will again require SAT or ACT scores.

Interestingly, the reason was revealed. The school committee found that academic performance after admission was strongly linked to test scores.

This relationship appeared equally for students from less advantaged and more advantaged high schools. They also stated that they would consider scores in light of a student's background and educational opportunities.

However, Brown has left some exceptions. Students who are veterans, transfer applicants, and those applying for adult re-entry programs will still be test-optional.

This year, Yale has been particularly newsworthy. They implemented a test-flexible policy starting in 2024, allowing AP or IB scores as substitutes, but they discontinued this in May 2026.

Now, both first-year and transfer students at Yale must submit SAT or ACT scores, and AP or IB scores cannot be used as substitutes. It's not surprising, given that 90% of applicants were already submitting SAT or ACT scores.

Princeton is a bit slower to adapt. They remain optional for this season but will require scores starting in the 2027-28 application season.

So, if you have an 11th grader, you should consider Princeton as a school that requires tests and plan accordingly. This is something that can easily be overlooked.

Now, does this mean that test-optional policies are completely over? Not quite. Columbia is the only Ivy that has maintained a permanent test-optional policy.

State universities are also different. URI is still test-optional and uses a superscore method, combining the highest section scores if submitted.

In summary, you could say, "Prestigious private schools are requiring tests again, while state universities are still optional." Of course, be sure to check the school's website right before applying.

Honestly, I see this change from both sides. On one hand, there's concern that families who can afford test prep will have an advantage again.

But the argument from the Brown committee makes sense too. In an optional system, students from less affluent schools might have good scores but choose not to submit them, which could hurt their chances.

It's a case of reaching the same goal of equal opportunity but arriving at opposite conclusions. Therefore, I believe the real challenge is how evenly we provide opportunities for test preparation, rather than the tests themselves.

Let's outline a realistic game plan. First, make a list of schools your child is interested in and check off which are required and which are optional.

If there's even one required school, it's more reassuring to take the test. You can always choose not to submit scores to optional schools later.

It's a good idea to take the test once in the spring of 11th grade and leave room to take it again in the fall of 12th grade. Early deadlines are in early November, so the fall schedule can be tighter than expected.

Before searching for expensive prep courses, start with free practice materials. The official practice program created by College Board and Khan Academy is available for free.

Don't forget to consider scholarships. Even for optional schools, good scores can help with merit scholarship evaluations, so check the conditions for each school.

For student-athletes, managing schedules is especially crucial. If you don't mark test dates in between the fall and spring seasons, opportunities can slip away quickly.

I understand that well, as I'm someone who keeps my child's game schedule on the refrigerator. The moment tournament weekends coincide with test dates, it can be overwhelming.

If you've been complacent, believing that test-optional policies will last forever, now is the time to rethink your plans. If it were me, I would have my child take another practice test instead of spending time worrying.