After recent years of dropping standardized test score requirements, some elite institutions are realizing that these scores might actually be quite crucial for assessing whether applicants are prepared for an Ivy League education.
Harvard University first made standardized testing optional for applicants in 2020, a move influenced by the pandemic. This policy was expected to last through the incoming class of 2026. However, by April 2024, Ivy League schools, including Harvard, reversed this decision and reinstated test score requirements for those entering in 2025. Interestingly, Harvard is now seeing a notable decline in applicants compared to previous years, a trend not shared by other Ivy institutions that still offer test-optional policies.
As reported, Harvard experienced an 11% decrease in applicants for the 2025 admissions cycle, falling from 54,008 to 47,893. Meanwhile, Dartmouth, Yale, and Brown also faced similar declines of about 12.5%, as they now require test scores. In contrast, Princeton, Columbia, and Duke managed to maintain their applicant numbers by keeping their test-optional stance.
No comment was provided by Harvard regarding this situation.
In reintroducing test requirements, Harvard pointed to a study suggesting that test scores are significant indicators of potential college performance, with lower scores typically linked to decreased GPA. Additionally, a recent report from the university highlighted concerns over grade inflation, noting that over 60% of grades awarded are A’s, a steep increase from about 40% a decade ago and just 25% two decades ago. This has led Harvard to question the “integrity of its grading,” as students face increasing pressure to achieve in an environment where higher grades are more common.
