What International Students Need to Know About SAT/ACT Testing in 2026

In my work with international students and globally mobile families, testing policies are one of the most common areas of confusion in the U.S. admissions process. Over the past several years, standardized testing policies in U.S. college admissions have changed dramatically. Many universities moved to test-optional policies during the pandemic, leaving families wondering whether SAT or ACT scores still matter. Although many universities still maintain test-optional policies, some selective institutions such as Stanford, Penn, and Harvard have begun reinstating SAT or ACT requirements. At the same time, more students are choosing to submit scores, even when testing is optional.

Although many universities continue to offer test-optional admissions, recent data suggests that standardized testing is regaining importance in an increasingly competitive application landscape.

Are U.S. Colleges Requiring the SAT or ACT Again?

Some are.

A growing number of universities have begun reinstating testing requirements, particularly more selective institutions. Others continue to use test-optional policies, meaning students can choose whether or not to submit scores.

However, “test-optional” does not necessarily mean “test-irrelevant.”

This distinction is especially important for international students.

In many cases, strong SAT or ACT scores can still strengthen an application, particularly for students applying from:

• unfamiliar educational systems

• countries where grading systems are difficult to compare internationally

• systems focused heavily on final exams

Test scores can help provide additional academic context.

What Happened During the 2025–26 Application Cycle?

The latest Common App data revealed several important trends:

• Applications increased 5% year-over-year

• The average student submitted 6.59 applications

• First-generation applicants increased by 13%

• International applications decreased by 9%

One of the most notable shifts involved standardized testing.

Although only around 5% of Common App institutions currently require SAT or ACT scores, the number of students submitting test scores increased substantially this year.

Nearly 784,000 students submitted test scores during the 2025–26 cycle — an 11% increase from the previous year.

This marked the first time since before the pandemic that more students applied with test scores than without. The trend suggests that many applicants increasingly believe strong scores may still strengthen an application — even at test-optional schools.

Why Are More Students Submitting Scores Again?

There are several likely reasons.

1. Increased Competition

   Application numbers continue to rise, especially at selective universities. As more students apply to more schools, applicants are looking for additional ways to distinguish themselves academically.

2. Greater Clarity Around Testing

   In the early years of test-optional admissions, many students were uncertain whether scores truly mattered. Now, several admissions cycles later, families and counselors have more data. It has become increasingly clear that submitting strong scores can strengthen an application.

New ACT Changes International Students Should Know About

The ACT has changed significantly over the past year. It is much shorter, now taking closer to two hours instead of three. One of the biggest changes is that the ACT Science section is now optional.

Under the new format:

• the composite ACT score will be based only on English, Math, and Reading

• students who choose to take Science will receive a separate Science score and STEM score

This has created some confusion because universities are still determining how they will evaluate the optional Science section.

At the moment, only a relatively small number of universities specifically require or recommend the ACT Science, although policies vary by institution and intended major. For students applying to STEM programs, taking the Science section may be worthwhile.

The ACT is only available in digital format outside of the U.S. Unlike the Digital SAT, however, it is not adaptive. All students still receive the same questions in the same order regardless of performance during the exam.

What This Means for Students

The changing testing landscape can make planning more complicated.

Students should pay close attention to:

• whether universities require testing

• whether ACT Science is recommended for intended majors

• superscoring policies

• scholarship requirements tied to testing

Should International Students Take the SAT or ACT?

The answer depends on the student, their academic profile, and the universities they are considering.

In general, testing may still be worth considering for students who:

• are applying to highly selective universities

• have strong testing ability

• come from less familiar educational systems

• want to strengthen academic comparability

• are applying for merit scholarships

Students with weaker scores, however, may still benefit from applying test-optional at many institutions.

There is no universal answer.

Final Thoughts

The U.S. admissions landscape continues to evolve, and testing policies remain one of the most confusing areas.

While many universities still allow students to apply without scores, recent application trends suggest that more students submit them.

Testing strategy is never one-size-fits-all. In my work with students, testing strategy is always personalized based on the student’s academic profile, strengths, university goals, and the specific admissions policies of the schools they are considering.

Students planning ahead may also find my U.S. College Application Timeline for International Students helpful.

Top College Application Tips for 2024

I recently had a great discussion about the current state of college admission with test prep expert Laura Heslin Whitmore of Strategic Test Prep. We spoke about all things related to the college application and have some great advice for students and their families. Check out the video for top college application tips for 2024 related to:

• Score choice vs sending all scores

• Should you go test-optional?

• Early Action vs Early Decision and Regular Decision

• Personal statement/college essay topics

• Extracurricular activities and how to shape your resume

• Who, how and when to ask for recommendation letters

• What to do if your application is deferred or you are waitlisted

• FAFSA

• The importance of campus visits

• Is demonstrated interest important?

  and so much more!

Stay tuned for our next post all about the digital SAT and how to prep!

Preparing for the New Digital SAT: Top Tips for Success

Are you ready for the new digital SAT? Ensure you're fully prepared with these essential tips and free digital SAT practice resources.

1. Familiarize Yourself with the Digital Format: Ace the digital interface by practicing with official College Board tests online. Navigate through the various formats of questions, test out built in tools including the Desmos calculator and answer eliminator, and get comfortable with the digital environment.

2. Employ Test-Taking Strategies: Develop tactics for tackling different question types, such as process of elimination and strategic marking. Practice these strategies during your study sessions and make use of the new built-in tools.

3. Practice Time Management: As with the paper format, time is of the essence in the digital SAT. Hone your time management skills by practicing pacing during mock tests, ensuring you complete each section within the allocated time. The digital SAT has a great tool which allows you to mark questions to return to later. If you get stuck, you may benefit from returning to the questions in the module later if you have extra time.

4. Take full Practice Tests: Take at least one to get used to the format and timing. I recommend taking several over the course of a few months as you prepare. You can use your results to focus on your areas of weakness and get additional test prep help if needed.

5. Simulate Test Conditions: Replicate the actual testing environment during practice tests. Find a quiet space, time yourself strictly, and eliminate distractions.

6. Make use of FREE Online Digital SAT Prep Resources: The College Board has a new app called Bluebook, which the student will also use to take the official test. Within the app are several free full practice tests and an untimed version to explore. Khan Academy, College Board’s official test prep partner has a lot of free practice material online. Now that the first Digital SATs have been completed, it is recommended that student’s use practice tests 4-6 in the Bluebook app to prepare as they represent the difficulty of the new test more accurately than the previous practice tests. Also, several test prep companies offer free practice tests and strategy sessions (see below).

7. Prioritize Self-Care: Don't overlook self-care during SAT prep. Ensure you are getting adequate sleep and nourishment to be in your best condition for testing day. If you are feeling overly stressed about the test, talk to someone about possible solutions. And last but not least, don’t hyperfocus on the SAT. You are more than a test score and the right colleges will see that! Many colleges will remain test-optional for the 2024-25 application year so you can still choose not to use your scores at all.

By following these tips and dedicating consistent time and effort to your SAT preparation, you can improve your chances of success on the digital SAT. Good luck!

Free Digital SAT Prep Resources:

Applerouth – Full length tests and strategy sessions - sign up now!

Khan Academy – Self-paced lessons and practice questions

https://www.khanacademy.org/digital-sat

College Board – Download the Bluebook app for practice tests
 https://bluebook.app.collegeboard.org/

Strategic Test Prep – Great strategy and informational videos

https://www.youtube.com/@StrategicTestPrep/videos

Digital SAT Tips

The digital SAT has debuted internationally and will most likely remain the only form available for international students from now on. Many are a bit apprehensive after witnessing CollegeBoard’s struggles with digital AP exams in recent years, but so far the feedback has been mostly positive.

Here is a quick breakdown of the primary differences between the two test formats:

WHERE and WHEN:

The test is still required to be taken at a school or official test center. However, the possibility of more test dates and flexibility in test centers scheduling them may make it easier for students to find a test date that fits their schedule and location. For international students, this could make a big difference as their previous test dates and locations were more limited. Students will register for the test on the CollegeBoard site as they did previously, however the new schedule for Fall/Winter 2023-24 has not been released yet. Students who have signed up for the Spring/Summer dates at international sites will already have the digital format. The digital format will be implemented in the US starting Fall 2023 for PSAT and Spring 2024 for SAT.

COMPUTERS and CALCULATORS:

Students can bring their own tablets or laptops or they can use those provided at the test site. It is beneficial for the student to bring their own device as they will be more familiar with it and provided laptops are limited. Graphing calculators will also be built in to the test, so students who feel comfortable using those can leave their own at home. The Desmos calculator which is built in is a great tool for students who are familiar with it, but if they are not, it is recommended to bring their own. Students will still be provided scratch paper and can use a pen/pencil to work on solutions as needed.

Before test day, students need to download the Bluebook App to their testing device. They should make sure it is sucessfully installed and familiarize themselves with it.

VERBAL SECTION:

The verbal section of the SAT will now have much shorter passages, mostly just a few sentences, as they are limited to how much text will fit on a computer screen. Students will only answer a single question about a short passage and then move on to another entirely different one. It would be beneficial to do some practice questions to get used to the format.

ADAPTIVE TESTING:

A major change with the digital SAT is the new adaptive testing model. Now, students will face different sets of questions based on the accuracy of how they answered the first module of each section. There are two possible levels of questions the students will receive and the highest score possible on the SAT will be different based on which level of questions they get. You can read more about this model here. Don’t be alarmed, it is not a sudden switch to much more difficult questions if you get the higher level for your second module. There is still a balance in the difficulty of the questions. The test prep experts at Applerouth who have seen more of the new test have assured me that students actually have to get a lot of incorrect answers to get the ‘lower’ level of questions. It also shouldn’t be looked at as a disadvantage. Instead of having these students struggle and lose time with harder questions, they are able to focus their energy on questions more appropriate for their level. Everyone gets to take a shorter test and spend more time on each question with this new model.

NEW TOOLS:

There are a few tools available within the digital format that can definitely help students. Students could practice making use of these tools to test more efficiently. My favorite two are:

Answer Eliminator – a tool to eliminate answers students deem as incorrect from view so they can focus on the remaining answers

Question Flag – students can now flag questions within a section for further review later.

TEST PREP:

As the new format has not been out long, most test prep companies have not done a lot of updating to their materials. When searching for a test prep company, I definitely recommend asking them how they have adapted their materials. Many of the tutors and companies do not have experience with the new test or access to materials to prepare students for the digital SAT. However, the official CollegeBoard site now has digital SAT prep materials available for free. Also, Applerouth has done a great job of getting materials ready for digital SAT prep.

The international ACT has been digital for years and as with the paper format, it is much different than the SAT. Students should consider taking a practice test for both the ACT and SAT to decide which test is the best for them.