UT Austin to reinstate standardized test requirement for admissions

UT Austin to reinstate test requirements

After four years, UT Austin is bringing back requirements for undergraduate applicants to provide standardized testing scores from the SAT or ACT.

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas at Austin will once again require standardized testing scores starting in the Fall of 2025.

The University made testing optional four years ago in Spring 2020, because of the limited testing availability during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"If we're going to get to where we believe we can go in terms of graduation rates and success, this is an important tool for us to get there," said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell.

President Hartzell says the decision was made after looking at data from the last four years.

"With COVID, when we suspended the test and went test optional, every year we're checking in on the data to say, okay, now that we're test optional, how's it look?," he said.

In Fall 2024, nearly 73,000 students applied to UT, an all-time high.

UT says 90 percent or more of those applicants took a standardized test, but less than half (42 percent) asked to have their standardized scores considered. Those who opted in had a median SAT score of 1420, compared with a median of 1160 among those who did not.

The University says the higher standardized scores translated on average to better collegiate academic performance.

UT to reinstate standardized testing requirement

The University of Texas at Austin will once again require standardized testing scores for undergraduate admissions.

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Of 9,217 first-year students enrolled in 2023, UT says those who opted in had an estimated average GPA of 0.86 grade points higher during their first fall semester.

"What we found over time is that, by not having the test as a tool, it looked as if we were putting more students in spots where they were not as well suited and set up as well to succeed," he said.

UT Austin does not believe this change will mean there will be a drop in applicants because data reveals most people who took the SAT opted in.

UT leaders believe this will be a valuable tool in keeping student retention.

"Test score is an important predictor of student success. but also a predictor of where we need to be more diligent, supportive of the students that come our way and do all we can to succeed," said Hartzell.

In addition to reinstating standardized scores, the University is making several other modifications to the application process as well:

Introduction of a new Early Action program. This optional deadline will require application submission by Oct. 15, with a guaranteed decision communicated to applicants by Jan. 15. The regular deadline for applications will remain Dec. 1, with a guaranteed decision communicated by Feb. 15.
Modification of the required essay. This will provide greater flexibility in topic choice and enable students to leverage responses used on other applications, while expanding opportunity for a more personalized response.
Reduction in the number of short answer responses. This reduction from three responses to two will maintain the currently used major-related question, while creating a new prompt that allows students to highlight a specific activity of their choice.
Introduction of a waitlist. Applies to students who are not automatically admitted. Most students will be notified as early as March 1 if they are admitted from the waitlist.
Narrowed scope for letters of recommendation. Applicants submitting letters of recommendation will be strongly encouraged to provide those letters from sources outside of their high school. This reduces the burden of this work on high school teachers and counselors and allows University staff to better leverage other materials.