Brown University

Testing Requirements for 2021-2022

For first-year applicants in the 2021-2022 admission cycle, Brown will extend our test-optional policy to first-year applicants in the 2021-2022 admission cycle. We hope that applicants will have the opportunity to take the SAT or ACT and submit test scores as part of the admission process this year. The SAT or ACT, when submitted, will continue to be considered in the context of all the other information we have about a candidate. As with every aspect of the admission process, this policy will be evaluated again before the 2022-2023 application cycle begins.

Students who are not able to submit scores this year will not be disadvantaged in our admission process, and we will look to other aspects of the application, from course grades and curricular challenge to insight from counselors and teachers, to assess academic preparation. Scores may be self-reported or sent officially to Brown, and we continue to accept Score Choice and will always consider a student’s highest scores if multiple results are submitted. While standardized testing has long been a component of our holistic admission process, it has always been one among many components that we consider. Testing can be informative, but is only one part of a much larger and more important story about an individual applicant.

English proficiency testing recommendations are available for international applicants and non-native speakers of English. Testing requirements for transfer applicants remain consistent with the understanding that transfer applicants who have not previously been able to take a standardized test will not be required to submit scores. Brown will continue to adhere to Ivy League policies regarding testing requirements for applicants who plan to participate in varsity athletics.

We hope that retaining a test optional policy for the 2021-2022 admission cycle will better enable students to prioritize their health and well-being, and that of their families, in the months ahead. While the applications that students submit during the pandemic will undoubtedly look different than in years past, we remain committed to a thoughtful and thorough holistic review process. For more detail regarding our test optional policy for 2021-2022, please see our dedicated FAQ.