No single testing route fits every U.S. application plan. The answer is institution-specific: some U.S. higher education institutions have implemented test-optional admissions policies, while applicants are advised to confirm which test or tests are required by the college or university they plan to apply to.
How to choose the route
| Target institution’s policy | What it means for the application plan |
|---|---|
| Test-optional admissions | Use that institution’s test-optional policy as the basis of the plan; do not assume it applies to other U.S. institutions. |
| A stated testing requirement | Confirm the exact test or tests required by that college or university before choosing or scheduling testing. |
This is a decision based on the target institution, not a universal U.S. testing rule. The cited guidance does not identify a particular test, score threshold, testing deadline, fee, or exemption rule. Those details cannot be confirmed from the cited guidance and should not be inferred from a test-optional policy.
What the applicant must still confirm
For each target college or university, the applicant should confirm:
- whether testing is optional or required under that institution’s policy;
- which test or tests are required, if any;
- any score, deadline, fee, or other condition stated by the institution.
If the relevant policy or requirement is not stated in the target institution’s materials, it remains unconfirmed. The testing route should stay unresolved until the college or university confirms the applicable requirement.