Standardized Testing
Testing isn't the ultimate factor in evaluating an application. Testing, in conjunction with your secondary school report and recommendations, helps us better understand your academic preparation. We strongly advise students to focus on the many holistic elements of the application that showcase academic excellence and their personal narrative. Dartmouth has practiced holistic admissions review for more than a century, and that ancient ideal of the whole person continues to guide our application review process.
SAT or ACT
Dartmouth's Standardized Testing Policy for the Class of 2029: Informed by new research, Dartmouth will reactivate the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission beginning with applicants to the Class of 2029.
Students who attend(ed) high school outside of the United States may fulfill Dartmouth's standardized testing requirement in one of five ways.
Explore free resources for ACT test prep or SAT test prep.
How to Submit Your Scores
Self-Reporting Scores: You may self-report your scores on your application, and we will consider these scores until we receive your official scores. Please note: self-reported scores will be considered in our review of your candidacy for admission, but we will require admitted students to submit official scores before enrolling at Dartmouth.
Submitting Official Scores: The fastest and most direct way to submit official scores is to request the testing agency report your scores to Dartmouth. You are also welcome to ask your school counselor to submit your scores to Dartmouth with your transcript or by emailing them to submit@dartmouth.edu.
Submitting Multiple Scores
- If you submit multiple scores from the SAT, we will accept superscored testing, i.e. your highest section scores in either test, regardless of the test dates or platform.
- If you submit multiple scores from the ACT, we will accept superscored testing of the required sections, regardless of the test dates or platform. While you are welcome to submit your science and/or writing section scores, they will not be included in the superscore. Composite superscores will be calculated using only the highest English, math, and reading section scores available beginning in the 2025-2026 admissions cycle.
International Students Only:
If your first language is not English, and your secondary school curriculum has not been delivered in English for at least two years, we require you to submit an English proficiency exam score from the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, or Cambridge C1/C2.
In addition to the English Language Proficiency details above, we will accept online results from the TOEFL and IELTS examinations: TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition, IELTS Indicator.
Test Deadlines
Early Decision
Last test date for SAT/Subject Test: November
Last test date for ACT: October
Regular Decision
Last test date for SAT/Subject Test or ACT: December