UPenn Fall 2027 Admission Standardized Test and English Requirements: Latest test dates for SAT/ACT; English proficiency scores are only accepted if taken after April 2025.
UPenn Fall 2027 Admission: All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores; the latest test dates for ED are November 7 for SAT and October 17 for ACT; English proficiency scores cannot be self-reported and must be sent officially, with only tests taken on or after April 1, 2025, accepted; TOEFL MyBest scores and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.
Application Changes and Affected Applicants
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) admissions website outlines the standardized test and English language exam requirements for the 2026-2027 application cycle (Fall 2027 enrollment): all applicants, including international students, must submit SAT or ACT scores, though waivers are available for those with documented hardships. Penn has no minimum score requirements and shows no preference between the SAT and ACT.
Specific Impacts and Recommendations for Chinese Students
1. Latest Standardized Test Dates
- SAT: November 7, 2026, for ED (Early Decision); December 5, 2026, for RD (Regular Decision).
- ACT: October 17, 2026, for ED; December 12, 2026, for RD.
2. Test Waivers and Score Submission
Penn will superscore across all test dates (taking the highest section scores for SAT Reading/Writing and Math; for ACT, the highest scores in English, Math, and Reading, with the ACT Science section not required) and encourages the submission of all test records. Self-reported scores are allowed during the application process, but official scores must be submitted after admission and before enrollment. Students who have never taken the SAT/ACT and face documented hardships (such as lack of testing centers, financial hardship, natural disasters, or social unrest) may request a waiver during the application, which takes effect automatically upon submission. Important note: If a student has taken a standardized test, they must submit their scores and cannot use the test waiver. If the university receives scores from a previously taken test, it will automatically override the waiver request.
3. English Proficiency Score Submission Rules
Unless English is your native language, or you will have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English by the time of enrollment (in high school, college, or a combination of both), you must submit TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test scores. TOEFL MyBest scores and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.
English proficiency scores cannot be self-reported and must be sent directly by the testing agency. Only test scores from exams taken on or after April 1, 2025, will be accepted; earlier scores are invalid and require retaking the test.
We recommend planning your test dates early: ensure standardized tests are completed before the latest dates mentioned above; TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo scores from tests taken before April 1, 2025, will not be valid for this application cycle and will require retaking.
Source: https://admissions.upenn.edu/how-to-apply/preparing-your-application/testing. Policies are subject to the latest official updates.