Cornell Reinstates SAT/ACT Requirement: Competitive English proficiency requires a TOEFL of 100 and an IELTS of 7.5.
Cornell first-year undergraduates must submit SAT or ACT scores (not required for transfer students); non-native English speakers who have not been instructed in English for the past four years must submit English proficiency scores. Competitive scores include a TOEFL of 100 (new version 5.0, recommended 5.5), an IELTS of 7.5, a Duolingo score of 130, and a Cambridge score of 191.
Policy Changes and Affected Applicants
Cornell University has reinstated the standardized testing requirement for first-year students. This change applies to all applicants for first-year undergraduate admission, while transfer applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores.
Specific Impacts and Recommendations for Chinese Students
For Chinese students applying to Cornell University, there are two main impacts and preparation recommendations:
1. SAT or ACT Scores Required
First-year applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores. Students are advised to self-report their scores during the application process via the Common Application or the Cornell Applicant Portal, and submit official scores upon enrollment. For the SAT, the highest section scores across all test dates will be considered. For the ACT, official superscores and the highest section scores across all test dates will be considered; the ACT Science section is not required. Please carefully verify your self-reported scores: failure to provide official scores that match your self-reported scores upon enrollment may result in the revocation of your admission.
2. English Proficiency Submission Requirements and Minimum Scores
Regarding English Language Proficiency (ELP), students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, whose native language is not English, and who have not been primarily instructed in English over the past four years must submit English proficiency scores.
To remain competitive, applicants are encouraged to meet the following minimum score requirements: TOEFL minimum 100 for tests taken before January 2026; new TOEFL minimum 5.0 (recommended 5.5) for tests taken in and after January 2026; IELTS minimum 7.5; Duolingo English Test minimum 130; Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency minimum 191. English proficiency scores can also be self-reported on the Common App and later updated in the Applicant Portal, but official scores must be submitted upon enrollment.
Source: https://admissions.cornell.edu/policies/standardized-testing-policy. Policies are subject to the latest official updates.