International Required Tests

International Required Tests

SAT, ACT Test Requirements

Applicants must submit the results of the SAT I or ACT and three subject SAT IIs even if they submit the results of their school leaving exams (e.g.,GCE A levels, International Baccalaureate, etc.). The January administration is the final testing date for students applying to the Freshman Class.

Applicants must designate Harvard as a recipient of their test scores, otherwise testing agencies will not release results directly to the Admissions Office. The SAT code number is 3434; the ACT code number is 1840.

Our testing requirements will change with the introduction of the new SAT I. For the Class of 2012, students may submit either the "old" SAT I or ACT taken before March 2005, or the new SAT or ACT (which must include the writing section). As always, students must also submit three SAT II exams of their choosing. The Admissions Committee will continue to consider all test results in light of students' educational opportunities.

No Access to SAT or ACT Test Centers

Students who do not have access to a testing center in their country are the ONLY exceptions to the policy outline above. If you do not have access to a testing center, we will consider other internationally recognized credentials, such as the results of the Graduate Record Examination. Applicants must send the results of the GRE to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, code 3451.

Writing Exam Requirements

A strong knowledge of English is essential for successful study at Harvard, including the ability to understand and express thoughts quickly and clearly. We require the results of the SAT I and three SAT II Subject Tests for all candidates. The SAT II English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is not acceptable for this purpose. Students are not required to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Candidates whose native language is not English should not take any of their three SAT II tests in their native language.