Standardized Tests

In the academic year 2019-2020, Bucknell will begin a five-year pilot program where students are not required to submit an SAT or ACT score as part of their application. However, home school students, international citizens, and recruited athletes are required to submit an SAT or ACT score.

Please note that all students who choose to enroll at Bucknell will be required to submit an SAT or ACT score before they begin their first year. If students choose not to submit SAT or ACT scores with the application, the scores will not be used in the admissions decision. However, they will be used in the assessment of the test-optional program. Note: If you have never taken the SAT or ACT and do not have scores available, you will not be required to submit a score upon enrollment.

Applicants who chose to submit either the SAT or the ACT examination may take the exam either in the junior year of high school or the fall of senior year. SAT Subject Tests and SAT/ACT writing sections are not required. Applicants may submit self-reported SAT/ACT scores for admissions consideration. Should a student be admitted and choose to enroll at Bucknell, official SAT/ACT scores will be required after deposit. Test results may also be sent directly from a test organization to Bucknell University (SAT code 2050 and ACT code 3528). Information on the SAT is available at sat.org and on the ACT at actstudent.org. Applicants do not need to complete the optional essay section on either the SAT or ACT.

Applicants for whom English is not the first language or whose primary language of instruction is not English are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores. The minimum recommended TOEFL score is 600 on the paper-based exam (PBT) or 100 on the internet-based exam (IBT). The minimum recommended score is 7 on the IELTS and 68 on the PTE Academic exam. Information on the TOEFL is available at ets.org/toefl, the IELTS at ielts.org, and the PTE Academic at pearsonpte.com. Test results must be sent directly from the test organization to Bucknell University.