Standardized Tests

In the academic year 2019-2020, Bucknell began a five-year pilot program for which students are not required to submit an SAT or ACT score with their application. However, homeschooled students, international citizens and recruited athletes are required to submit an SAT or ACT score. Please note, for the 2020-2023 application cycles, homeschooled, international and recruited athlete applicants may choose to be test optional because of challenges applicants may face taking standardized tests during the COVID-19 pandemic. This policy change will be reevaluated at the end of the 2022-2023 application cycle.

Also 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. These scores will only be used in the assessment of the test-optional program and will not impact the admission decision already made. 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 the SAT or the ACT examination may take the exam either in the junior year of high school or the fall of senior year. 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 scores for either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Language Tests (PTE), or Duolingo English Test (DET). 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, 68 on the PTE Academic exam, and 130 on the DET. Information on the TOEFL is available at ets.org/toefl, the IELTS at ielts.org, the PTE Academic at pearsonpte.com, and the DET at englishtest.duolingo.com. Test results must be sent directly from the test organization to Bucknell University.