Harvard College Reinstates Standardized Testing Requirements for Fall 2025 Admissions Cycle

Harvard, Massachusetts, USA United States of America
Harvard College has announced that it will require standardized test scores for the fall 2025 admissions cycle.
This marks a reversal of its previous policy to remain test-optional through the admitted Class of 2030, which was implemented during the pandemic.
Harvard College Reinstates Standardized Testing Requirements for Fall 2025 Admissions Cycle

Harvard College has announced that it will require standardized test scores for the fall 2025 admissions cycle. This marks a reversal of its previous policy to remain test-optional through the admitted Class of 2030, which was implemented during the pandemic. The decision comes in response to criticism from academics and admissions experts who have been calling on Harvard to reinstate standardized testing requirements.

Harvard officials cited research by Opportunity Insights group that found SAT scores are a particularly strong predictor of college success, much more so than high school grade point average. The College will require applicants to submit either the SAT or ACT scores for fall 2025 admission cycle.

Harvard officials also noted that standardized tests provide predictive information about a student's success in college and beyond, and can help identify promising students from across socioeconomic range. The College will formally assess this policy at regular intervals to ensure its effectiveness.



Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any concerns about the potential for bias in standardized testing scores?
  • Is there any evidence that standardized testing is a reliable predictor of college success?

Sources

72%

  • Unique Points
    • Harvard College will require standardized test scores for fall 2025 admissions cycle
    • The Class of 2029 admissions cycle will be the first to implement this policy
    • SAT or ACT scores are required, but other eligible tests may also be accepted in exceptional cases
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that standardized tests are a means for all students to provide information predictive of success in college and beyond. However, this statement ignores the fact that not all students have equal access to these tests due to socioeconomic factors or other barriers. Secondly, while it is true that test scores can be useful in identifying promising students from less well-resourced high schools when paired with other academic credentials, they are still prone to biases and do not provide a complete picture of a student's abilities. Thirdly, the article suggests that access to testing should never prevent a student from applying to Harvard. However, this statement ignores the fact that some students may face barriers in obtaining test scores due to socioeconomic factors or other challenges.
    • The author claims that standardized tests are a means for all students to provide information predictive of success in college and beyond. This is deceptive because not all students have equal access to these tests due to socioeconomic factors or other barriers.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi Hoekstra stating that standardized tests are a means for all students to provide information predictive of success in college and beyond. The author also presents examples from research published last year by Harvard Professors Raj Chetty, David J. Deming, and John N. Friedman which shows the importance of standardized test scores in identifying promising students at less-well-resourced high schools when paired with other academic credentials such as recommendation letters, extracurriculars, essays.
    • The article quotes Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi Hoekstra stating that standardized tests are a means for all students to provide information predictive of success in college and beyond.
    • <p>In research published last year, Harvard Professors Raj Chetty, David J. Deming, and co-author John N. Friedman used data from more than 400 institutions and about 3.5 million undergrads per year to better understand socioeconomic diversity and admissions.</p>
    • <p>The virtue of standardized tests is their universality</p>
  • Bias (85%)
    The article discusses the decision by Harvard College to require standardized test scores for fall 2025 admissions. The author cites a number of factors that underscored this decision, including the predictive nature of standardized tests and their ability to identify talent from across socioeconomic backgrounds. However, it is also acknowledged that these tests are not an unbiased measure of students' qualifications and can be influenced by access to resources such as test prep. The article mentions research published last year which found that other measures like recommendation letters, extracurriculars, essays were even more prone to biases than standardized tests. It also acknowledges the challenges faced by some applicants in accessing these tests due to pandemic and socioeconomic factors.
    • Standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond.
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of standardized tests as they mention that students from higher-income families often have greater access to test prep and other resources. The article also mentions Raj Chetty and David J. Deming and John N. Friedman research which could be seen as biased towards certain groups.
      • The author correctly notes that standardized tests are not an unbiased measure of students' qualifications, as students from higher-income families often have greater access to test prep and other resources.

      78%

      • Unique Points
        • Harvard has dropped its standardized testing requirement in 2020
        • The majority of students who matriculated at Harvard in past four years did so even though it wasn't required
        • Critics have long asserted that standardized tests are biased towards wealthier families, but research by the Opportunity Insights group found that they can help identify standout applicants from low-income backgrounds whose raw scores might not be as high as upper income students
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (50%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it presents the decision to reinstate standardized testing requirements as a way to identify promising students and support their development as thinkers and leaders who will contribute to shaping our world. However, this statement contradicts previous research that has shown that standardized tests are biased towards students from wealthier families who have better educational opportunities overall. Secondly, the article quotes Raj Chetty stating that other measures such as recommendation letters, extracurriculars and essays are even more prone to biases than standardized test scores. This contradicts previous research which has shown that these measures can be less biased than standardized tests. Lastly, the article presents a statement from David J Deming stating that not everyone can hire an expensive college coach to help them craft a personal essay but everyone has the chance to ace the SAT or ACT. However, this is misleading as access to test prep resources and private tutoring are still significant barriers for many students.
        • Fundamentally, we know that talent is universal, but opportunity is not,
      • Fallacies (75%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (75%)
        The article discusses the decision by Harvard to reinstate standardized testing requirements for its students. The author cites research that suggests these tests can help identify standout applicants from low-income backgrounds and increase diversity at the university. However, there is also evidence of bias in standardized tests towards wealthier families who have access to test prep resources.
        • Fundamentally, we know that talent is universal, but opportunity is not,
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        74%

        • Unique Points
          • Harvard College will require standardized test scores for fall 2025 admissions cycle
          • SAT or ACT scores are required but other eligible tests may also be accepted in exceptional cases
          • Standardized tests provide predictive information about a student's success in college and beyond
          • Test scores can help identify promising students from across socioeconomic range
        • Accuracy
          • Harvard College will require applicants to submit standardized test scores once again for fall 2025 admission.
          • Dartmouth College, Yale and Brown universities announced similar changes in recent weeks after officials cited data suggesting that SAT and ACT scores were the best predictors of students' academic performance at their schools.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive because it presents a biased and misleading argument in favor of standardized tests as the best predictors of students' academic performance. The author does not provide any evidence or sources to support this claim, and instead relies on selective data from Harvard professors who have a vested interest in promoting their research. The author also ignores the fact that standardized tests are not an unbiased measure of students' qualifications, as they disadvantage applicants from more challenging backgrounds who may lack access to test prep and other resources. The author does not consider any alternatives or trade-offs in making the tests optional, such as reducing socioeconomic diversity at Harvard. The author also omits any mention of the negative impact of standardized tests on students' mental health and well-being.
          • The article is deceptive because it uses editorializing and pontification to express the author's personal opinion in favor of standardized tests as admissions criteria at Harvard. The article does not provide any objective or factual information on the issue, nor does it acknowledge any alternative viewpoints or counterarguments.
          • The article is deceptive because it uses emotional manipulation and sensationalism to persuade readers of its argument in favor of standardized tests. The article does not provide any balanced or nuanced perspective on the issue, nor does it acknowledge any trade-offs or drawbacks of making test scores optional at Harvard. The article also relies on anecdotal and selective data to support its claim, rather than empirical and rigorous evidence.
          • The article is deceptive because it uses science and health articles as examples to support its argument in favor of standardized tests, without providing any evidence or citations to back up their claims. The article also does not consider the possibility that these articles may be biased or unreliable, nor does it provide any alternative sources or perspectives on them.
          • The article is deceptive because it cites research by Harvard professors Raj Chetty, David J. Deming, and John N. Friedman, who have a clear conflict of interest in promoting their own research that supports the use of standardized tests as admissions criteria. The authors are affiliated with Harvard and other elite universities, and have received funding from institutions that benefit from maintaining the status quo of selective college admissions. The article does not provide any independent or critical evaluation of the validity or reliability of their research, nor does it acknowledge any alternative perspectives or counterarguments.
          • The article is deceptive because it does not report on science and health articles that are not peer-reviewed or pre-print, nor does it link them to sources that can verify their validity and reliability. The article also does not explain why these articles are relevant or important for the issue of standardized tests at Harvard.
          • The article is deceptive because it does not disclose the sources of its information or quotes from other people involved in the issue of standardized tests at Harvard. The article cites research by Harvard professors who have a vested interest in promoting their own research, without providing any evidence or citations to back up their claims.
          • The article is deceptive because it suggests that making standardized test scores optional during the pandemic had a negative impact on Harvard's socioeconomic diversity, when in fact there is no evidence or data to support this claim. The article does not provide any comparison or contrast between the admission rates of students from different backgrounds before and after making the tests optional, nor does it explain how standardized test scores are used as a factor in admissions decisions at Harvard. The article also ignores the fact that other measures of applicants' qualifications, such as grades, essays, and recommendation letters, may also be biased or prone to favoring students from higher-income families.
          • The article is deceptive because it implies that making test scores optional during the pandemic was an exceptional and temporary measure, when in fact there is no evidence or data to support this claim. The article also suggests that returning to standardized tests as admissions criteria at Harvard was a necessary and beneficial decision, without providing any justification or rationale for doing so.
          • The article is deceptive because it implies that standardized tests are fair and objective measures of students' abilities and potentials, when in fact they are not. The article ignores the fact that standardized tests have been criticized for decades as adding a roadblock for disadvantaged students, who may lack access to test prep courses, tutoring, or other resources that enhance their performance on these tests. The article also does not address the issue of bias in standardized tests, which favor students from higher-income families and privileged backgrounds who have more opportunities to learn and practice for these tests.
          • The article is deceptive because it implies that standardized test scores are necessary for ensuring meritocracy and fairness in college admissions at Harvard. The article does not provide any evidence or data to support this claim, nor does it acknowledge the potential harms of standardized tests on students' mental health and well-being. The article also ignores the fact that making test scores optional may have increased diversity and inclusion at Harvard by allowing more applicants from different backgrounds and perspectives to apply.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by citing research done by Harvard professors without providing any context or evidence for their findings. Secondly, there is a dichotomous depiction of standardized tests as either being biased against disadvantaged students or not being biased at all. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric when it states that making the SAT and ACT optional could further disadvantage applicants from more challenging backgrounds. Lastly, there is a lack of consideration for alternative methods of assessing student qualifications.
          • The author cites research done by Harvard professors without providing any context or evidence for their findings.
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          Susan Svrluga has a conflict of interest on the topic of Harvard College as she is an alumni and may have personal ties to the institution. She also has a conflict of interest on standardized test scores as her article discusses Harvard's decision to require SAT and ACT tests for admission again, which could be seen as promoting these tests.
          • Susan Svrluga is an alumni of Harvard College.

          74%

          • Unique Points
            • Harvard College will reinstate its standardized testing requirement in admissions beginning with the Class of 2029.
            • Scores from exams such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate will also be accepted as substitutes.
            • Standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond.
          • Accuracy
            • All applicants to the Class of 2029 due to apply in the fall and winter of 2024-5 will be required to submit SAT or ACT scores, barring specific cases where they may be unable to access such exams.
            • Harvard had faced mounting criticism for continuing its test-optional policies even as its peer institutions returned to requiring standardized tests.
            • The decision comes in the face of Harvard's previous commitments to remain test-optional through the admitted Class of 2030, a policy that was first instituted during the pandemic.
            • Harvard College Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra wrote in a statement that 'standardized tests are a means for all students, regardless of their background and life experience, to provide information that is predictive of success in college and beyond.'
            • The majority of undergraduates entering Harvard in the past four years have submitted standardized test scores.
            • Harvard officials had recently hedged on whether the College would reinstate its testing requirement.
            • In early March, Hoekstra told The Crimson that Harvard was 'in the midst of analyzing' its policy.
            • When Yale and Dartmouth reinstated their testing policies, both institutions referenced the predictive power of standardized testing as a key incentive for its return as a mandatory component of the admissions process.
            • Harvard's reversal of its commitment to stay test-optional through the next two admissions cycles came with little warning to applicants for the Class of 2029, who have six sittings of the ACT and SAT left before Harvard's regular decision application deadline on Jan. 1, and even fewer before its early action deadline of Nov. 1.
            • The College's announcement was made exactly two weeks after it released admissions decisions for the incoming Class of 2028.
          • Deception (80%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that Harvard College will reinstate its standardized testing requirement for the Class of 2029 but does not mention anything about a change in policy for subsequent classes. This implies that this decision only applies to one class and creates confusion for applicants who may have already made plans based on the previous test-optional policy. Secondly, it quotes Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra stating that standardized tests are predictive of success in college and beyond but does not provide any evidence or studies to support this claim. This statement is misleading as there is no definitive proof that standardized tests accurately predict future success. Finally, the article mentions a study from Opportunity Insights which found SAT scores to be a strong predictor of college success but fails to mention that this study has been criticized for its methodology and biases. Therefore, relying solely on this study as evidence for standardized testing is not accurate or reliable.
            • The article quotes Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra stating that standardized tests are predictive of success in college and beyond but does not provide any evidence or studies to support this claim. This statement is misleading as there is no definitive proof that standardized tests accurately predict future success.
            • The article states that Harvard College will reinstate its standardized testing requirement in admissions beginning with the Class of 2029 but does not mention anything about a change in policy for subsequent classes. This implies that this decision only applies to one class and creates confusion for applicants who may have already made plans based on the previous test-optional policy.
          • Fallacies (75%)
            The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing a study from Opportunity Insights that found SAT scores are a strong predictor of college success. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that Harvard's previous test-optional policies were criticized and the majority of undergraduates entering Harvard in the past four years have submitted standardized test scores.
            • Harvard College will reinstate its standardized testing requirement in admissions beginning with the Class of 2029, a surprise reversal that could leave some students scrambling to take SAT or ACT tests ahead of application deadlines in the fall.
            • The majority of undergraduates entering Harvard in the past four years have submitted standardized test scores.
            • Harvard officials have recently hedged on whether the College would reinstate its testing requirement.
          • Bias (85%)
            The article shows a clear bias towards standardized testing in admissions. The author quotes Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra stating that standardized tests are predictive of success in college and beyond, implying that they are necessary for identifying talented students from all backgrounds.
            • > Harvard College will reinstate its standardized testing requirement in admissions beginning with the Class of 2029
              • The majority of undergraduates entering Harvard in the past four years have submitted standardized test scores
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication