Yes, NYU is test-optional through the 2026-2027 application cycle. You can apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores, and the admissions office will evaluate your application based on the rest of your materials. If you do choose to submit scores, you only need to submit one form of testing.
How the Test-Optional Policy Works
When you fill out the Common Application for NYU, you’ll select whether you want to submit standardized testing. If you opt in, you’ll also indicate which type of test you plan to submit. This is a straightforward choice built into the application itself, not a separate form or petition.
Choosing not to submit scores does not put your application at a disadvantage in the review process. NYU adopted the test-optional approach to give applicants more flexibility, and applicants who withhold scores are evaluated on the strength of their grades, coursework, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular profile.
What You Can Submit If You Choose To
If you have strong test scores and want them considered, you only need one form of testing. NYU accepts the SAT and ACT, and the application lets you specify which you plan to send. There is no preference for one over the other.
If your scores are on the fence, consider how they compare to NYU’s admitted student profile. A score that falls well within or above the middle 50% range of admitted students can strengthen your application. A score that falls below it may not add much, and going test-optional could be the better move.
Auditions and Portfolios for Specific Programs
Some NYU schools have additional requirements beyond the standard application, but these are artistic reviews, not replacements for testing decisions. Tisch School of the Arts requires an artistic portfolio or audition for all of its programs. Steinhardt’s music programs require an audition, portfolio, or supplemental application, and its studio art program requires a portfolio with an artist statement.
These requirements exist on top of the regular application. They don’t change the test-optional policy. Whether you’re applying to Tisch, Steinhardt, the College of Arts and Science, or any other NYU school, the choice to submit or withhold test scores works the same way.
English Proficiency for International Applicants
The test-optional policy applies to international students too, but there’s a separate requirement to be aware of: English language proficiency testing. If English is not your first language, NYU may ask you to submit results from an approved English proficiency exam taken within the last two years.
You’re exempt from this requirement if English is your first language or if you’ve already completed three or more consecutive years of full-time study where English was the only language of instruction at the time you submit your application.
NYU accepts several proficiency exams: TOEFL iBT (in-person or Home Edition), Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, and iTEP Academic-Plus. The university does not accept results from the TOEFL Essentials, PTE Academic Online, TOEFL iBT “My Best” scores, or IELTS One Skill Retake.
There are no official minimum scores, but NYU publishes what competitive applicants typically receive: 100 or above on the TOEFL iBT, 135 or above on Duolingo, 7.5 or above on IELTS Academic, 70 or above on PTE Academic, 191 or above on the Cambridge English Scale, and 4.5 or above on iTEP. These are not cutoffs, but scoring below them could raise questions about your readiness for English-language coursework at a rigorous university.
How to Decide Whether to Submit Scores
The core question is simple: do your test scores make your application stronger? If your SAT or ACT score aligns with or exceeds the range of recently admitted NYU students, submitting gives the admissions office one more data point in your favor. If your score doesn’t reflect your academic ability, or if you didn’t take the test at all, going test-optional lets the rest of your application speak for itself.
Keep in mind that going test-optional puts more weight on everything else. Your GPA, the rigor of your course load, your essays, and your letters of recommendation become the primary evidence of your academic preparation. If those elements are strong, you can apply with confidence regardless of whether you include a test score.