Transfer Applicants

Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is one of the application components that can highlight academic preparedness. Please review the information below to learn more about our testing requirements and reporting procedures.

ACT/SAT

ACT or SAT scores are required.

  • Please self-report your highest ACT and/or SAT scores in the testing section of the application. You do not need to have official scores sent to Stanford for us to review your application.
  • If you are offered admission and choose to enroll, official scores for ACT and/or SAT scores will be required for all self-reported sittings. In order for test scores to be considered official, they must be sent directly from the ACT or the College Board.

Stanford reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if an applicant's self-reported test scores do not align with those in the official score report.

Stanford does not have a preferred exam (ACT vs. SAT). There are no minimum test scores required to be admitted to Stanford, and there is no score that guarantees admission.

  • For students in the Class of 2029 who submitted SAT scores, the middle 50 percent scored between 1520 and 1570.
  • For students in the Class of 2029 who submitted ACT scores, the middle 50 percent scored between 34 and 36.

ACT and SAT scores were optional for the Class of 2029.

There are several free resources online to support you in your test preparation: ACT , Bluebook , College Board , Khan Academy , and Schoolhouse.world .

AP

AP exams are not mandatory; however, if you have taken any AP exams, even if you self-studied for them, you are required to self-report all your AP scores in your application.

English Proficiency Tests

Please visit our International Applicants page for guidance. English Proficiency tests cannot be used as a substitute for the ACT/SAT requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Latest Possible ACT Test Sitting: by the end of February

Latest Possible SAT Test Sitting: by the end of December

We recommend students take the ACT or SAT well in advance of application deadlines. It is unlikely that scores from tests taken after the deadlines will arrive in time for review. We cannot delay the review of an application in anticipation of scores that will arrive after the deadline nor can we guarantee that late scores will be reviewed.

If your most recent test results ACT or SAT arrive after you submit your application, you can self-report these scores by logging in to your Stanford portal and filling out the Self-Report Test Scores form.

Once you submit your application, you can self-report additional AP scores by logging in to your Stanford portal and submitting the Self-Report Test Scores form.

While we expect students to take the AP exam if they’ve taken the class, we understand there may be circumstances that prevent the exam from being taken. If this is the case, please let us know in the Additional Information section of the application. You may also let us know through the Update Application form in your Stanford portal .

Yes: We want you to have the best test representation possible.

  • When you self-report your scores, you can enter your ACT Superscore Composite as your Highest Composite Score alongside your highest scores achieved in Math, English, and Reading across all test sittings.

  • The Science and Writing sections are optional. You may report these scores if you would like.

Yes: We want you to have the best test representation possible. When you self-report your scores, enter your highest Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores.

  • You may have taken a sitting with the essay and a separate sitting without the essay. We will superscore your Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores across these two versions of the exam.

  • The SAT Essay section is optional. You may report this score if you would like.

Updated on July 31, 2026 1:05 PM