Testing Policy (SAT/ACT)

Standardized Tests (ACT/SAT) for First-Year Admission

Test-Optional FAQs

Check out the FAQs below or watch a video of Dean Einstein explaining our test-optional plans in the Horned Frog Blog.

Yes. We have a “Do No Harm” policy that prevents submitted test scores from penalizing you in our assessment of your academic ability. If a submitted score would harm your likelihood for admission or scholarship, we will exclude it from consideration. Moreover, our policy is intended to honor both students who choose not to submit scores and students who did not have the opportunity to sit for an exam. With COVID-19 causing test administrations to be canceled, many students who believe their potential test score would support their academic profile were and/or remain unable to test. With uncertainty about both future administrations and the ongoing pandemic, we do not want you to feel pressured into traveling long distances while risking your health and the health of others to sit for an exam.

We have always taken a sane approach to the use of standardized testing. We care more about grades and course work than how you perform on an exam. Years of high school performance tells us more than one Saturday junior or senior year. For reference, the middle 50% of TCU students entering in fall 2019 scored 1150 to 1340 on SAT and 26 to 31 on the ACT. Since this will be our first time applying a test-optional approach to file review, it’s unclear what those middle 50% will look like in this current application pool.

If you indicate on your application that you would like a test score considered, your application will be considered incomplete until we receive that score. If we receive your score within a week or so of the deadline, we can still mark your application complete and review it. If your application remains incomplete, we will ask if you’d like to roll your application over to the next decision round so you can wait for a test score to be submitted or if you prefer that we consider your application without a score. We accept self-reported test scores, so you don’t have to wait for the official scores to be sent from the testing agency. You can use the myTCU portal to quickly upload self-reported scores or send a screenshot of your score to frogmail@tcu.edu.

We will consider test scores contextually. We look at test scores, grades, curriculum choices, and recommendation letters from teachers and counselors to get a full picture of how you perform academically and how we think you will likely perform at TCU. We believe this combination allows us to make a fair assessment. If you exclude test scores, we still have an ample amount of information to help us make a sound decision.

We will consider students who do not submit test scores for scholarship and for admission to the John V Roach Honors College. If you feel like your application is complete without submitting standardized test scores, we do too.

While not submitting a test score will leave us with one fewer data point to review, that data point itself has limited predictive value. We can still develop a complete picture of student performance and not extensively alter our application review process.

Yes, although it’s important to note that students can receive our most attractive scholarships without test scores. Students who apply in one of our early rounds and were either admitted or deferred can submit scores to enhance their profile for scholarship or admission. We do not accept test scores from exams taken after February of senior year. Refer to our scholarship recipient averages for guidance, but recall that these numbers are from a non-test-optional admitted student pool.

You can always contact the Office of Admission at frogmail@tcu.edu or 817-257-7490 or reach out directly to your assigned counselor.

TCU reviews applications holistically, meaning we evaluate a range of factors that allow us to gain as complete an understanding of the applicant as possible. The results of SAT or ACT are factored in if students choose to submit them, but they are not required for students graduating high school through 2026. When included, they provide additional contextualized data.

If you submit scores from more than one sitting of the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT, we will consider your highest section scores across multiple sittings or test dates (“Super-Score”). We will consider your highest Math, your highest Critical Reading and your highest Writing scores even if you earn them on separate test dates for the SAT. We will consider your highest English, Math, Reading, and Science scores even if you earn them on separate test dates for the ACT. Please submit your scores from all test dates that include a highest score on one of the three sections of the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT. If you’re not sure, you should submit all scores. We will look at the best scores using the methods described below.

SAT: Highest Section – highest CR, highest M and highest W (Super-Score)*
ACT: Highest Section – highest English, highest Math, highest Reading, highest Science (Super-Score)
Better of SAT or ACT, if you submit both
SAT Subject Tests are not required

If you submit scores from both the SAT Reasoning Test and the ACT, we will compare your best on each test (according to the methods described above), and then we will consider the score which most benefits your application for admission.

TCU does not consider the results of the PSAT, PLAN or any state-administered exam (e.g. TAKS) in admission decisions.

TCU is test-optional through 2026.

Opportunity to exhibit potential for academic success
Considered alongside other academic credentials – no minimum score

At TCU, our goal is to use testing to give you every possible opportunity to exhibit potential for academic success. ACT or SAT scores are helpful because they provide a similar scale of performance for all applicants on a nationally standardized exam. We do not look at scores in isolation, however. Instead, we consider the test scores alongside your other academic credentials such as high school course selection, grades in high school, class rank if available, any college coursework completed, and teacher recommendations. Consequently, there are no ‘cut-scores’ which would either guarantee or prevent admission to TCU.

TCU is test-optional through 2026.

Submit either ACT or SAT – no preference
Take the test prior to the application deadline – even if scores will arrive a bit later
Report all SAT and/or ACT scores you have earned

If you’re applying as a first-year student to TCU, you must submit the results of at least one ACT or SAT. We have no preference which test you submit; each test is considered with equal importance. You should talk with your high school counselor if you are unsure which test to take. For both the ACT and SAT, we do not require or recommend the writing/essay portion of the exam.

We accept self-reported scores, meaning you may send an email to frogmail@tcu.eduwith your section scores and test date. Many students choose to email a screen shot of their test results, which is also acceptable. If you are admitted and decide to enroll at TCU, we would require your official test scores from the testing agency at that time.

You should plan to take the test prior to the appropriate application deadline. In some cases, your scores will not be available until after the deadline – as long as you’ve requested the scores be sent to TCU when you registered for the exam, we will receive them in time to consider them as part of your application.

TCU is test-optional through 2026.

TCU requires official test scores from enrolled students. Applicants may self-report their test scores. Official scores are ones that are reported to TCU directly from the testing agency (www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org) or that accompany an official high school transcript and bear the seal/signature of the high school registrar or counselor. Once a student enrolls at TCU, they must submit their official test scores from the testing agency if they did not already do so during the application process.

TCU is test-optional through 2026. When included, they provide additional contextualized data.

SAT: Highest Section – highest CR, highest M and highest W (Super-Score)*
ACT: Highest Section – highest English, highest Math, highest Reading, highest Science (Super-Score)
Better of SAT or ACT, if you submit both
SAT Subject Tests not required

At TCU, we want to give you the benefit of having taken a test more than once. We encourage you to send scores from all of the tests you have taken. We will look at the best scores using the methods described below.

SAT tests taken before March 2016 cannot be super scored with SAT tests taken March 2016 and after due to the change in formatting.

TCU does not require you to submit scores from any SAT Subject Tests, though you may wish to do so if you feel they will enhance your application for admission.

TCU does not consider the results of the PSAT, PLAN or any state-administered exam (e.g. TAKS) in admission decisions.

TCU is test-optional through 2026.

At TCU, we consider your ACT or SAT scores in the context of your entire application. Therefore, we do not have a certain score that will guarantee admission nor do we have certain scores that would automatically prevent admission.

The Enrolled Student Profile includes a mid-50 percent SAT score range of 1150-1340, and a mid-50 percent ACT score range of 26-31.

These mid-50 percent ranges represent scores that are generally considered competitive for admission when accompanied by other criteria that indicate potential academic success. This means that 25 percent of TCU first-year students scored below 1160 or 26, and 25 percent of our first-year students scored above 1360 or 30. Half of them, or 50 percent, scored in the middle of this range.

SAT: Highest Section – highest CR, highest M and highest W (Super-Score)*
ACT: Highest Section – highest English, highest Math, highest Reading, highest Science (Super-Score)
Better of SAT or ACT, if you submit both
SAT Subject Tests not required

SAT tests taken before March 2016 cannot be super scored with SAT tests taken March 2016 and after due to the change in formatting.

TCU does not require you to submit scores from any SAT Subject Tests, though you may wish to do so if you feel they will enhance your application for admission.

TCU does not consider the results of the PSAT, PLAN or any state-administered exam (e.g. TAKS) in admission decisions.

Submit either ACT or SAT – no preference
Take the test prior to the application deadline – even if scores will arrive a bit later
Report all SAT and/or ACT scores you have earned

If you’re applying as a to TCU, you must submit the results of at least one ACT or SAT. We have no preference which test you submit; each test is considered with equal importance. You should talk with your high school counselor if you are unsure which test to take. For both the ACT and SAT, we do not require or recommend the writing/essay portion of the exam.