When is the last time I can take the SAT or ACT and still be considered for Admission?

Applying Early Decision (application deadline: November 1st):
Last test date for SAT/Subject Test: November
Last test date for ACT: October

Applying Regular Decision (application deadline: January 1st):
Last test date for SAT/Subject Test: January
Last test date for ACT: December

Visit CollegeBoard for more info about SAT and Subject Tests preparation, registration or the exam itself. Visit ACT for more info about ACT preparation, registration or the exam itself.

• Speak with your counselor about obtaining a testing fee-waiver if appropriate.
• If you are taking an exam after the application deadline (ED: November 1; RD: January 1) please make a quick note in your application under additional information to let us know to anticipate new scores.
  
• If you wish to REtake the ACT or SAT after the final test date, you may in February. However, please understand that we cannot guarantee that scores will arrive in time for consideration with your file. We must have scores from the final test date or before if you are taking any exams in February.
  

Do I need to take the SAT Subject Tests related to my academic interest or intended major?

No.

Take the Subject Tests for the subjects you're most interested in. That may very well relate to your intended major, but not necessarily.

What test scores will you look at if I have taken the SAT, Subject Tests, or ACT multiple times?

We look at your best scores. This said, please remember testing is just one of many things we look at and you should not get yourself worked up over testing.

SAT: We will consider your top Critical Reasoning, top Math, and top Writing score
ACT: We will consider your top composite score
SAT Subject Tests: We will consider your top 2 Subject Test scores from different subject tests

If you take the SAT and ACT, we will look at whichever total score is higher.

If you need to take the TOEFL or iELTS, we will consider your best score.

Please look at our testing page for more details.

Do I need to rush my SAT or ACT scores from the October test date if I am applying to Dartmouth ED?

No.

Please just be sure the College Board or ACT knows you're applying to Dartmouth so we receive your scores when they're ready.

What SAT Subject Test scores should I submit?

Ideally, all.

We only consider your highest two SAT Subject Test scores (so long as they are from 2 different Subject Tests). We do not value any particular SAT Subject Tests higher than others. So whatever your two highest scores are, that's what we consider.

How do you read applications from Home-Schooled students?

We read every application in the context of each applicant's community and opportunities. Just as every community, high school, and family is unique, we recognize that the opportunities for each home-schooled student is unique. Dartmouth receives a number of applications from home-schooled students each year, so there is no need to worry that we are not accustomed to home-schooled applicants.

As with every applicant, please just make sure your application represents the academic and extracurricular opportunities available to you and what you did with those opportunities. Home-schooled students need to submit the home-school supplement, which helps us understand the context of the academic and extracurricular opportunities available. If you are enrolled in a home-schooling consortium, online courses, or other academic programs, you should submit all course results from these programs to help us confirm your academic strengths.

Home-school applicants should complete the rest of the application just like other first-year applicants, including testing. Visit our FAQ for more insight.

Do you grant credit for CLEP?

No, we do not grant credit for CLEP.

If I submit my ACT scores, do I also need to submit SAT Subject Test scores?

Yes.

We need either:

ACT with writing AND 2 different SAT Subject Test scores

OR

SAT with writing AND 2 different SAT Subject Test scores

Can I use Score Choice for the SAT I?

Yes- Dartmouth permits the use of Score Choice. However, we encourage students to send us ALL of their scores.

Sending all scores is advantageous for many students because we will take the highest composite scores between exam sittings. For example, of a student's highest scores on the SAT math, critical reading and writing sections are spread out between multiple sittings, we will officially record the composite of those scores. However, if this particular student only sends in one sitting of the exam, we will not be able to composite score.

In some cases, we may also look at the SAT I exam in terms of a student's improvement over time. Don't worry if your score from your freshman or sophomore year is lower than your most recent score- this is to be expected! Seeing a higher score on a more recent sitting of the exam only tells us that you have grown since the last time you sat for the SAT. Keep in mind that if we only have one score on file, we will not have a basis for comparison.

Our full policy with regard to testing and details on when to request scores from the College Board can be found here.

Do you accept iELTS (in lieu of TOEFL)?

Yes. You may submit either iELTS or TOEFL scores. (We require students who attend schools where English is not the primary language of instruction to submit scores from either TOEFL or iELTS to help us assess their English language skills. If you are a non-native English speaker BUT you attend an English-language high school, you are not required to take either of these tests, however oftentimes it still is helpful to receive these scores.)

Do I need to send in AP Exam scores with my application for admission?

If you are enrolled in AP classes, we encourage you take the AP exams for those classes.

If you have AP scores, we strongly encourage you to submit those scores to us by reporting them under the "Tests" section of the Common Application. Students who enroll can be granted course credit or placement based on AP scores.

I am an international transfer applicant who currently attends a university in the US. My TOEFL score has expired. Do I need to take the exam again?

No- if you are already attending a college or university in the US, you do not need to take the TOEFL again. We will be looking at your essay, grades and coursework to determine your proficiency in the English language.

Does the Admissions Office consider the French and French with Listening SAT Subject Tests as two different exams?

While submitting scores for the French and French with Listening SAT Subject Tests would technically meet our SAT Subject Test requirement, I would strongly suggest that you not take only these two exams since they are so similar. (The same applies to the other languages for which there are two exams). It is totally fine to take both the Math I and Math II exams, or language exams in which you are a native speaker, but we generally discourage applicants from submitting two scores from the same language unless they're also submitting scores from other exams.

How many times is too many for taking the SAT?

Dartmouth has no cap on how many times a student can take the SAT I exam or any other standardized test (ACT, SAT Subject Tests, TOEFL, etc). However, it is important to keep in mind that how many times you take an exam does reflect in part, your overall allocation of time. How much time are you spending studying for the SAT vs. engaging in academic or intellectual endeavors, or extracurriculars? That said, I would advise most students not to take the exam more than 3-4 times.

How can a home schooled student demonstrate language proficiency?

You can demonstrate language proficiency either via an SAT II subject test or via an AP exam. Either one is fine with the Admisssions Office. The AP exam may have the added benefit of gaining you academic credit once you get to college.