Yale University has announced that it will reinstate the requirement for standardized testing scores, specifically the SAT or ACT, for all first-year and transfer students beginning in the upcoming fall admissions cycle. This decision ends a six-year period during which the university adopted a test-optional policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yale's move is part of a broader trend among universities, as many institutions are returning to mandatory testing requirements. The reinstatement follows a review by a Presidential Council on Yale College Admissions, which was formed in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling that deemed affirmative action unconstitutional. The council recommended this policy change, arguing that standardized tests are less prone to bias compared to other application components. Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis emphasized that SAT and ACT scores are strong indicators of future academic success at Yale and can assist in identifying well-prepared candidates, especially from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Yale's decision aligns with similar actions taken by other Ivy League schools, although Columbia University has opted for a permanent test-optional policy.