Do I Need To Take The SAT or ACT to Apply to UK Universities?
The short answer: it depends.
If you’re a US high school student considering universities in the UK, you may be wondering whether you need to take the SAT or ACT.
The good news is that taking the SAT or ACT is not always necessary for UK university admission. Whether you need one depends largely on the curriculum you are studying and the universities you are applying to.
If you do take the SAT or ACT, a strong score can certainly help your application. And, unlike at the most selective US colleges, you don’t necessarily need a 1500+ SAT to be competitive at many excellent UK universities.
For example:
- King’s College London: Depending on the entry requirements for the particular degree, SAT requirements range from 1320 to 1440, or approximately 27 to 31 on the ACT when combined with 3 APs usually at 5,5,5.
- University of Edinburgh: Its published minimum is 1290 SAT or 27 ACT, when combined with two AP scores of 4 or above.
So, should you take the SAT or ACT? That depends on what you’re studying in high school.
If You’re Taking the Full IB Diploma
If you’re completing the full International Baccalaureate Diploma, you generally don’t need the SAT or ACT.
The IB Diploma is one of the most widely recognized qualifications for UK university admission, second only to UK A levels, and universities publish specific IB entry requirements for each degree.
The downside? Competitive UK universities can require very high IB scores.
Requirements vary considerably by university and degree, but an IB diploma score of 36–38+ overall is a useful benchmark for many competitive universities and courses (40+ is the expectation for the most competitive universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge and LSE).
Always check the requirements for your specific degree program choice rather than relying on the university’s general requirements.
If You’re Taking AP Classes
If you’re taking multiple APs, you may also be able to avoid the SAT or ACT altogether.
Many UK universities allow US students to qualify using AP exams alone. If you expect to complete five or more APs by the end of 12th grade, particularly with scores of 5, an SAT or ACT may not be necessary at many universities.
For example, King’s College London has an AP-only admissions route requiring five APs, with the precise combination of 4s and 5s depending on the degree.
Some universities require fewer. The University of Edinburgh, for example, accepts three AP scores of 4 or above as meeting its general minimum standardized-testing requirement.
However, if by the end of 12th grade you expect to take three or fewer APs, an SAT or ACT can considerably broaden your options. As a rough rule of thumb, an SAT of 1320+ (ACT 27+) or equivalent can meet the requirements of many very good UK universities, while 1400+ (ACT 29–30+) gives you more options.
Remember that the most selective universities are a different story. LSE, for example, currently requires an SAT of 1450+ or ACT of 32+ for courses with A*AA/AAA entry requirements when applying through its SAT/ACT route, together with a minimum 3.7 high school GPA.
And don’t assume every AP needs to be a 5. Some universities accept 4s and sometimes 3s, depending on the degree and its entry requirements.
An Interesting Exception: AP Class Grades
A small number of UK universities will consider the grade you receive in an AP class rather than requiring the corresponding AP exam score.
The University of Sheffield is a particularly useful example. It accepts College Board-recognized AP classes, with an A in an AP class equivalent to a 5 in the test.
This can be extremely helpful if you performed very well throughout an AP course but didn’t achieve the AP exam score you hoped for.
If Your School Doesn’t Offer APs or the IB
This is where the SAT or ACT can become much more important.
Many excellent US high schools have moved away from APs and now offer their own rigorous advanced or honors curricula. UK universities are becoming increasingly familiar with these schools, and many will accept strong grades in advanced or honors classes in place of AP exam scores. In these cases, your overall GPA may also play a more important role. However, policies vary significantly between universities, so be sure to check how each university evaluates your school’s particular curriculum.
Because your high school transcript doesn’t correspond neatly to UK A levels, the SAT or ACT can provide an important external academic benchmark.
And again, don’t assume you need a 1500+ SAT.
A score of 1400+ (ACT 29–30+) can make you competitive for a wide range of UK universities, while scores in the 1300s (ACT 27–29) can meet the requirements of many excellent institutions. At some universities and for some courses, even scores in the 1200s (ACT 23–24) may meet published requirements.
So, Do I Need To Take The SAT or ACT to Apply to UK Universities?
My general advice is:
If you are already taking the SAT or ACT for your US college applications, there is little reason not to take it. A good score can give you additional ways to meet UK university entry requirements.
If you really don’t want to take the SAT or ACT, however, don’t assume that rules out studying in the UK. Students completing the IB Diploma, students with sufficient AP exams, and even students attending schools with their own rigorous independent curricula may have routes to admission without them.
The important thing is to look at your entire academic profile — your curriculum, AP or IB results, GPA, SAT/ACT scores, college credit classes and intended subject — and then identify UK universities whose entry requirements work with the qualifications you will actually have.
And one final warning: UK entry requirements are much more degree course-specific than many US families realize. Meeting a university’s general US entry requirements doesn’t necessarily mean you meet the requirements for every degree. Mathematics, engineering, economics and science degrees, in particular, frequently have specific subject requirements.
Always check the requirements for the exact degree you want to study.
For more information on steps to applying to UK universities, check out my handy 3 part guide
