UW-Madison Extends Test-Optional Policy — What It Means for Your Family

Julie Murphy, M.A., Founder, Waverly Educational Consulting 

April 22, 2026

UW-Madison announced yesterday that it will remain test-optional for one more year. Here's what that means for you, depending on where your student is in high school:

Class of 2027 (Current Juniors) Good news — you have a choice. Students applying for Fall 2027 enrollment may apply with or without a standardized test score. Submit what helps you most.

Class of 2028 and Beyond (Sophomores, Freshmen, and Younger) No guarantees yet. UW-Madison is reviewing its policy one year at a time and will update its website if the policy is extended again. You can sign up via their web form to receive updates directly.

Our advice: take standardized testing seriously when the time comes, and do your best to earn a score that reflects your potential. For Badger hopefuls who are current sophomores and younger, we wouldn't count on test-optional being a permanent fixture.

Why Is UW-Madison Handling It This Way?

UW-Madison is in an unusual spot. Given the many recent leadership changes there, it's likely that there's some hesitation to make a firm, long-term decision on testing policy without confirmed new leaders who can weigh in. Very few universities across the country are revisiting this annually — most have made what appears to be a more permanent decision than what UW-Madison is currently communicating to the public.

It's also worth noting that UW-Madison sits at the intersection of several competing pressures. Views on testing in admissions tend to fall along political lines, and in a swing state as "purple" as Wisconsin, with a flagship university becoming increasingly competitive, it's unsurprising that UW-Madison and its many constituents and stakeholders don't share one view. Only time will tell if testing will return for good — or for some applicants — at UW-Madison.

The Bigger Picture on Testing

Regardless of what any single school decides, here's a national trend worth knowing: over the past two years, there has been a marked uptick in the number of applicants voluntarily submitting scores, even at test-optional schools. Testing is becoming more consequential, particularly at:

• Selective universities

• Public institutions in states that mandate testing (currently Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida)

• Schools with a strong STEM focus

The takeaway? A strong test score is increasingly an asset — and at a school like UW-Madison, it may matter more in the years ahead than it does today.