Is Wake Forest Test Optional? SAT and ACT Scores (2026)

Wake Forest has been test optional since the class that entered in fall 2009, and fewer than half of its enrolled first-years send a score. Here is what the policy means for fall 2027, the latest score ranges, and how to decide whether to submit before ED I closes on November 15.

Yes, Wake Forest is test optional for students applying for fall 2027 entry: scores are "only required if you indicate in your application that you want them considered," according to its How to Apply page. Among first-year students who enrolled in fall 2025 and submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1420 to 1490 on the SAT and 32 to 34 on the ACT, according to Wake Forest's 2025-26 Common Data Set. Only 24% of that class submitted an SAT score and 22% submitted an ACT score, so a strong score helps, and no score is a normal choice here.

Below: the full policy, what the score ranges describe, a simple way to decide whether to send your scores, and the Early Decision I, Early Action, Early Decision II and Regular Decision dates for this cycle, including the optional interview.

Wake Forest's Testing Policy for Fall 2027

Wake Forest was test optional long before the pandemic. Its test-optional page explains that the university announced the change in May 2008 and that it took effect with the class that entered in fall 2009. The 2025-26 Common Data Set confirms the policy for the next class: in section C8, for fall 2027, the SAT and ACT are checked as "not required for admission, but consider if submitted."

The admissions office puts its advice plainly on that page: "If you feel they are not, don't. You won't be penalized." The sentence before it says to send scores you think are an accurate picture of your ability.

The practical rules for applicants who do send scores:

• You choose in the application. Scores are part of your file only if you tell Wake Forest you want them considered.
• Self-reported scores are accepted. You do not need to pay to send official reports to apply. See how to self-report SAT scores for the Common App steps.
• Report every sitting, and Wake Forest superscores. If you tested more than once, the instructions are to report all your scores; "we will superscore them." Our ACT superscore guide explains how a superscore is built.
• Official scores come later. Enrolling students who asked to have scores considered are expected to send official reports during the summer before they arrive.
• English tests are separate. International students whose first language is not English must still submit a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo score.

Wake Forest SAT and ACT Scores

These figures come from section C9 of the 2025-26 Common Data Set. They describe enrolled first-year students who entered in fall 2025 and submitted scores, not all admitted students and not all applicants.

The same section reports that 24% of enrolled first-years submitted the SAT (365 students) and 22% submitted the ACT (338 students). About 77% of SAT submitters scored between 1400 and 1600, and 95.9% of ACT submitters had a composite between 30 and 36.

One thing to keep in mind: because most of the class applied without scores, these ranges describe the minority of students who chose to send them, not the whole class. That is the right comparison when you are deciding whether your own score helps.

For a sense of where a Wake Forest median sits nationally, see is 1450 a good SAT score and is 33 a good ACT score.

Should You Submit Your Scores to Wake Forest?

Wake Forest says you will not be penalized for leaving scores out, so the question is only whether your score adds something. Here is our rule of thumb, built from the Common Data Set ranges above. It is our estimate, not a Wake Forest rule.

Look at your section scores too. The ACT Math median for enrolled submitters (31) is lower than the English median (34), and the SAT Math and Reading and Writing medians are both 730. A balanced score near those medians is a stronger signal than the same total with one weak section.

If you are close to a line and still have time, a retake can change the decision. For Early Decision II and Regular Decision, both due January 1, the December tests still fit, as the next section shows.

Early Decision I, Early Action, Early Decision II and Regular Decision

Wake Forest offers four first-year application plans. The dates below are from its How to Apply page for the current cycle.

Early Decision matters a lot at Wake Forest. The admissions office says it tends "to enroll just over half" of each incoming class through Early Decision, and both ED rounds require the Early Decision Agreement. Because ED is binding, Wake Forest suggests that families who need aid run its Net Price Calculator first and apply in a nonbinding round if the estimate does not work. If you missed ED I or want more time, our Early Decision 2 guide covers how ED II compares, and our early action vs early decision guide covers the differences between binding and nonbinding plans.

Early Action at Wake Forest is only for first-generation college students, defined as the child of parents who have not graduated from a four-year accredited college or university. A deferred Early Action application is reconsidered in Regular Decision.

Which SAT and ACT dates still count

If you are applying ED I on November 15, the November 7 SAT does not release scores until November 20, after the deadline, according to College Board's score release calendar. Plan on the scores you already have. For a January 1 deadline, two more dates fit:

ACT registration and score dates are from act.org's score release table and registration page.

The Wake Forest Interview and Admission Rate

Wake Forest offers an optional interview, and its test-optional page says the university believes "so strongly in the interview process." According to its interviews page:

• Virtual interviews are open to applicants in every plan, run 20 to 25 minutes on Zoom, and must be requested within five days of submitting your application. The last day to request one is November 18, 2026, so an Early Decision II or Regular Decision applicant who applies later can send a video instead. In-person interviews are not offered.
• Video submissions are a two-to-three-minute selfie-style answer to one of three prompts, due within five days of applying and no later than November 20, 2026 for ED I and Early Action, or January 5, 2027 for ED II and Regular Decision.
• Both are optional, and Wake Forest notes it cannot accommodate every interview request, especially late ones.

The other application pieces: an $85 application fee (fee waivers are available on request in the application), the high school transcript, the Secondary School Report and one letter of recommendation from a counselor or teacher.

Section C1 of the 2025-26 Common Data Set shows the size of the most recent class:

Applying to Carnegie Mellon too? Its policy is the opposite of Wake Forest's for most programs; see our Carnegie Mellon SAT and ACT guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wake Forest SAT and ACT Scores

Is Wake Forest test optional for 2027?

Yes. For fall 2027 entry, Wake Forest considers SAT or ACT scores only if you ask it to in your application. It has been test optional since the class that entered in fall 2009.

What SAT score do you need for Wake Forest?

The middle 50% of enrolled fall 2025 first-years who submitted the SAT scored 1420 to 1490, with a median of 1450. A score at or above 1450 is at or above the median of submitters.

What ACT score do you need for Wake Forest?

The middle 50% ACT composite for the same group was 32 to 34, with a median of 33.

Does Wake Forest superscore the SAT and ACT?

Yes. Wake Forest asks you to report all your scores if you tested more than once and says it will superscore them.

Does Wake Forest require an interview?

No. Virtual interviews and video submissions are optional. You must request a virtual interview within five days of applying, and no later than November 18, 2026.

When is the Wake Forest Early Decision deadline?

Early Decision I is due November 15, and Early Decision II is due January 1. Both are binding.

If you are aiming for a December retake before Wake Forest's January 1 deadline, short daily practice on your weakest section is the fastest way to move your score. Larry Learns has 30,000+ SAT and ACT practice questions on web, iPhone and Android, a score estimate that tracks your progress, and 3 free quizzes a day. Try a free practice quiz, or create a free account to keep your streak going through test day.