It depends on the country and the specific university.

In Poland, the SAT and ACT are usually not required — these are part of the American system, and Polish universities admit candidates with an American diploma primarily on the basis of their high school diploma, converting the grades (GPA) to the applicable scale.

It’s worth remembering, however, that some universities may have additional requirements for candidates with a foreign diploma — occasionally a particular program or university will ask for an SAT score, for example. That’s why we always recommend checking the admission requirements for candidates with an American diploma directly with your chosen university.

In the US, the vast majority of universities (over 90% in the 2026 cycle) follow a test-optional policy, which means applicants don’t have to submit SAT or ACT scores, and not submitting them doesn’t reduce their chances of admission. In that case, school grades (GPA), the level of courses taken, the student’s activities, and other parts of the application carry more weight. Some of the most selective universities (including most of the Ivy League and MIT), however, have reinstated the SAT/ACT requirement in recent years.

Exam policies are updated from year to year, so before applying it’s always worth checking the current requirements on your chosen university’s website.