SAT and ACT Information

SAT/ACT General Policies

Students who self-report testing scores on their application for admission are required to submit official score reports that match the self-reported scores. More information on that requirement is available here.

An enrollment hold that will prevent any future enrollments will be placed for any student who fails to comply with this policy.  

SAT/ACT Course Placement

College of Arts and Science

Scores necessary to satisfy the ENGL 1100/Basic Composition requirement:

SAT Critical Reasoning + Writing (exam taken prior to March 2016): combined score of 1220 with a minimum score of 500 on each section

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (exam taken March 2016 or later): minimum score of 660 with minimum score of 27 on the Reading section and 28 on the Writing and Language section

ACT English (beginning October 2016): minimum score of 30

SAT Subject Test scores necessary to satisfy the Foreign Language Proficiency requirement:

French: minimum score of 540

German: minimum score of 470

Hebrew: minimum score of 530

Italian: minimum score of 540

Japanese with Listening: minimum score of 440

Latin: minimum score of 530

Spanish: minimum score of 520

SAT Subject Tests are also used for foreign language placement recommendations: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/advising/caspar/academics/foreign-language-placement-proficiency.php

Blair School of Music

Students who *do not* meet the following minimums must take ENGL 1100 in their first semester:

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: minimum score of 660 with minimum score of 27 in Reading and 28 in Writing and Language

ACT English: minimum score of 30

Students who meet the following minimums place out of the second English/writing course requirement:

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: minimum score of 770 with minimum score of 39 in Writing and Language

ACT English: minimum score of 35

Students who *do not* meet the following minimums should take MATH 1010 or MATH 1005 to satisfy the Mathematics, Natural Science requirement:

SAT Math: minimum score of 550

ACT Math: minimum score of 22

Peabody College

Scores necessary for formal admission to the teacher education program:

SAT Composite: minimum score of 780

ACT: minimum score of 21

Scores necessary to satisfy the ENGL 1100/Basic Composition requirement:

SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: minimum score of 660 with minimum scores of 27 in Reading and 28 in Writing and Language

ACT English: minimum score of 30

Scores necessary to place out of the math component of the Liberal Education Core mathematics category (first majors in early childhood and elementary, secondary, or special education only):

SAT II Mathematics: minimum score of 620 (Level I) or 570 (Level II)

School of Engineering

SAT scores cannot be used for class placement or to satisfy degree requirements in the School of Engineering.