With this change, which will take effect in the spring of the 2016-17 school year, the city joins several statewide efforts to increase the number of students taking college entrance exams, like the SAT or ACT. States including Kentucky, South Carolina and Wisconsin have students take the ACT to fulfill their high school testing requirements, and in August, Connecticut announced all 11th graders would have to take the SAT.

Image Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced the new SAT effort on Monday. Credit... Hilary Swift for The New York Times

In Connecticut, at least part of the impetus was to reduce the number of tests students take. The SAT replaced an existing exam. Access was less of an issue, because even before the change was made, 83 percent of the state’s high school graduates already took the SAT.

In New York City, only 56 percent of the class of 2015 took the SAT at least once, according to the Education Department.

Ms. Fariña made the announcement as part of College Application Week, a national program that encourages students to apply to college. Nearly 300 city schools are participating this year in events that give students the chance to speak with admissions officers from State University of New York colleges, for example, and provide free online help with college essays.

Daryl Blank, the principal of High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan, where Ms. Fariña announced the new program, said that for students, taking the test during the regular school day and “in the comforts of where they learn” would make a big difference.