diff --git a/tests/content/category-pages.js b/tests/content/category-pages.js
index 3eb1214605..218301846e 100644
--- a/tests/content/category-pages.js
+++ b/tests/content/category-pages.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ describe('category pages', () => {
       // Get links included in product index page.
       // Each link corresponds to a product subdirectory (category).
       // Example: "getting-started-with-github"
-      const contents = fs.readFileSync(productIndex, 'utf8')
+      const contents = fs.readFileSync(productIndex, 'utf8') // TODO move to async
       const { content } = matter(contents)
 
       const productDir = path.dirname(productIndex)
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ describe('category pages', () => {
       const categoryLinks = getLinks(content)
         // Only include category directories, not standalone category files like content/actions/quickstart.md
         .filter(link => fs.existsSync(getPath(productDir, link, 'index')))
+        // TODO this should move to async, but you can't asynchronously define tests with Jest...
 
       // Map those to the Markdown file paths that represent that category page index
       const categoryPaths = categoryLinks.map(link => getPath(productDir, link, 'index'))
diff --git a/tests/content/remove-liquid-statements.js b/tests/content/remove-liquid-statements.js
index 80fd021669..f94dd5ae5c 100644
--- a/tests/content/remove-liquid-statements.js
+++ b/tests/content/remove-liquid-statements.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const fs = require('fs')
+const fs = require('fs').promises
 const path = require('path')
 const cheerio = require('cheerio')
 const matter = require('gray-matter')
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ function processFrontmatter (contents, file) {
 }
 
 describe('removing liquid statements only', () => {
-  test('removes liquid statements that specify "greater than version to deprecate"', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(greaterThan, 'utf8')
+  test('removes liquid statements that specify "greater than version to deprecate"', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(greaterThan, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text().trim()).toBe('Alpha')
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ Alpha\n\n{% else %}\n\nBravo\n\n{% if currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@2
     expect($('.example10').text().trim()).toBe('Alpha')
   })
 
-  test('removes liquid statements that specify "and greater than version to deprecate"', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(andGreaterThan1, 'utf8')
+  test('removes liquid statements that specify "and greater than version to deprecate"', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(andGreaterThan1, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text().trim()).toBe('{% if currentVersion != "free-pro-team@latest" %}\n\nAlpha\n\n{% endif %}')
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ Alpha\n\n{% if currentVersion != "free-pro-team@latest" %}\n\nBravo\n\n{% endif
 Alpha\n\n{% if currentVersion ver_gt "enterprise-server@2.16" %}\n\nBravo\n\n{% endif %}\n\n{% endif %}`)
   })
 
-  test('removes liquid statements that specify "and greater than version to deprecate" (alternate format)', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(andGreaterThan2, 'utf8')
+  test('removes liquid statements that specify "and greater than version to deprecate" (alternate format)', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(andGreaterThan2, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text().trim()).toBe('{% if currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@2.16" %}\n\nAlpha\n\n{% endif %}')
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ Alpha\n\n{% if currentVersion ver_lt "enterprise-server@2.16" %}\n\nBravo\n\n{%
 Alpha\n\n{% if currentVersion != "free-pro-team@latest" %}\n\nBravo\n\n{% endif %}\n\n{% endif %}`)
   })
 
-  test('removes liquid statements that specify "not equals version to deprecate"', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(notEquals, 'utf8')
+  test('removes liquid statements that specify "not equals version to deprecate"', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(notEquals, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text().trim()).toBe('Alpha')
@@ -103,8 +103,8 @@ Alpha\n\n{% endif %}`)
 })
 
 describe('removing liquid statements and content', () => {
-  test('removes interior content and liquid statements that specify "equals version to deprecate"', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(equals, 'utf8')
+  test('removes interior content and liquid statements that specify "equals version to deprecate"', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(equals, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text().trim()).toBe('')
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ Alpha\n\n{% else %}\n\nCharlie\n\n{% endif %}`)
     expect($('.example6').text().trim()).toBe('Charlie\n\nBravo')
   })
 
-  test('removes interior content and liquid statements that specify "less than next oldest than version to deprecate"', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(lessThanNextOldest, 'utf8')
+  test('removes interior content and liquid statements that specify "less than next oldest than version to deprecate"', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(lessThanNextOldest, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text().trim()).toBe('Alpha')
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ Charlie\n\n{% else %}\n\nDelta\n\n{% endif %}\n\nEcho`)
 })
 
 describe('updating frontmatter', () => {
-  test('updates frontmatter versions Enterprise if set to greater-than-or-equal-to version to deprecate', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(frontmatter1, 'utf8')
+  test('updates frontmatter versions Enterprise if set to greater-than-or-equal-to version to deprecate', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(frontmatter1, 'utf8')
     contents = processFrontmatter(contents, frontmatter1)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     // console.log('foo')
@@ -147,8 +147,8 @@ describe('updating frontmatter', () => {
     expect($.text().includes('enterprise-server: \'>=2.13\'')).toBe(false)
   })
 
-  test('updates frontmatter versions Enterprise if set to greater-than-or-equal-to next oldest version', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(frontmatter2, 'utf8')
+  test('updates frontmatter versions Enterprise if set to greater-than-or-equal-to next oldest version', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(frontmatter2, 'utf8')
     contents = processFrontmatter(contents, frontmatter2)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($.text().includes('enterprise-server: \'*\'')).toBe(true)
@@ -157,8 +157,8 @@ describe('updating frontmatter', () => {
 })
 
 describe('whitespace', () => {
-  test('does not add newlines when whitespace control is used', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(whitespace, 'utf8')
+  test('does not add newlines when whitespace control is used', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(whitespace, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example1').text()).toBe('\n  Alpha\n')
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ describe('whitespace', () => {
     expect($('.example4').text()).toBe('\n  Alpha\n')
   })
 
-  test('does not add newlines when no newlines are present', () => {
-    let contents = fs.readFileSync(whitespace, 'utf8')
+  test('does not add newlines when no newlines are present', async () => {
+    let contents = await fs.readFile(whitespace, 'utf8')
     contents = removeLiquidStatements(contents, versionToDeprecate, nextOldestVersion)
     const $ = cheerio.load(contents)
     expect($('.example5').text()).toBe('\n  Alpha\n')
diff --git a/tests/content/site-data-references.js b/tests/content/site-data-references.js
index c6f0a019bd..d9a38bc4e6 100644
--- a/tests/content/site-data-references.js
+++ b/tests/content/site-data-references.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const loadSiteData = require('../../lib/site-data')
 const { loadPages } = require('../../lib/pages')
 const getDataReferences = require('../../lib/get-liquid-data-references')
 const frontmatter = require('@github-docs/frontmatter')
-const fs = require('fs')
+const fs = require('fs').promises
 const path = require('path')
 
 describe('data references', () => {
@@ -33,34 +33,34 @@ describe('data references', () => {
     expect(errors.length, JSON.stringify(errors, null, 2)).toBe(0)
   })
 
-  test('every data reference found in metadata of English content files is defined and has a value', () => {
+  test('every data reference found in metadata of English content files is defined and has a value', async () => {
     let errors = []
     expect(pages.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
 
-    pages.forEach(page => {
+    await Promise.all(pages.map(async page => {
       const metadataFile = path.join('content', page.relativePath)
-      const fileContents = fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '../..', metadataFile))
+      const fileContents = await fs.readFile(path.join(__dirname, '../..', metadataFile))
       const { data: metadata } = frontmatter(fileContents, { filepath: page.fullPath })
       const metadataRefs = getDataReferences(JSON.stringify(metadata))
       metadataRefs.forEach(key => {
         const value = get(data.en, key)
         if (typeof value !== 'string') errors.push({ key, value, metadataFile })
       })
-    })
+    }))
 
     errors = uniqWith(errors, isEqual) // remove duplicates
     expect(errors.length, JSON.stringify(errors, null, 2)).toBe(0)
   })
 
-  test('every data reference found in English reusable files is defined and has a value', () => {
+  test('every data reference found in English reusable files is defined and has a value', async () => {
     let errors = []
     const allReusables = data.en.site.data.reusables
     const reusables = Object.values(allReusables)
     expect(reusables.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
 
-    reusables.forEach(reusablesPerFile => {
+    await Promise.all(reusables.map(async reusablesPerFile => {
       let reusableFile = path.join(__dirname, '../../data/reusables/', getFilenameByValue(allReusables, reusablesPerFile))
-      reusableFile = getFilepath(reusableFile)
+      reusableFile = await getFilepath(reusableFile)
 
       const reusableRefs = getDataReferences(JSON.stringify(reusablesPerFile))
 
@@ -68,21 +68,21 @@ describe('data references', () => {
         const value = get(data.en, key)
         if (typeof value !== 'string') errors.push({ key, value, reusableFile })
       })
-    })
+    }))
 
     errors = uniqWith(errors, isEqual) // remove duplicates
     expect(errors.length, JSON.stringify(errors, null, 2)).toBe(0)
   })
 
-  test('every data reference found in English variable files is defined and has a value', () => {
+  test('every data reference found in English variable files is defined and has a value', async () => {
     let errors = []
     const allVariables = data.en.site.data.variables
     const variables = Object.values(allVariables)
     expect(variables.length).toBeGreaterThan(0)
 
-    variables.forEach(variablesPerFile => {
+    await Promise.all(variables.map(async variablesPerFile => {
       let variableFile = path.join(__dirname, '../../data/variables/', getFilenameByValue(allVariables, variablesPerFile))
-      variableFile = getFilepath(variableFile)
+      variableFile = await getFilepath(variableFile)
 
       const variableRefs = getDataReferences(JSON.stringify(variablesPerFile))
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe('data references', () => {
         const value = get(data.en, key)
         if (typeof value !== 'string') errors.push({ key, value, variableFile })
       })
-    })
+    }))
 
     errors = uniqWith(errors, isEqual) // remove duplicates
     expect(errors.length, JSON.stringify(errors, null, 2)).toBe(0)
@@ -102,10 +102,13 @@ function getFilenameByValue (object, value) {
 }
 
 // if path exists, assume it's a directory; otherwise, assume a YML extension
-function getFilepath (filepath) {
-  filepath = fs.existsSync(filepath)
-    ? filepath + '/'
-    : filepath + '.yml'
+async function getFilepath (filepath) {
+  try {
+    await fs.stat(filepath)
+    filepath = filepath + '/'
+  } catch (_) {
+    filepath = filepath + '.yml'
+  }
 
   // we only need the relative path
   return filepath.replace(path.join(__dirname, '../../'), '')
diff --git a/tests/content/site-data.js b/tests/content/site-data.js
index e563df27d3..adbdaa7596 100644
--- a/tests/content/site-data.js
+++ b/tests/content/site-data.js
@@ -45,11 +45,11 @@ describe('siteData module (English)', () => {
   // TODO: re-enable once Janky flakyness is resolved
   test.skip('backfills missing translated site data with English values', async () => {
     const newFile = path.join(__dirname, '../../data/newfile.yml')
-    fs.writeFileSync(newFile, 'newvalue: bar')
+    await fs.writeFile(newFile, 'newvalue: bar')
     const data = await loadSiteData()
     expect(get(data, 'en.site.data.newfile.newvalue')).toEqual('bar')
     expect(get(data, 'ja.site.data.newfile.newvalue')).toEqual('bar')
-    fs.unlinkSync(newFile)
+    await fs.unlink(newFile)
   })
 
   test('all Liquid templating is valid', async () => {
diff --git a/tests/graphql/build-changelog-test.js b/tests/graphql/build-changelog-test.js
index 1a55d59bab..4620d4aeee 100644
--- a/tests/graphql/build-changelog-test.js
+++ b/tests/graphql/build-changelog-test.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 const yaml = require('js-yaml')
 const { createChangelogEntry, cleanPreviewTitle, previewAnchor, prependDatedEntry } = require('../../script/graphql/build-changelog')
-const fs = require('fs')
+const fs = require('fs').promises
 const MockDate = require('mockdate')
 const expectedChangelogEntry = require('../fixtures/changelog-entry')
 const expectedUpdatedChangelogFile = require('../fixtures/updated-changelog-file')
@@ -111,18 +111,18 @@ describe('updating the changelog file', () => {
     MockDate.reset()
   })
 
-  it('modifies the entry object and the file on disk', () => {
+  it('modifies the entry object and the file on disk', async () => {
     const testTargetPath = 'tests/graphql/example_changelog.json'
-    const previousContents = fs.readFileSync(testTargetPath)
+    const previousContents = await fs.readFile(testTargetPath)
 
     const exampleEntry = { someStuff: true }
     const expectedDate = '2020-11-20'
     MockDate.set(expectedDate)
 
     prependDatedEntry(exampleEntry, testTargetPath)
-    const newContents = fs.readFileSync(testTargetPath, 'utf8')
+    const newContents = await fs.readFile(testTargetPath, 'utf8')
     // reset the file:
-    fs.writeFileSync(testTargetPath, previousContents)
+    await fs.writeFile(testTargetPath, previousContents)
 
     expect(exampleEntry).toEqual({ someStuff: true, date: expectedDate })
     expect(JSON.parse(newContents)).toEqual(expectedUpdatedChangelogFile)
diff --git a/tests/meta/orphan-tests.js b/tests/meta/orphan-tests.js
index 770b10389c..9d561140c6 100644
--- a/tests/meta/orphan-tests.js
+++ b/tests/meta/orphan-tests.js
@@ -1,20 +1,28 @@
-const fs = require('fs')
+const fs = require('fs').promises
 const path = require('path')
+const { filter: asyncFilter } = require('async')
 
 describe('check for orphan tests', () => {
-  test('all tests are in sub-directories', () => {
+  test('all tests are in sub-directories', async () => {
     // A known list of exceptions that can live outside of directories
     const EXCEPTIONS = ['README.md']
     const pathToTests = path.join(process.cwd(), 'tests')
 
     // Get a list of files/directories in `/tests`
-    const testDirectory = fs.readdirSync(pathToTests)
+    const testDirectory = await fs.readdir(pathToTests)
 
-    const filteredList = testDirectory
+    let filteredList = testDirectory
       // Filter out our exceptions
       .filter(item => !EXCEPTIONS.includes(item))
-      // Don't include directories
-      .filter(item => !fs.statSync(path.join(pathToTests, item)).isDirectory())
+    // Don't include directories
+    filteredList = await asyncFilter(
+      filteredList,
+      async item => !(
+        await fs.stat(
+          path.join(pathToTests, item)
+        )
+      ).isDirectory()
+    )
 
     expect(filteredList).toHaveLength(0)
   })
diff --git a/tests/rendering/rest.js b/tests/rendering/rest.js
index d26e1b74ad..34a9428a04 100644
--- a/tests/rendering/rest.js
+++ b/tests/rendering/rest.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const fs = require('fs')
+const fs = require('fs').promises
 const path = require('path')
 const { difference, isPlainObject } = require('lodash')
 const { getJSON } = require('../helpers/supertest')
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ describe('REST references docs', () => {
   test('markdown file exists for every operationId prefix in the api.github.com schema', async () => {
     const { categories } = require('../../lib/rest')
     const referenceDir = path.join(__dirname, '../../content/rest/reference')
-    const filenames = fs.readdirSync(referenceDir)
+    const filenames = (await fs.readdir(referenceDir))
       .filter(filename => !excludeFromResourceNameCheck.find(excludedFile => filename.endsWith(excludedFile)))
       .map(filename => filename.replace('.md', ''))
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/early-access.js b/tests/unit/early-access.js
index f8ad0b3b88..80aa48373f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/early-access.js
+++ b/tests/unit/early-access.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const fs = require('fs')
+const fs = require('fs').promises
 const path = require('path')
 
 const { GITHUB_ACTIONS, GITHUB_REPOSITORY } = process.env
@@ -7,17 +7,17 @@ const testViaActionsOnly = runningActionsOnInternalRepo ? test : test.skip
 
 describe('cloning early-access', () => {
   testViaActionsOnly('the content directory exists', async () => {
-    const eaContentDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'content/early-access')
-    expect(fs.existsSync(eaContentDir)).toBe(true)
+    const eaDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'content/early-access')
+    expect(await fs.stat(eaDir)).toBeTruthy()
   })
 
   testViaActionsOnly('the data directory exists', async () => {
-    const eaContentDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'data/early-access')
-    expect(fs.existsSync(eaContentDir)).toBe(true)
+    const eaDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'data/early-access')
+    expect(await fs.stat(eaDir)).toBeTruthy()
   })
 
   testViaActionsOnly('the assets/images directory exists', async () => {
-    const eaContentDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'assets/images/early-access')
-    expect(fs.existsSync(eaContentDir)).toBe(true)
+    const eaDir = path.join(process.cwd(), 'assets/images/early-access')
+    expect(await fs.stat(eaDir)).toBeTruthy()
   })
 })