University of California Puts Admissions Test Review on Hold

The record has been reopened

The University of California (UC) has decided to delay a major review that could determine whether SAT and ACT scores should once again become part of its admissions process. The move has sparked fresh debate among professors, educators, parents, and policymakers about what is the fairest way to judge whether students are ready for college.

The university system stopped requiring SAT and ACT scores in 2020. Later, it decided not to use the tests at all after concerns were raised that they reflected a student's family income and background more than their academic ability. At the time, many believed removing standardized tests would make college admissions more equal for students from different communities.

2020 · Test requirement ends Evidence enters the record Recommendation pending

Case for bringing tests back

Case for remaining test-free

Faculty evidenceConcerns about math readiness.

Equity evidenceQuestions about access and resources.

Policy evidenceTesting review postponed.

Alternative evidenceOther assessments remain under discussion.

Destination 01 · The review desk

Reasons why UC is considering SAT and ACT again?

Recently, however, some UC professors have argued that many first-year students are arriving on campus without the math and reading skills needed to succeed in college, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. This has led to growing calls for the university to reconsider its testing policy.

Although a review of admissions testing was expected to begin soon, the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools voted to postpone the process. The board said it wants to take more time to conduct a careful and evidence-based review instead of rushing to a decision. UC Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu stressed that the university is still committed to studying the issue, but the timeline has been revised to ensure a thorough evaluation.

What changed?The central action here is delay—not dismissal. The dossier stays open while the evidence standard rises.

File transferThe review pauses. The demand for a recommendation does not.

Destination 02 · Regents chamber

Regents Still Want a Final Recommendation

Despite the delay, the University of California Board of Regents has made it clear that the discussion is far from over. Board Chair Maria Anguiano said she expects the faculty-led Academic Senate to present recommendations by the end of the current academic year. According to Anguiano, the goal is not simply to decide whether SAT and ACT exams should return, but to better understand what skills and knowledge truly prepare students for success in college and beyond.

Question before the boardTesting is only the visible issue. The deeper question is what evidence should count as readiness.

Evidence addedPreparedness data moves to the center of the table.

Destination 03 · Faculty evidence file

Faculty Raise Concerns About Student Readiness

One of the biggest reasons behind the renewed debate is concern over students' academic preparedness. Faculty members report that many freshmen are struggling with basic math. At UC San Diego, for example, the number of students whose math skills fell below high school standards increased dramatically between 2020 and 2025. Some students were even performing below the middle school level. Professors also say reading and writing skills have declined in recent years.

These concerns have led more than 3,000 UC faculty members to sign letters urging the university to bring back standardized testing. One letter, signed by over 2,300 professors, argued that students entering STEM majors often lack the necessary mathematical foundation. Another letter, signed by about 900 faculty members from non-STEM fields, said reading and writing sections of the SAT and ACT provide valuable information about students' academic abilities.

Weight on the scaleThis is the article's strongest readiness argument: faculty are not debating abstraction—they are reporting what they see in classrooms.

Argument splitThe record now divides into two competing theories of fairness.

Destination 04 · Test-support argument

Why Some Support Bringing Back the Tests

Supporters of reinstating the tests believe standardized exams offer colleges an objective way to measure academic readiness. They argue that high school grades alone do not always reflect what students actually know because grading standards can vary from one school to another. Some educators also believe test scores can help identify talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not have access to expensive extracurricular activities or other opportunities that strengthen college applications.

Case for testingComparability, readiness signals, and the possibility that scores can surface talent otherwise hidden by unequal opportunity.

Counter-evidenceThe other side of the table answers: a common measure can still reflect unequal conditions.

Destination 05 · Test-opposition argument

Why Others Oppose the Idea

Many K-12 educators and education advocates worry that bringing back the SAT and ACT would hurt students from low-income families and underfunded school districts. They argue that standardized tests often favor students who can afford private tutoring, test preparation courses, and other educational resources. Instead of depending on admission examinations, these critics propose that the true solution is to enhance K–12 education.

Some experts also point to other factors affecting student performance, including learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, increased absenteeism, and the impact of social media on students' learning habits. They believe universities should work more closely with schools to strengthen students' academic skills before graduation instead of using standardized tests as the primary solution.

Case against testingThe concern is not simply the exam. It is whether access to preparation changes what the exam appears to measure.

Interactive evidence exercise

If you were on the review committee, what would you weigh most?

This is a thought exercise based on the competing considerations described in the article—not a prediction of UC policy. Choose which direction each issue pushes you, and watch how your own recommendation changes.

1. Faculty report students are arriving with weaker math, reading, or writing preparation.

Favors staying test-free Needs more evidence Favors testing

2. High school grading standards vary across schools.

Favors staying test-free Needs more evidence Favors testing

3. Test preparation and educational resources are not equally available.

Favors staying test-free Needs more evidence Favors testing

4. A common exam could reveal talented students with fewer extracurricular opportunities.

Favors staying test-free Needs more evidence Favors testing

5. Other assessments could potentially provide readiness information.

Favors staying test-free Needs more evidence Favors testing

Your current recommendation

More evidence needed

Stay test-freeUse testing

Your choices are currently balanced. That is exactly the tension at the center of the article: academic readiness and admissions fairness are being evaluated at the same time.

Reset the record

Destination 06 · Fairness review

The Fairness Question

The debate also raises questions about fairness and diversity. In 2021, the University of California agreed not to use SAT or ACT scores as part of a legal settlement involving claims that the exams created barriers for students of color and students with disabilities. Former California Governor Gavin Newsom also expressed concerns that standardized test scores are closely linked to race and family income, making them an imperfect measure of college potential.

As an alternative, UC is exploring whether California's Smarter Balanced assessments, which are taken by many high school juniors, could play a role in admissions. However, university officials note that this option also has challenges because students from outside California generally do not take these exams.

The unresolved variableEven an alternative assessment has to answer the same question: who takes it, under what conditions, and how comparable is the result?

Record remains openNo final recommendation has entered the chamber.

Destination 07 · Pending decision

What Happens Next?

For now, no final decision has been made. The University of California will continue studying the issue over the coming months before deciding whether standardized testing should once again become part of the admissions process. The outcome could shape how one of the nation's largest public university systems evaluates future applicants.

The discussion reflects a larger national debate over college admissions. Universities across the United States continue to balance two important goals: ensuring students are academically prepared for college while also creating fair opportunities for applicants from all backgrounds. As the review moves forward, many students, parents, and educators will be watching closely to see which path the University of California ultimately chooses.

Final statusThe article ends where the policy ends: not with a verdict, but with the decision standard still being defined.

Applicant Testing Policy Watch Sheet

Use this as a practical “what should I watch next?” list while UC's review remains unresolved.

Check whether UC announces a new testing recommendation or extends the review timeline. Watch whether any recommendation applies to all UC campuses or creates campus-level differences. Track whether SAT/ACT scores would be required, optional, considered, or used only for specific purposes. Watch for details on how alternative assessments, including Smarter Balanced tests, might be evaluated. If testing returns, reassess your application strategy early enough to leave time for preparation and retesting. Keep the broader application strong regardless of policy: academics, activities, positioning, writing, and overall application identity still matter.

Copy checklist Print / save PDF

Decision pending · record open

The test is no longer the only thing being tested.

UC is also testing what counts as evidence of readiness, what fairness requires, and how one admissions system can compare students whose educational opportunities differ dramatically.

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