University of California re-examines SAT use in admissions

University of California leaders are re-evaluating the use of standardized tests in freshman admissions following a debate over the system's 2020 decision to scrap the SAT and ACT.

Data since the policy change shows that graduation rates have increased and average freshman GPAs have risen since 2021. These trends suggest that the removal of testing requirements has not led to the broad academic declines predicted by some earlier task forces.

However, approximately 3,000 current and former UC professors have launched a campaign to reinstate standardized testing. These faculty members argue that many incoming students lack the necessary math and writing skills for college-level rigor. They contend that the current admissions process fails to adequately screen for academic readiness. A committee of academics has been tasked with issuing a detailed report on the system's use of standardized tests by February 12.