The University of California is moving faster on a potential return to standardized testing in admissions, with Regents setting a June 2027 deadline for faculty recommendations on whether to reinstate SAT or ACT requirements.
Six years after UC dropped the tests in 2020 and adopted a strict test-blind policy, the system faces mounting pressure from faculty who say incoming students are unprepared for college-level work, particularly in math. More than 3,000 professors have signed open letters highlighting severe skill gaps, with some STEM students requiring middle-school-level remediation.
On Tuesday, UC Board of Regents Chair Maria Anguiano called on the Academic Senate to deliver recommendations by next June as part of a broader review of college readiness and high school A-G course requirements. The accelerated timeline follows the abrupt suspension last week of an earlier faculty study plan, which had targeted recommendations in May 2027 and possible implementation no earlier than fall 2028 applications.
UC President James B. Milliken emphasized the need for thoughtful but timely action. “There are few things more important on our agenda,” he said earlier in the process.The debate has drawn national attention. While UC stands nearly alone among elite institutions in remaining test-blind, many Ivy League schools and peers like Stanford have reinstated testing, citing its predictive value. Critics argue the tests favor wealthier students and perpetuate inequities, while supporters see them as an essential external benchmark amid grade inflation and varying high school quality.
No decision has been made. Any change would require approval by the Board of Regents and would not affect students applying for fall 2026 or 2027 entry, who continue under the current test-blind policy. Options under discussion include using California’s Smarter Balanced assessments for in-state applicants.
