SAT Requirement Debate
State Senators Urge University of California to Reinstate SAT and ACT Requirements
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Three Republican state senators are pushing the University of California to bring back SAT and ACT test requirements for admissions. Modesto Bee reports that Sens. Roger Niello, Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, and Steven S. Choi say six years without standardized tests have left students unprepared. They cite a UC San Diego study showing roughly 1 in 12 incoming freshmen test below high school math standards — a number that has grown nearly 30 times since 2020.
The senators sent their proposal to UC Regents Chair Maria Anguiano, UC President James B. Milliken, and Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu. The debate over testing divides educators: critics say SAT and ACT scores reflect family wealth and race, while supporters counter that GPA carries the same bias. The UC Academic Senate is already weighing the issue.
Math Skills Gap Widens Without Testing
The UC San Diego study reveals a stark trend. Only about 1 in 12 freshmen fell below high school math standards in recent years — but that rate jumped nearly 30-fold from 2020 onwards. Modesto Bee notes the three senators view this as evidence that test-optional admissions have allowed unprepared students into the system. They argue standardized scores provide objective data about college readiness that grades alone cannot measure.
Long-Running Debate Over Fairness and Access
The push for test reinstatement reignites a years-long fight in higher education. News & Observer reports critics say SAT and ACT scores disadvantage poor students and students of color, who typically score lower due to unequal access to test prep. Supporters of testing counter that grade point averages also correlate with family income and race — making GPA just as biased. Both metrics reflect systemic inequality, not pure academic ability.
UC Faculty Already Considering the Change
The University of California's Academic Senate is already examining whether to reinstate test scores. Bellingham Herald reports the senators' formal request adds pressure from the state legislature. UC San Diego's data on math preparedness has energized faculty who worry about student success in STEM courses. The decision will likely come down to weighing admissions equity against measurable academic readiness at entry.
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