SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 19 (Our California Times) — The University of California is reconsidering whether standardized test scores should again be part of undergraduate admissions, a change that could alter how California students prepare for UC campuses and when counselors begin advising them to test.
The decision is not final. UC officials have said the review is moving through the system’s shared-governance process, which means faculty review comes first and the UC Board of Regents would still have to approve any policy change. UC has also said that if testing returns, it would not take effect before the fall 2028 application cycle.
What is UC reconsidering?
UC is reviewing whether it should require, or otherwise use, SAT, ACT, or Smarter Balanced scores in admissions. A second faculty-led group is also reviewing high school course requirements for UC admission.
That matters because UC admissions shape the senior-year plans of students across the state. If standardized tests return, families and school counselors would need to decide earlier whether students should sign up for the SAT or ACT again, and teachers may see more pressure to help students prepare for testing alongside grades and coursework.
Why is this happening now?
UC eliminated SAT and ACT requirements in a unanimous 2020 vote by the Board of Regents. Later, UC agreed in a settlement not to consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions through spring 2025.
The current review picked up after faculty members raised concerns about whether some incoming students were arriving ready for college-level math and writing. UC officials have said the discussion was fueled in part by open letters from faculty. One set drew more than 1,400 signatures from STEM faculty, and another drew more than 3,000 faculty signatures supporting a rethink of standardized testing.
Janet Napolitano, the former UC president, has said a test score should not be “a sole factor” in admissions, but could still be “a factor” if UC decides to restore testing.
How would UC make the decision?
UC does not change admissions rules with a single vote from one group. The system’s shared-governance process gives the Academic Senate, which is the faculty governing body, a formal role before the Regents make the final call.
UC Academic Senate chair Ahmet Palazoglu said in a UC Office of the President statement, “The Academic Senate is not rescinding its commitment to a comprehensive review of standardized testing in admissions.”
Regents chair Maria Anguiano said at the July regents meeting, “We anticipate a recommendation from the Academic Senate no later than the end of this academic year.”
That timeline is faster than the one originally discussed by the Academic Senate, which had reportedly pointed to a final report in fall 2027. UC officials later said they wanted a recommendation sooner, around June 2027.
What would change for students?
If UC restores a testing requirement, the earliest possible start would be the fall 2028 application cycle. UC has said that gives the system time to work through faculty review, Regents approval, and implementation.
For students, the practical effect would depend on what UC finally chooses. The sources reviewed do not say whether UC would use the SAT, the ACT, Smarter Balanced, or some other option. They also do not say whether any test rule would apply to all applicants or only to certain groups.
That uncertainty is part of why the debate has drawn so much attention. Students and families want to know whether test scores will again matter, while teachers and counselors want enough lead time to adjust advising and preparation.
Why is the issue contentious?
Supporters of a testing requirement say a test score can provide one more measure of academic readiness, especially when grades and coursework can vary from school to school.
Opponents, including the UC Student Association, say bringing tests back would not improve student preparedness. They argue that UC should focus on coursework, grades, and access to strong high school classes rather than a test that many students find expensive or hard to prepare for.
The larger debate is not just about one exam. It is about how UC should compare applicants from very different high schools, and whether a standardized test adds useful information or simply creates another barrier.
For now, UC is still in the review stage. The Regents have not voted to restore SAT or ACT use, and any change would still have to clear the faculty process and the board before it reaches applicants.
