University of California STEM Faculty Call for SAT, ACT Requirements

University of California STEM faculty have called for the reinstatement of SAT or ACT requirements for admissions beginning in fall 2027, arguing that current test-optional policies leave students unprepared for college-level math. In an open letter to UC leaders, professors warned that instructors must reteach middle-school mathematics while teaching advanced STEM courses, as 20% of Berkeley first-semester calculus students demonstrated deficits in basic math fluency between fall 2021 and fall 2023. The letter arrives ahead of the UC Academic Senate’s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools meeting, which may discuss system-wide admissions changes. Faculty argue that standardized testing is a better predictor of college performance than high school grades, contradicting UC’s current admissions criteria. UC’s test-optional policy, adopted after a 2020 court injunction and pandemic-related suspensions, allows students to submit test scores only for course placement after admission. While elite institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and Caltech have since restored testing requirements, UC remains test-optional, though some faculty argue this harms student readiness. UC leadership has not endorsed the faculty letter but acknowledged concerns about student preparedness. A spokesperson emphasized efforts to strengthen math instruction through K-12 and higher education partnerships. The Academic Senate chair called for a roadmap to address readiness issues, including collaboration with state education leaders. A UC San Diego report from November revealed a 30-fold increase in incoming students with math skill gaps since 2020, deepening internal debates over admissions policies. The faculty’s push reflects broader tensions between equity-focused admissions and academic preparedness in STEM fields.