A group of University of California professors is advocating for the reinstatement of standardized testing, specifically the SAT and ACT, in response to concerns about declining academic readiness among students. Over 1,400 faculty members have signed an open letter urging the university system to reintroduce these testing requirements for STEM majors, citing a significant decrease in student proficiency since the university adopted a 'test-blind' policy in 2021.
Karajean Hyde, Co-Director of the UC Irvine Math Project, emphasized the need for objective measures to assess student readiness. She stated, "We need some objective measures to go along with the whole picture," highlighting the importance of standardized testing in establishing academic baselines.
The open letter indicates that instructors are facing preparation gaps so severe that they must allocate class time for remedial math instruction. Diagnostic testing data from campuses such as UC Berkeley and UC San Diego shows that many incoming calculus students lack essential foundational skills.
Neetu Arnold, a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, noted that grade inflation in high schools has made GPAs less reliable, complicating the admissions process for universities. Arnold expressed concern that the absence of standardized metrics diminishes academic rigor and leads to inequitable outcomes for students, as many are admitted to demanding majors without adequate preparation.
Hyde pointed out that the meaning of an 'A' grade varies across school districts, complicating the assessment of student knowledge. She called for a better understanding of student readiness and emphasized the need for high standards in STEM education.
The University of California system initially suspended standardized testing requirements during the pandemic in 2020, and this policy became permanent following a lawsuit settlement in 2019 that argued the tests were biased against certain student groups. However, faculty members contend that eliminating these tests has obscured preparation gaps rather than addressing them. Hyde noted that standardized tests could help identify talent in underserved areas, referencing successful programs that provide free SAT preparation in Southern California.
The faculty's push for reinstatement comes as several elite institutions have reverted to requiring standardized tests, citing evidence that these scores are strong predictors of college success. The University of California Board of Regents has not yet commented on the matter.
