The University of California (UC) announced on June 12, 2026, that it will conduct a comprehensive review of its standardized testing policy. This decision follows a letter signed by over 1,400 faculty members expressing concerns about incoming students' preparedness in mathematics. University President James B. Milliken stated that the review will focus on both student preparation and admissions, including the potential reinstatement of SAT/ACT requirements. An initial update on the findings is expected in July.
The faculty's letter highlighted significant gaps in math skills among incoming students, with a report indicating that the number of first-year students testing below high school math levels increased from approximately 1 in 200 in 2020 to nearly 1 in 8 in 2025. Additionally, 70% of these underprepared students tested below middle school proficiency. Faculty members argued that the elimination of standardized testing has removed an objective measure for admissions, complicating the assessment of student readiness for STEM fields.
The UC system had suspended standardized testing for undergraduate admissions in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later adopting a permanent test-blind policy. A spokesperson for the UC Office of the President noted that any changes to admissions policies would require approval from the Board of Regents, with the earliest potential implementation of a testing requirement in the fall 2028 admissions cycle. This review aligns with a national trend among elite institutions reconsidering their testing policies.