A mathematics professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Zvezdelina Stankova, has expressed concerns regarding the university system's test-blind admissions policies, stating that many students are unprepared for college-level mathematics. In an op-ed published in the San Francisco Standard, Stankova noted that students are arriving at college significantly behind in their math skills, with some being five to eight years behind. She reported that office hours, intended for advanced topics, are often spent on basic algebra and fractions.
Stankova, along with thousands of faculty members across the UC system, has signed letters advocating for the reinstatement of SAT and ACT scores in the admissions process. The move to eliminate standardized testing was initiated by former UC president Janet Napolitano in 2020, citing equity concerns.
Data presented by Stankova indicated a decline in math readiness among students after the adoption of test-blind admissions. From 2018 to 2020, 71% of approximately 2,200 students tested in Calculus I were deemed ready or nearly ready, with only 0.14% testing below basic algebra. In contrast, among roughly 2,800 students tested from 2021 to 2023, only 51% were ready or nearly ready, with that number dropping to 44% in 2023, and 17% answering none of the tested topics correctly.
In a June open letter from UC STEM faculty, instructors rejected the idea that the math requirement posed an obstacle to equity, arguing that failing to assess students' foundational readiness only exacerbates challenges in the classroom. The UC system announced a review of its standardized testing policy, with University of California President James B. Milliken emphasizing the importance of college preparedness.
The discussion around standardized testing policies is part of a broader trend, as several elite universities, including Columbia University, have recently moved away from test-optional admissions, reinstating standardized testing requirements for undergraduate applicants starting next year.