Everything You Need to Know About the UC Schools Dropping the SAT/ACT

It was announced last week that the University of California system voted to phase out the use of the SAT and ACT exams as part of its college admission process. While headlines stating that the “University of California Will End Use of SAT and ACT in Admissions” may have had many jumping for joy, the reality is not quite so cut and dry. There are some nuances to this announcement that I want to break down.

For Current High School Juniors and Sophomores (Class of 2021 and 2022)

The University of California will be test-optional for both in-state and out-of-state students.

What does this mean?

• Campuses will have the option to use ACT/SAT test scores in selection consideration if applicants choose to submit them.

  • If you choose to submit your scores they may consider them.

  • You are not required to submit either the SAT or the ACT.

  • Scores submitted may still be used for:

    • Certain scholarships;

    • Post-enrollment course placement;

    • Statewide eligibility for admissions guarantee

    • The University will eliminate altogether the SAT Essay/ACT Writing Test as a requirement for UC undergraduate admissions.

      • These scores will not be used at all effective for fall 2021 admissions.

For Current High School Freshman and 8th Grade Students (Class of 2023 and 2024)

For California Residents:

• The University of California system will be test-blind for the SAT/ACT exams.

  • They will not consider test scores, even if you send them, for students from California public and independent high schools.

  • Test scores could still be considered for:

    • Certain Scholarships

    • Post-enrollment course placement;

    • Statewide eligibility for admissions guarantee

    • The SAT Essay/ACT Writing Test will not be considered at all in admissions.

For Non-California Residents:

• The University of California system will remain test-optional.

  • Campuses will have the option to use ACT/SAT test scores in selection consideration if applicants choose to submit them.

    • If you choose to submit your scores they may consider them.

    • You are not required to submit either the SAT or the ACT.

    • Scores submitted may still be used for:

      • Certain scholarships;

      • Post-enrollment course placement;

      • Statewide eligibility for admissions guarantee

      • The SAT Essay/ACT Writing Test will not be considered at all in admissions.

Development of a New Standardized Test

Between now and the end of January 2021, the University of California system will endeavor to identify or create a new test that aligns with the benchmarks for college readiness as determined by the UC system.

The goal is for this test to replace the SAT/ACT in admissions to the University of California for the Class of 2025 (current 7th-grade students) and beyond. However, even if this test is not ready by 2025, the UC System will not revert back to accepting the SAT or ACT for California resident students.

Why the Change?

Critics have long cited that the current SAT and ACT exams disproportionally favor middle-class and wealthy students. These exams disfavor students from low-income families, Black, and Latinx students. There are 300,000 students in the University of California system, however, the demographics of the system do not reflect the demographics of the state. The University of California system has not made as much progress with diversifying its student body as it would like, a challenge made even more difficult by the 1996 ban on affirmative action. For the last 20 years, the percentage of Black students has stayed consistently between 3-4%, significantly lower than most Ivy League institutions, despite the fact that Blacks represent 6.5% of the state population. Likewise, although 39.3% of the state is Hispanic or Latinx, Hispanics make up only 22% of the UC system population.

Potential Downfalls

Under the current plan, if the UC System can adopt a new test by 2025, the state plans to make the test available to private/independent and out-of-state schools. Out-of-state students and international students would then be required to take the new UC test to gain entrance into any of the nine UC schools, which include popular choices such as University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and University of California - Berkeley (Cal).

While the University has said it would explore other appropriate approaches for out-of-state and international students, this plan leaves open the possibility that out-of-state students wishing to apply to the University of California will have to take this new test in addition to either the SAT/ACT for the rest of the non-California schools on their college list. The end result would be that non-California students would end up taking even more standardized tests than they are now.