UC Faculty Urge Return of SAT for STEM Admissions Amid Math Deficits
Citing 'severe' math deficits, UC faculty demand a return to SAT tests for STEM applicants
Image: Los Angeles Times
Over 600 faculty members from the University of California, led by UC Berkeley mathematicians, are advocating for the reinstatement of SAT or ACT testing for STEM applicants starting in fall 2027. They argue that the absence of standardized testing has led to significant math deficiencies among incoming students, impacting their ability to succeed in college-level STEM courses.
- 01More than 600 UC faculty members signed a letter requesting standardized testing for STEM applicants starting in fall 2027.
- 02The faculty report highlights that over 20% of first-semester calculus students at UC Berkeley exhibited significant math deficits.
- 03The UC system previously eliminated standardized testing requirements in 2020 due to concerns over equity and bias.
- 04A report indicated a thirty-fold increase in first-year students testing below high school math levels from 2020 to 2025.
- 05Not all faculty agree that reinstating testing is the best solution, citing high school GPA as a better predictor of college success.
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In an open letter, over 600 faculty members from the University of California, primarily mathematicians from UC Berkeley, are calling for the reinstatement of SAT or ACT testing for applicants in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields starting in fall 2027. They argue that the six-year absence of standardized testing has resulted in severe math deficits among incoming students, with many professors reportedly teaching middle school-level math. The letter highlights that from fall 2021 to fall 2023, at least 20% of first-semester calculus students at Berkeley showed significant deficiencies in math skills. The faculty's concerns come ahead of a meeting by the UC Academic Senate's Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, which may consider changes to admissions policies. The UC system had eliminated standardized testing requirements in 2020, citing equity concerns, but faculty members now argue that a return to testing could help identify students' readiness for rigorous STEM coursework. However, some experts caution that standardized tests may not be the best measure of student potential, advocating instead for reliance on high school GPA.
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The call for reinstating standardized testing could significantly affect admissions processes at the University of California, impacting student demographics and preparedness.
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