Adrianne is a Senior Admissions Counselor and TV/film director, producer, writer, and actress currently based in LA. She uses her experience in multiple disciplines to help students achieve their personal and academic goals.
Right now, the University of California system is weighing whether to reinstate standardized testing requirements for future applicants — read on to find out why and how this might affect you or your child.
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What Is Happening With Standardized Testing at the UCs?
Standardized testing policies have been a much-debated topic in college admissions over the past few years, especially since many schools have implemented test-optional policies since the pandemic. The University of California system — which includes UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz — followed suit, adopting a test-free policy for admissions.
However, this summer, the UC Board of Regents announced that the “UC Academic Senate will decide whether or not to recommend reinstating standardized testing requirements for undergraduate admissions by June 2027,” according to The Daily Bruin. The advancement in the discussion stemmed from faculty allegations “that students’ math preparation had declined since the University stopped accepting test scores,” a sentiment that was co-signed by 2,300 members of the UC faculty.
So, what does this mean for future applicants and for the test-optional discussion as a whole? We’ll break it all down.
A Brief History of UC’s Test-Free Policy
For many years, the University of California system required all applicants to submit standardized tests (namely, the SAT and ACT) for consideration at any UC school, but in May 2020, the UC Board of Regents voted unanimously to phase out these tests within the next five years in favor of a potential new test developed by UC faculty. So, in 2021, the UCs stopped considering standardized testing completely, agreeing to switch to a test-blind policy through 2025. The idea was that, if a more optimal test was not developed by this time, the UC system would eliminate the testing requirement altogether, which is what happened.
The initial decision came as a result of a lawsuit, Smith v. Regents of the University of California, which proposed the idea that these standardized tests disadvantaged low-income students and students of color who did not have access to expensive test prep resources. While many test policies were suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased access to testing facilities, this inequity is the reason for the continued instatement of test-optional policies across the country.
Why Some UC Faculty Want Standardized Tests Reconsidered
Recently, many top schools, including MIT, Caltech, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell, and Penn, have now rolled back these policies for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, meaning applicants will need to submit test scores again. MIT explained their reasoning for the change as follows: “Our research shows standardized tests help us better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants, and also help us identify socioeconomically disadvantaged students who lack access to advanced coursework or other enrichment opportunities that would otherwise demonstrate their readiness for MIT.”
As mentioned above, as of August 2026, over 3,000 UC faculty members have signed a petition in favor of admissions testing, especially faculty in STEM departments. “Over the past five years, we have seen a widening divergence in mathematical preparation levels within the same classroom,” reads the STEM-focused open letter. This trend indicates that current admissions practices do not provide a sufficiently reliable check on mathematical readiness for STEM majors.”
The social sciences and humanities faculty signed a separate letter, endorsing the STEM faculty’s reasoning. They added: “Without foundational literacy, students face difficulties across university disciplines. Eliminating the metrics that diagnose these preparation gaps imposed significant barriers for underprepared students and their instructors alike.”
Arguments Against Reinstating the SAT and ACT
Despite growing support for reinstating standardized tests, the opposition offers strong arguments questioning their effectiveness and fairness. This was, at least in part, the reason for the initial pushback against the SAT and ACT, which prompted the rollback of these requirements in 2020.
Critics argue that standardized tests often put students from marginalized groups, including low-income students and underrepresented minorities, at a disadvantage. High scores on the SAT and ACT have been shown to correlate much more closely with family income, access to test prep resources, and educational opportunities than with a student’s actual academic potential. Many students are at an inherent disadvantage when they cannot afford expensive test-prep courses or multiple test-taking attempts. Critics also say high school GPA and other qualitative measurements such as personal statements and extracurricular activities are better predictors of a student’s ability to succeed in college (hence the importance of holistic admissions).
What the UC Review Is Likely to Examine
While the review of standardized testing requirements has been temporarily suspended, according to Higher Ed Dive, “UC Board Chair Maria Anguiano said the standardized testing review would be a “major focus” of the board and that it anticipates a recommendation from the academic senate by the end of the current academic year. “The goal of this review is not to rehash old questions or data but an opportunity to take a fresh look at how we define and evaluate college readiness in a rapidly changing world,” she said.
The Senate’s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools will likely take the arguments from the faculty’s open letters into consideration, which included both personal experiences in the classroom and quantitative data that shows a correlation between poor performance and the removal of these admissions policies. They will also probably study the results of test-optional policies at other top schools while revisiting the possibility of devising a new standardized test that is unique to the UC system, as was originally intended by the suspension of standardized admissions tests.
Could the UCs Require Testing Only for STEM Applicants?
One idea that is gaining traction is to reintroduce standardized testing, but only for those applying to STEM fields. The reason behind this idea is the strict quantitative skill requirements in these areas and the significant gap in achievement that many signers of the open letter cited in their reasoning for support.
Proponents argue standardized tests can offer an objective measurement of the analytical and problem-solving skills that are crucial for success in STEM majors, such as mathematics and computer science. Standardized tests could provide a common metric and level the playing field by ensuring that students have the basic skills needed to manage the rigor of these fields. On the other hand, limiting the testing requirement to some majors could unintentionally penalize students who do well in a test-optional environment but who can still succeed in STEM fields — after all, many top students who succeed in a classroom environment describe themselves as poor test takers who do not thrive in a timed, cutthroat environment.
What Reinstating Tests Could Mean for UC Applicants
If you’re planning on applying to a UC school in two years or more, especially if you’re applying out of state (which means admission is even more competitive), it’s probably a good idea to start studying for standardized tests. This won’t apply to current seniors, who will still be applying under the current test-free policy, but starting during the 2027-2028 college admissions cycle, students could be required to submit test scores. This means that, in order to be a competitive applicant, students will be expected to have high test scores, especially at the most competitive schools in the system like UCLA and UC Berkeley.
If you haven’t started studying, start by figuring out which test suits your abilities best by taking practice tests. If you’re not a strong test taker and/or you’ve already taken the tests and hit a plateau with your scores, consider other ways you can boost your application, such as through your extracurricular and/or summer activities. Need some ideas? Check out this blog post on how extracurriculars can boost your application.
Should Current High School Students Prepare for the SAT or ACT?
Since most schools allow students to submit either SAT or ACT scores (some allow you to submit both and/or superscore), most students have a preference for which one they like better. Usually, this has to do with the differences between the tests, i.e., the SAT gives you more time per question and is adaptive (for the digital format) whereas the ACT usually goes faster and has a fixed format. Students should take a practice test for both and plan to take their preferred test a few times if necessary. Once it’s clear what the UCs’ admissions policies are regarding standardized tests, you can determine your strategy to reach your ideal standardized test scores.
Curious about the differences between the SAT and ACT? Check out this blog post for more of an in-depth look at both tests.
How to Build a Strong UC Application Without Test Scores
If the UCs continue their test-free admissions policy beyond next year or if you’re applying this year, you still need to know how to build a strong UC application that can shine without a stellar test score attached. That means you need great application essays (or PIQs, as the UCs call them; no Common App personal statement needed!), a robust portfolio of extracurricular achievements, and, of course, standout grades. So, make sure you’re on track to take Advanced Placement and/or International Baccalaureate if available. You’ll also need to make sure that your interests fit the UC school(s) to which you’re applying, so make sure you research the school and/or attend an admissions session if possible.
For your PIQs, you want to make sure that you cover the many facets of your interests and experiences in as much detail as possible. You have very limited space — only 350 words per PIQ prompt, of which you get four — so use that space efficiently. Instead of telling a very centralized narrative, as you do in your 650-word personal statement for the Common App, each of your PIQs should show a different side of you and what makes you stand out from the rest. If you need even more advice, check out this essay guide for PIQs from last year.
Common Misunderstandings About the UC Testing Debate
When it comes to the UC testing discussion, there are some common misunderstandings. For instance, a prevalent misconception is that UCs may be considering bringing back standardized test requirements to increase revenue from testing fees, but the UC system and/or UC Board of Admissions does not directly benefit financially from the fees associated with standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. These fees are primarily collected by the testing organizations themselves, such as the College Board or ACT, Inc. The UCs’ considerations are more focused on the potential of standardized tests to enrich the admissions process and, ultimately, the future student body by offering an additional metric of student capability and academic readiness. The goal is student success, not monetary gain.
Some also might think that the decision to reinstate standardized testing is final and imminent. On the contrary — the UCs are still very much deliberating the benefits and drawbacks of various forms of student assessments, as described above. There is a comprehensive review being conducted by the Academic Senate to determine whether standardized testing aligns with the university system’s prevailing goals. And, even if the discussion continues, there likely won’t be any final decision until next year.
Conclusion
The UC testing debate is a very relevant example of how the college admissions process is constantly changing and evolving, which means students need to stay clued into the developments throughout the year. That way, they can stay prepared for anything that might come their way during the actual application process!
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