UC Drops Test Score Reporting - First Glance
Today, the UC Regents voted unanimously, 23-0, to suspend the SAT requirement over the next few years - making test score reporting optional from now until 2024, and (possibly) eliminating test scores from the application process completely in 2025:
The University of California Board of Regents today (May 21) unanimously approved the suspension of the standardized test requirement (ACT/SAT) for all California freshman applicants until fall 2024. The suspension will allow the University to create a new test that better aligns with the content the University expects students to have mastered for college readiness. However, if a new test does not meet specified criteria in time for fall 2025 admission, UC will eliminate the standardized testing requirement for California students.
For rising 12th graders, current juniors, due to COVID19, the UC decided earlier that test reporting will be optional:
The University recognizes the challenges that students are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, in response, UC is temporarily suspending the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission only.
The decision today will impact students 10th grade and younger, as follows:
WRITING PORTION: Eliminating the writing test starting 2021 (affects current 10th graders)
FALL 2021 & 2022 - Test Optional (Current 10th & 9th Graders)
FALL 2023 & 2024: Test-Blind
Test scores ELIMINATED for California public school / private school attendees. Only used for placement, scholarships, etc.
Non-residents still allowed to report test scores (due to non-California coursework)
The following outlines the Regents’ actions:
Test-optional for fall 2021 and fall 2022: Campuses will have the option to use ACT/SAT test scores in selection consideration if applicants choose to submit them, and will develop appropriate policies and procedures to implement the Board’s decision.
Test-blind for fall 2023 and fall 2024: Campuses will not consider test scores for California public and independent high school applicants in admissions selection, a practice known as “test-blind” admissions. Test scores could still be considered for other purposes such as course placement, certain scholarships and eligibility for the statewide admissions guarantee.
New standardized test: Starting in summer 2020 and ending by January 2021, UC will undertake a process to identify or create a new test that aligns with the content UC expects students to have mastered to demonstrate college readiness for California freshmen.
Elimination of the ACT/SAT test requirement: By 2025, any use of the ACT/SAT would be eliminated for California students and a new UC-endorsed test to measure UC-readiness would be required. However, if by 2025 the new test is either unfeasible or not ready, consideration of the ACT/SAT for freshman admissions would still be eliminated for California students.
Elimination of writing test: The University will eliminate altogether the SAT Essay/ACT Writing Test as a requirement for UC undergraduate admissions, and these scores will not be used at all effective for fall 2021 admissions.
The timeline for the future of standardized testing at UC:
Join our webinars to learn more about the impacts for current high school and middle school students!
ACA5 https://openstates.org/ca/bills/20192020/ACA5/
http://leadershipblog.act.org/2020/05/act-ceo-marten-roordas-letter-to.html
OFFICIAL UC PRESS RELEASE: https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/press-room/university-california-board-regents-approves-changes-standardized-testing-requirement