Hundreds of University of California (UC) faculty members have signed an open letter urging the UC Board of Regents and academic leaders to reinstate standardized testing requirements for applicants to mathematics and science majors. The letter highlights a concerning drop in math skills since the tests were abandoned.
Background of the Testing Policy Change
The UC system stopped accepting SAT and ACT scores from applicants in 2020 following a legal challenge from students who argued that the requirement favored those who could afford test preparation services and travel to exam sites. While over 1,000 colleges across the United States made testing optional during the COVID-19 pandemic, a court barred UC from using the tests altogether. The California State University system voluntarily dropped the requirement in 2022.
Faculty Concerns and Data
A coalition led by UC Berkeley mathematics professors recently issued the open letter arguing that abandoning the admissions test requirement has created severe preparation gaps. The letter states that instructors now have to reteach middle-school mathematics while also attempting to teach college-level material. Data from the UC San Diego Senate–Administration Workgroup on Admissions reveals that the number of students with math skills below high school level has increased nearly thirtyfold in the last five years, with 70% of those falling below middle school levels, affecting roughly one in twelve incoming students.
At UC Berkeley, 20-30% of first-semester calculus students displayed severe preparation deficits for three consecutive years. The faculty argue that basic mathematical fluency is essential for success in STEM fields and that current admissions practices do not reliably assess readiness.
Impact on Students and Workforce
The widening gap between underprepared and well-prepared students has led to polarized classrooms, making it harder to teach at the level required for advanced STEM work. The faculty warn of declining graduation rates, longer time to degree, and reduced completion of STEM majors, which could harm California’s highly skilled STEM workforce.
Calls for Action
The open letter demands reinstatement of SAT/ACT mathematics requirements for STEM majors starting with the 2027 admissions cycle, alongside faculty oversight of readiness standards. The professors emphasize that these tests provide a critical baseline measure of core mathematical fluency and can identify high-potential students from under-resourced schools. They argue that ignoring preparation gaps does not remove barriers but moves them into the classroom, disadvantaging the most vulnerable students.
The faculty also call for validation of academic readiness through test scores, establishment of STEM faculty oversight of admissions policies, and institutional accountability by testing admissions criteria against student outcomes.
This move comes as other leading STEM institutions, including UC’s primary peers, have resumed using SAT/ACT in admissions to ensure foundational fluency. The faculty urge UC to restore objective data and faculty oversight to preserve the value of a UC STEM degree and maintain its role as a global leader in STEM education.
