05/29/2026
Could the SAT and ACT Return to UC Admissions?
Over 900 University of California faculty members have called for the reinstatement of standardized testing for undergraduate admissions, citing the lack of college readiness of many recently admitted students and the lack of academic support to help these students after the arrive on campus.
For rising juniors and younger students, the smartest strategy is to prepare as if SAT and ACT scores may once again become part of the admissions process.
Even if UC ultimately does not reinstate testing, strong standardized test scores can still provide important benefits, including the opportunity to apply to selective universities outside the UC system that consider or require the SAT and ACT especially when it's becoming harder to gain admission to the University of California.
For the past several years, the University of California has operated under a test-blind admissions policy, meaning SAT and ACT scores have not been considered in undergraduate admissions decisions. However, recent developments suggest that the debate over standardized testing is far from over.
