State of The Bay: Should the UCs Bring Back Standardized Testing?

Crosscurrents · Jul 7, 2026 · 8m

For decades, standardized tests like the SAT and ACT were a central part of college admissions. In 2020, the University of California system became one of the nation's highest profile university networks to eliminate them, citing concerns about fairness and equity. Now, that decision is being revisited as hundreds of UC faculty recently signed an open letter in favor of reinstating the admissions tests, saying that their students have severe preparation gaps. UC Berkeley is leading this push and the supporters of the letter say testing can identify talented students who might otherwise be…