A new review of the SAT at University of California is coming by June 2027

July 15, 2026 - 09:12

A group of professors within the University of California system is calling for a major shift in admissions policy. They want UC to reinstate the SAT as a required part of the application process, with a formal review of the test scheduled to conclude by June 2027.

The University of California eliminated the SAT and ACT for all applicants in 2020, a decision that was praised by critics of standardized testing. The move was framed as a way to reduce bias and create a more equitable admissions process. However, some faculty members now argue that the removal has created new problems. They say that without a common benchmark like the SAT, admissions officers have become overly reliant on other factors, such as personal essays and extracurricular activities, which can be harder to evaluate fairly.

Proponents of bringing back the test believe it provides a useful, objective measure of academic readiness that can help identify talented students from underprivileged high schools. They point to recent research suggesting that SAT scores can predict college success as well as high school grades, and that the test may actually help, rather than hurt, low-income and minority applicants when used properly.

The push is still in its early stages. Any change would require approval from the UC Board of Regents, and the debate is expected to be intense. Opponents argue that reinstating the SAT would reverse years of progress in making UC admissions more accessible. The June 2027 deadline gives the system time to study the issue, but the conversation has already started.