University of California Faculty Seek Return of Math Testing in Admissions

More than 550 University of California STEM professors signed an open letter on May 26, 2026, calling for the reinstatement of mandatory SAT and ACT mathematics testing for applicants to STEM majors beginning with the 2027 admissions cycle. The letter, addressed to the university president, Board of Regents, and academic Senate, states that preparation gaps have become severe enough that instructors must re-teach middle-school mathematics.

It references a UC-San Diego study from November 2025 showing that the number of students with math skills below high-school level rose nearly thirtyfold over five years, with nearly 70 percent of those students performing below middle-school level.

California eliminated its mandatory standardized testing requirement in 2020. Applications are now evaluated primarily on GPA, subject requirements, and a student essay, with math coursework allowed from seventh or eighth grade. The faculty letter describes the test-optional policy as a permanent vulnerability in an environment of grade inflation and AI-assisted essays.

It notes that more than one-third of the top 46 universities outside the UC system, including leading STEM institutions, continue to require standardized testing.

Berkeley data from 2021 to 2023 showed nearly one-third of first-semester calculus students with severe preparation deficits. The letter states that students take longer to finish required coursework and that professors face pressure to lower academic rigor.

The faculty directly addressed equity concerns, writing that an SAT or ACT mathematics requirement is not an obstacle to equity but a prerequisite for it. They requested that faculty be given oversight in setting readiness standards and that the university regularly test and revise admissions policies.

The UC Office of the President and Board of Regents did not respond immediately to a request for comment.