Concerns over UC’s Test-Blind Policies and Student Preparedness
A Berkeley mathematics professor has raised concerns that many students lack adequate preparation when they enter college, attributing this to the University of California system’s progressive ‘test-blind’ policies.
Professor Zvezdelina Stankova, writing in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, detailed the academic challenges faced by students. She noted that a significant number lag behind in mathematics, some by five to eight years. Office hours intended for discussing advanced topics like integrals, are instead spent on basic concepts such as fractions and algebra meant for middle school.
Stankova, backed by thousands of faculty members from UC campuses, is advocating for the reinstatement of SAT and ACT tests in the admissions process. The phasing out of these standardized tests began in 2020 under former UC President Janet Napolitano, partly to promote ‘equity.’
Since then, admissions officers have been prohibited from considering standardized measures previously used to assess academic readiness across California. This change has dramatically altered student preparedness indicators.
Stankova presented data showing a sharp decline in student math readiness. Between 2018 and 2020, 71% of roughly 2,200 students tested in Calculus I were ready or nearly ready. In contrast, after the policy change, only 51% of approximately 2,800 students tested from 2021 to 2023 showed readiness, with just 44% in 2023. Alarmingly, 17% failed all tested topics.
In June, UC STEM faculty outlined concerns in an open letter, arguing that the SAT/ACT math requirement is vital for equity. They stressed that ignoring foundational readiness in admissions only transfers the challenge to the classroom, disadvantaging students further.
An admissions process that overlooks preparation shortfalls disadvantages the most vulnerable students, who require honest assessments to receive adequate support within the higher education system.
The UC system announced an ongoing review of its standardized testing policy. UC President James B. Milliken emphasized the significance of college preparedness, proposing a comprehensive review to improve student readiness and success.
As more elite universities reconsider test-optional policies, Columbia University, along with other Ivy League schools, is poised to reinstate standardized testing requirements. Although Berkeley officials have not commented on recent concerns, issues regarding student preparedness extend beyond California.
The University of Michigan, in an unrelated approach to student welfare, plans to shield freshmen from letter grades to tackle the mental health crisis in higher education.
This issue continues to attract attention as educational institutions assess the balance between access and preparedness.