UC Schools Developing New Admissions Test

A few months back when the University of California system announced the suspension of the standardized testing requirement for California residents, University of California President Janet Napolitano announced, “Today’s decision by the Board marks a significant change for the University’s undergraduate admissions. We are removing the ACT/SAT requirement for California students and developing a new test that more closely aligns with what we expect incoming students to know to demonstrate their preparedness for UC.” In the months since, lots has changed with respect to the SAT / ACT testing requirement. Most recently, a superior court judge ruled that California’s public universities can no longer consider the SAT or ACT in its admissions process, perhaps sounding the death knell to the all-important exams. But what’s this “new test” Napolitano mentions the UC schools are developing? Is this for real?

UC Schools Announced They’re Developing a New Admissions Test

As the UC schools stated in their May press release about the changes to their testing requirements in the admissions process, “Starting in summer 2020 and ending by January 2021, UC will undertake a process to identify or create a new test that aligns with the content UC expects students to have mastered to demonstrate college readiness for California freshmen.” Come again? The UC system is going to begin developing a new college admissions test that is more fair and equitable? And within just a few short months — by January 2021 in fact — they’re going to do what The College Board has failed to do since 1899 and ACT, Inc. has failed to do since 1959? Are they serious?

The UC Schools Are Overconfident

We have, over the years, been sharp critics of The College Board and ACT. When they cancel exams or claim students who can afford great test prep don’t enjoy a significant advantage (yes, they really used to claim that back in the day!) or do who knows what else, we call them out. We enjoy being a thorn in the side of College Board and ACT. But the very notion that the University of California system can develop a new, fair admissions test in just a few months time — to essentially do what these behemoth companies have long failed to do — is absurd. Don’t you think College Board and ACT would have developed such exams if they could? Wouldn’t it serve their bottom lines so they’re not in the pickle they are today with so many schools denouncing these exams because they cater to the privileged? Get real, University of California Board of Regents.