UC Postpones SAT/ACT Decision Until June 2027: What Applicants Need to Know
- getincollegesmaste
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The University of California (UC) has officially delayed any decision regarding the return of the SAT or ACT until June 2027. Before any policy changes can occur, the UC Academic Senate must issue a formal recommendation, which then requires a vote of approval from the UC Board of Regents.
Why the Timeline Shift?
This new schedule follows the cancellation of a previous two-year review plan that faced heavy pushback from both sides of the standardized testing debate. UC leadership emphasizes that they intend to complete a rigorous, data-driven evaluation before moving forward.
The Standardized Testing Debate
The decision to pause testing requirements continues to divide the UC community:
Arguments for Reinstating the SAT/ACT (Supported by 3,000+ UC Faculty): Professors note a rise in underprepared incoming students, particularly in foundational math and writing. They argue standardized exams offer an objective baseline for college readiness and highlight high-potential students whose GPAs alone might not tell the full story.
Arguments for Remaining Test-Free: Opponents counter that test scores are deeply correlated with household wealth and test-prep access. They argue that reinstating the exams would disadvantage low-income and underrepresented applicants, and favor keeping UC's comprehensive holistic review system test-free.
What This Means for Current Applicants
Immediate Impact: Because no decision will be reached until mid-2027, the next two UC application cycles will remain strictly test-free.
Future Outlook: If the Board of Regents eventually votes to restore the testing requirement, the earliest it would likely impact applicants is for the Fall 2028 entering class.
UC is not bringing back the SAT or ACT at this time. Instead, the university has established a new timeline that delays any final decision until 2027, while continuing to evaluate whether standardized testing improves college admissions or creates inequities.
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