California governor signs bill banning mandatory SAT or ACT scores for admission to public universit

The Governor of California recently signed a bill that officially prohibits the state's public universities (including the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU)) from requiring SAT or ACT scores in undergraduate admissions, continuing and making permanent the "Test-Optional" policy during the pandemic69. This decision marks a further step in California's efforts to promote educational equity, but it also raises concerns about the possible decline in academic standards.

1. Main content of the policy

Test-Optional Permanent: UC and CSU systems no longer require applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores, and students can choose whether to submit them6.

Test-Blind Continuation: Even if scores are submitted, the UC system still adopts the "Test-Blind" policy, that is, admissions officers will not refer to SAT/ACT scores9.

Alternative evaluation methods: Universities will rely more on comprehensive evaluations such as high school GPA, course difficulty, extracurricular activities, and essays (PIQ)28.

2. Supporters’ view: Promote educational equity

Reduce economic and racial inequality: Studies have shown that students from wealthy families can improve their SAT scores through expensive tutoring, while low-income and minority students (such as Latinos and African Americans) have fewer resources, resulting in admission gaps16.

Avoid the controversy of "score inflation": The average SAT score of Asian students is significantly higher than that of other ethnic groups, but the University of California believes that scores alone cannot fully measure students' potential6.

Echoing the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action: In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that college admissions should not consider race, and the cancellation of the SAT can indirectly promote diversity7.

3. Opponents' concerns: Academic standards may decline

Lack of unified measurement standards: SAT/ACT used to be a national benchmark to help universities compare students from different high school backgrounds. After cancellation, admissions may rely more on GPA, but the grading standards of each school are different, which can easily lead to "grade inflation"411.

International students affected: Chinese and other international students traditionally rely on high SAT scores to highlight their academic ability. Under the new policy, they need to rely more on extracurricular activities and essays, while American students have more advantages in this regard3.

May increase the subjectivity of admissions: Some critics believe that after the cancellation of standardized tests, admissions may be more influenced by factors such as alumni relationships and donation background (although California has enacted laws to prohibit "legacy admissions")57.

4. Future impact and trends

Other states may follow suit: As the largest public university system in the United States, California's policies often become a weathervane. Maryland, Colorado and other states have taken similar measures on public universities17.

Private prestigious schools go the other way: Harvard, Yale, MIT and other top private schools have resumed SAT requirements in 2025, believing that the test can better predict academic potential911.

UC may develop new tests: The University of California once planned to launch an independent test, but it was shelved due to controversy and may be re-evaluated in the future6.

5. Conclusion: The challenge of balancing fairness and academics

California’s new policy reflects the ongoing struggle between fairness and excellence in American higher education. Although the cancellation of SAT/ACT may help disadvantaged groups, it may also weaken academic measurement standards and leave international students facing greater uncertainty. In the future, the University of California needs to ensure transparency in the comprehensive evaluation system, and students need to plan their soft skills such as GPA, extracurricular activities, and essays earlier to adapt to the new admission environment.