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As the COVID-19 pandemic has severely hampered students' ability to take the SAT and ACT, many colleges and universities, including the University of California and the California State University system, have made standardized tests optional or rolled back admissions requirements. Now Dartmouth has revealed for the first time that it will again require the SAT or ACT for applicants in the fall of 2024, and several other colleges, including Harvard, are following this path.
Even before the pandemic, concerns about equity were often cited as reasons for not requiring these tests. Both the UC and Cal State systems have continued to maintain that there will be no SAT and ACT.
To find out what college students think about the potential performance of standardized tests, EdSource's California Student Journalism Corps asked seven colleges and universities in California the following questions:
“UC and Cal State have said they have no plans to change their no-test policies that have been in effect since 2020, but do you think standardized tests like these should come back? “What is the reason?”
Below are their answers.
(Click on the names or images below to read what each person says.)
Alex Soriano opposes the return of standardized testing and suggests there should be a “more holistic way” to assess students fairly. But he's not sure what the alternative would look like.
“I think based on assessing a variety of skills, (the test) doesn’t really assess the same level of knowledge,” he said. “When we bring back standardized testing, [equity] problem.”
To demonstrate the differences in standardized test scores, Soriano refers to: EdGap.org. The website has a map that shows the average household income in an area and the average SAT and ACT scores in that area. The map shows that high-income areas have better test scores than low-income areas.
“Coming from an upper-middle-class area of San Diego, my area had very high SAT and ACT scores, and that was natural,” Soriano said. “Many of my friends could afford to pay for additional tutoring. They can pay for a counselor to come and work with them to prepare them for standardized tests, but not everyone can afford that service.”
Jazlyn Dieguez
“I think it should (come back) because some high schools inflate GPA and think it’s a good (performance evaluation) outside of college grades,” Rodriguez said. “It’s kind of a middle ground.”
After taking the SAT once, Rodriguez was satisfied with the “OK” score she received because she had no plans to apply to colleges with high SAT requirements. Instead, he decided to attend Modesto Junior College and later transferred to San Diego State University.
“It’s strange because I know some people don’t do well on tests and some students can’t afford to take certain classes or get private tutoring,” he said. “Some people were spending a lot of money to get good SAT and ACT scores. I wasn’t one of those people, and I was happy with everything I got.”
Jazlyn Dieguez
“No, I don’t think standardized testing should come back,” Kattaa said. “The SAT is a bad test for most college applicants.”
“We believe that a student’s GPA, extracurricular activities, admissions essays, and letters of recommendation say more about a student’s academic and personal accomplishments,” Kattaa said. It’s more than just a test.”
Kattaa also believes that the lack of required standardized testing has increased diversity on college campuses.
Aya Mikbel
“I don’t think standardized tests like this should ever come back because of the pressure they put on students and the disadvantages they put on admissions status,” Naseer said. But she sees the benefit of the test being offered “for people who want to show more commitment.”
She said the university has a “diverse student body; Academics definitely play a bigger role when applying to college.”
But Naseer worries that if students don't achieve high scores, “they may be neglected, (and) other factors, such as general academics or volunteer work, will have to be prioritized.”
Naseer continued, “As a student who did not take these exams, I feel that doing so allowed me to focus and develop in other areas of my studies/experience.”
Aya Mikbel
“No, I don’t think these tests should be done again,” Garcia said. “I think the screening method should also change. I got accepted (to UCLA) without taking the ACT or SAT. “I don’t think students are evaluated as a whole.”
Garcia added that he believes the test “doesn’t provide a very good assessment of students, academically speaking.”
Delilah Brumer
“We eliminated the SAT and ACT requirements a few years ago, and I honestly think it’s fairer for people not to have these tests as requirements,” Wolin said.
Wolin said she could have gotten SAT tutoring, but it was expensive for her family and “I know not everyone can afford it.”
“I know I helped a little, but it wasn’t fair to everyone,” Wolin said. “I think repealing that requirement is a step in the right direction. I wish there was a better solution for replacement, but there isn't. “At least now we know they are focused on a more equitable, more holistic approach.”
Delilah Brumer
“I think it depends on the university,” Bar said. “For schools like Cal Poly, which consider GPA and test scores mostly, it’s different from private colleges that take a more holistic approach.”
As a student who took the test for admission to Cal Poly, Bar said it may be helpful for the university to restore test scores to add depth to your application.
“Currently, Cal Poly does not use essays, so the application is really comprised of personal information and GPA only,” Bar said. “I think there should be another factor, like SAT or ACT scores. “I think any school that asks for minimal information about applicants should do so.”
Arabelle Mayer
“There should be no testing because it makes admissions more equitable, and higher SAT scores generally require more preparation,” Martinez said.
Martinez said he hopes UC and CSU will stop requiring test scores because he sees inequities when universities use standardized test scores for admissions. According to Martinez, the SAT requires preparation and financial resources that are not accessible to all students.
“I came from a low-income, rural area,” she said. “There was no such thing as SAT preparation.”
Martinez realized the importance of SAT preparation only when her colleagues began discussing tutoring and other accessible resources. She hopes not having tests will provide greater opportunities for students regardless of their financial circumstances.
Written by: Kelsey Lee
“It’s a good idea to have that,” Chiu said. “But if you take the SAT, you can learn how to get a good score. So in a way it’s almost rigged.”
She had mixed feelings about the SAT and ACT. Although she understands the purpose of assessing her students, she also acknowledged the drawbacks of using standardized tests for her admissions.
“Having good scores doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go to one of the top schools.”
She believes a better option would be for UC to create its own tests that are “more knowledge-based,” instead of the memorization involved in SAT prep.
“At the end of the day, there’s a middle ground of whether you should have it or not,” Chiu said.
Written by: Kelsey Lee
“I personally don’t think testing is necessary or helpful. I don’t think that’s evidence of intelligence.”
Williams transferred to Sonoma State from Berkeley City College in 2023. She didn't have to take a standardized test to get in.
“I know people in my life who have talked about their experiences and felt that tests are not concrete evidence of whether they are intelligent or not.”
Posted by Ally Valiente
Bernales said he does not support standardized testing because “we prefer tests that give us access to more resources.”
He is not satisfied with inequality. “Families with money can get teachers to help educate their children to do better, and they can have multiple training sessions for their children to progress, while some families may not be able to afford that,” Bernales said. said.
“With that he continued to speak. [high] School funding can also affect test results. Because better-funded schools tend to have higher scores.”
Posted by Ally Valiente
“No, because I think a lot of people don’t do well on tests, and a lot of it is just general knowledge,” Mlouk said.
Mlouk said she didn't score well on the SAT, but her high GPA helped.
“I consider myself a pretty smart person, but the tests don’t reflect that at all,” she said.
Mlouk said standardized tests like the SAT or ACT are not helpful to people who do poorly on them.
“Even if you can excel at that school, your opportunities will be limited,” Mlouk said.
Ashley Boulter