(Bloomberg) -- The University of California system is temporarily dropping the SAT and ACT tests as a requirement for college entrance as the coronavirus pandemic roils student admissions.
The system, with 10 campuses that serve 280,000 students, will waive the standardized tests for fall 2020 and 2021 freshman applicants, according to a statement issued Wednesday.
“By removing artificial barriers and decreasing stressors -- including suspending the use of the SAT -- for this unprecedented moment in time, we hope there will be less worry for our future students,” John A. Pérez, chair of the Board of Regents, the governing board for the system, said in the statement.
Colleges Drop SAT, Easing Admissions Burden for High Schoolers
Colleges for years have been moving to drop testing, dating to Bowdoin College's decision in 1969. Almost 1,100 colleges have already eliminated such scores, according to FairTest. Advocates and researchers maintain that grades are a better predictor of college success. Standardized test scores favor wealthy students who have tutors and can retake tests, which means that eliminating the scores helps level the playing field.
The spread of the coronavirus has led several schools to change their admission requirements in part because some testing has been canceled until June. Tufts University and Davidson College, a private school in North Carolina, are conducting three-year test-optional pilots. Davidson announced its change on Monday. Boston University and Case Western Reserve have said they will scrap the admission tests for this year's juniors.
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