I have been saying for quite some time that standardized testing is likely to come back eventually. Not because the SAT is perfect (it definitely is not). But because colleges need some way to check whether grades, course titles, and transcripts reflect real academic readiness.

That has become harder as grade inflation has increased and grading standards vary widely from one high school to another. An A in Precalculus at one school may not mean the same thing as an A in Precalculus somewhere else. Some schools offer generous grading, retake policies, weighted grades, or accelerated course labels that make students look highly prepared on paper, even when their underlying skills are uneven. Colleges need a way to compare students across very different schools, grading systems, and academic contexts.

For current applicants, the answer is simple. The UC has not brought back the SAT and is still test-blind.

For younger students, especially the high school Class of 2029 and below, the answer is more complicated: some kind of standardized readiness check may return by the time they apply. It may be the SAT, ACT, California’s 11th-grade Smarter Balanced test, a UC-specific readiness index, or different tools for different students. Here is what you need to know, what the timeline actually says, and how students should plan now.

In an open letter, over 1,400 UC faculty members are warning that too many students are arriving at UC campuses without the math foundation needed for college-level STEM courses. However, this is not just about students struggling in Calculus. The concern is more basic: some students are arriving with gaps in Algebra, fractions, arithmetic, and middle-school-level math skills, even though their high school transcripts show strong grades and advanced math courses.

That is exactly what I wrote about in my earlier article, The College Math Crisis: A’s in Calculus, F’s in Fractions. UC San Diego found that its remedial math enrollment had exploded, and that many students who placed into pre-college math had earned excellent grades in high school math. Some had even taken Precalculus or Calculus.

That is the real problem. If a transcript says “A in Calculus,” but the student cannot reliably handle fractions or Algebra, colleges have a readiness problem. And students pay the price when they are admitted into majors where they are not prepared to succeed.

The UC has not changed its admissions policy. What the UC has done is launch a formal review of two separate issues:

Standardized testing: The UC will study whether standardized tests should be used again in first-year admissions, and if so, which tests.

A-G course requirements: The UC will separately review whether its required high school courses still prepare students well enough for college-level work.

These are related, but they are not the same project. The testing review is the one getting the headlines but the A-G review may end up mattering just as much.

This review is being led by the Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, usually shortened to BOARS. BOARS is the UC faculty committee that oversees undergraduate admissions policy. They study admissions rules and recommends policy changes. These two initiatives do not mean that new rules have been approved.

Not necessarily. The faculty letter asks for SAT or ACT math scores for STEM applicants. That is one possible path.

But the UC is also looking at California’s Smarter Balanced Assessment, the 11th-grade state test already taken by California public school students. That could create a different system for California residents. For out-of-state and international students, the UC might still need something like the SAT or ACT because those students do not all take California’s state test.

So when people ask, “Is the SAT coming back?” the most honest answer is: Probably some form of testing or standardized readiness check will come back eventually. But we do not yet know whether it will be the SAT, the ACT, Smarter Balanced, a UC-specific index, or different tools for different applicants.

The SAT debate is getting the attention, but the UC is also reviewing A-G requirements. A-G requirements are the 15 college-preparatory courses students must complete to be eligible for UC admission. These include history, English, math, science, language other than English, visual/performing arts, and a college-prep elective.

This is a separate project from the testing review. And it could matter a lot. Why? Because the UCSD math report was not only about test scores. It was about whether high school coursework still signals readiness. If students can complete advanced-sounding math courses and still place into remedial math, the UC may decide it needs to look more carefully at what courses students take, when they take them, and whether those courses actually prepare them for college work.

For students and families, this means course planning may become even more important. It may not be enough to check the minimum A-G boxes. Students aiming for competitive UC campuses, especially in STEM, need to show real preparation beyond the minimum.

Even though the UC does not currently use SAT or ACT scores for admission, I still recommend that students take the SAT or ACT because the UC is usually not the whole college list. Many private and out-of-state universities either require testing again, recommend testing, or may change their policies by the time your student applies. If a student never tests, they may accidentally lock themselves into a narrower college list.

This matters especially for students who start with a UC-focused list and later decide to add private colleges, selective out-of-state universities, merit-scholarship programs, honors colleges, or STEM-heavy schools. By then, it may be late to test well without unnecessary stress.

Taking the SAT or ACT does not mean you have to submit the score but it gives you options.That is the key point: testing keeps doors open.

For younger students, especially the Class of 2029 and below, I would not build a college plan around the assumption that testing will stay irrelevant. The UC may remain test-free for a while, but the broader admissions landscape is clearly shifting.

For current UC applicants, do not panic. The UC is still test-free. But for younger students, especially those aiming for STEM or highly selective colleges, I would adjust the planning strategy now.

Take math seriously every year

Do not stop math after junior year if you are aiming for STEM, engineering, computer science, data science, economics, business, or another quantitative field. Continuous math matters, including senior-year. 

Prioritize foundations over course labels

A rushed path to Calculus is not helpful if the Algebra II and Precalculus foundation is weak. It is better to be genuinely strong in Algebra II and Precalculus than to collect an advanced course title without mastery.

Take AP or IB exams when available

Even though the UC does not currently use SAT or ACT scores for admission, AP and IB exam scores can still provide outside evidence of mastery. For math-heavy applicants, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, IB Math, or dual enrollment math can help show readiness.

Consider taking the SAT or ACT anyway

This does not mean you need months of expensive test prep. But you should not ignore testing completely, especially if you might apply beyond the UC. A strong score can help at many private and out-of-state universities, and having a score available protects you if policies change or your college list expands.

Be honest about readiness

This is the hardest part. If a student has high grades but struggles with Algebra, fractions, functions, or word problems, that gap needs to be addressed before college. Not because of the SAT. Because college math will expose it quickly. The goal is not just to get admitted but to succeed once you get there.

The UC has not brought back the SAT. Current applicants are not affected but the conversation has clearly changed. For years, I have been saying that standardized testing is likely to come back in some form. Now UC faculty members are publicly arguing that the system needs a more reliable way to measure readiness, especially in math-heavy majors. The UC is officially reviewing standardized testing, and it is separately reviewing whether the A-G course requirements still prepare students well enough for college.

My advice: do not panic, but do not ignore this. If your student is applying in Fall 2026 or Fall 2027, nothing has changed for the UC. If your student is in the high school Class of 2029 or younger, assume that some kind of testing or standardized readiness check may be part of the UC process by the time they apply.

And even if the UC stays test-free, many other colleges may not. Taking the SAT or ACT can keep options open, especially if your student later wants to add private colleges, out-of-state universities, merit scholarships, honors programs, or STEM-heavy schools.

The smartest strategy is simple: build real academic strength, take math seriously, choose courses thoughtfully, and do not rely on inflated grades or impressive course names.