ACT

April 9, 2020

Research tells us standardized admissions tests benefit under-represented students

ACT and SAT are better measures of college readiness than state tests, proponents say.

Wayne Camara and Michelle Croft

December 19, 2019

College admissions tests are a poor indicator of college readiness

Removing tests from admissions process would allow UC to recruit and educate California’s best and brightest from all backgrounds.

Mo Hyman

December 16, 2019

Don't blame tests for differences in educational quality and access

Colleges would miss out on valuable information about student readiness if they eliminate test scores from the admissions process.

Marten Roorda

November 25, 2019

Test-optional admissions won't level the college admissions playing field

High SAT and ACT scores still provide an edge even if colleges don't require them.

Yoon Choi

November 25, 2019

University of California under pressure from within to abandon SAT and ACT for admission

UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ makes strongest remarks yet against the use of college admissions tests at Berkeley as university awaits faculty report on the issue.

Louis Freedberg

October 29, 2019

Gov. Newsom missed opportunity by not allowing students to take SAT or ACT in lieu of state tests

If we raise the bar and also provide the right support for kids, teachers and parents, students will meet or exceed our expectations.

Christopher J. Steinhauser

October 13, 2019

Gov. Newsom vetoes allowing districts to substitute SAT for 11th grade state test

In veto message, Newsom says giving districts the test option would widen inequities in college admission that the bill was intended to narrow.

John Fensterwald

October 7, 2019

Debate underway whether University of California should require SAT and ACT for admissions

A UC faculty group is studying whether to drop SAT and ACT, overhaul them or substitute other tests as application requirements.

Larry Gordon

August 27, 2019

College Board revises plans for single “adversity score” as tool in admissions

In response to criticism, the College Board is reforming a new admissions tool meant to measure hardships that a freshman applicant faces.

Michael Burke

July 10, 2019

Making the case for college admissions tests

The ACT and SAT provide many valuable benefits to both students and schools, proponents say.

Yoon Choi, Cynthia Schmeiser and Wayne Camara

March 29, 2019

Another push to expand use of SAT in California amid criticism of test

One bill would let school districts give the SAT or ACT to all students, at state expense; another calls on UC and CSU to consider phasing out the tests altogether.

John Fensterwald

March 14, 2019

Charities disavow links to mastermind of college bribery scheme despite online claims

Leaders of youth-serving organizations in California and elsewhere said William Singer, who pleaded guilty to orchestrating an elaborate fraud to skirt admission standards at elite universities, falsely claimed to be partnering with them to help low-income children go to college.

David Washburn

October 24, 2018

California's SAT scores rise, beat national averages

While overall scores rose, only 48 percent of California students did well enough on the SAT to be considered fully college ready. Ethnic disparities remain as well.

Larry Gordon

October 2, 2018

Small rise in California’s math and reading scores in 2018

There are signs of "encouragement" and "distress" in implementing the Common Core standards after four years of Smarter Balanced testing. There is also a dilemma: 11th-grade results.

John Fensterwald

September 30, 2018

Gov. Brown vetoes bill to let districts give SAT or ACT as 11th grade test

Dozens of districts are offering the tests at their own expense already, because scores on SAT and ACT, not Smarter Balanced, are what matters to high school juniors.

John Fensterwald