standardized testing

May 21, 2020

In historic action, UC moves to drop SAT/ACT and develop a replacement exam for admissions

Ending the SAT/ACT as a requirement for freshman admission at UC will likely get attention nationally. Supporters of the move expect it will result in more ethnic and income diversity on campuses. Critics fear it will backfire.

Larry Gordon

May 11, 2020

UC president wants SAT/ACT mandate suspended through 2024 and new exam created

UC's Napolitano plan conflicts in part with faculty position and could be very influential nationally. UC regents are to vote on the issue next week.

Larry Gordon

April 20, 2020

University of California faculty leaders want admissions tests restored after health crisis

Requirements for SAT or ACT are suspended for a year and UC faculty votes to keep the exams in the future. Regents will have the final say.

Larry Gordon

April 16, 2020

SAT and ACT plan at-home college admissions exams for fall if crisis keeps schools closed

Exams will include high-tech proctoring to discourage cheating. UC temporarily has dropped the tests as admissions requirements.

Larry Gordon

April 1, 2020

University of California suspends SAT/ACT requirements for 2021 applicants

UC's one-year pause in testing does not mean a permanent end to SAT/ACT for admissions. CSU may follow. Neither university will require letter grades for high school courses this spring.

Larry Gordon

March 11, 2020

Coronavirus could delay standardized testing until later in school year for California students

School districts can't cancel testing without approval, but they can delay it to later in the school year.

Sydney Johnson

February 7, 2020

Less than a third of California students met or exceeded standards on new science test

The results are the first set of scores for a new test aligned with California’s new science standards.

Sydney Johnson

February 4, 2020

Critics will fight on despite faculty report urging University of California to keep SAT and ACT in admissions

A faculty task force says the University of California should continue to require SAT or ACT for freshmen admissions. Opponents will continue their fight.

Larry Gordon And Michael Burke

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

December 3, 2019

U.S. math scores remain flat on international test of 15-year-olds

U.S. math scores have not budged significantly since 2003 on the worldwide assessment.

Sydney Johnson

October 29, 2019

University of California must drop admissions tests, civil rights groups urge

UC should not wait for a study on standardized testing, group says.

Larry Gordon