Do math scores matter for getting into UC schools?

A group of over 600 UC professors, mostly from math departments, recently sent a letter urging the university system to bring back SAT or ACT scores for STEM admissions. They argue that without these tests, they’re seeing more students struggle with basic math in college courses. Some first-year calculus students at Berkeley scored so low on placement tests that professors say they’re having to reteach middle school math while teaching college-level material. The debate isn’t new. In 2020, UC dropped testing requirements, saying the exams were biased against low-income and minority students. But now, faculty worry that removing the tests doesn’t help these students—they just arrive unprepared and fail. Some elite schools like Harvard and Stanford have brought back testing, but UC hasn’t decided yet. The university says it’s listening but hasn’t taken a side.California’s math scores tell part of the story. Before the pandemic, students were already behind, and now they’re even further behind. Only about 30% of 11th graders meet state math standards. That means most students aren’t ready for college-level STEM work. Some professors argue that without a way to measure readiness, UC is setting students up for failure. Not everyone agrees. Some researchers say high school grades predict college success better than test scores. They also warn that relying on tests could hurt diversity by favoring wealthy students who can afford prep courses. Others point out that UC already uses other ways to check math skills, like placement tests after admission. The decision isn’t final. UC’s admissions board is working on a new plan, possibly requiring test scores for some students. But the debate shows just how hard it is to balance fairness, readiness, and access in college admissions.