More than 600 University of California faculty members are advocating for the reinstatement of standardized testing for STEM applicants, citing significant math preparation gaps among incoming students. Since the suspension of SAT and ACT requirements in 2020, professors report needing to teach middle school math concepts, hindering college-level instruction. Data indicates a notable percentage of first-semester calculus students exhibit deficits, making basic mathematical fluency essential for STEM success. This movement comes as UC leadership considers potential changes to admissions policies, with a system-wide admissions board set to discuss readiness and admissions process improvements.
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As someone who has personally gone through the education system, especially standardized testing like the ACT, the recent news of changes coming to the exam, particularly the science portion becoming optional, has left me with a mix of confusion and concern. The idea of making science, a fundamental field that shapes our understanding of the world, optional on a standardized test seems counterintuitive. When I took the ACTs years ago, I vividly remember the science section being more about scientific literacy than memorizing facts. It required an understanding of the scientific process, how experiments are conducted, and interpreting data from graphs and tables.… Continue reading
accountability and standardization in the admissions process to ensure that all students are being assessed fairly.
When I heard that Yale will again require standardized test scores for admission, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. The current system of grade inflation at high schools is out of control. I’ve seen firsthand how students can easily game the system with assignments being graded leniently, tardies not counted, and the bar for passing set so low that it’s practically impossible to fail.
The recent restoration of standardized testing at Dartmouth also shed light on the fact that many lower-income students were actually harming their chances of admission by not submitting their scores.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker