A Berkeley mathematics professor has raised concerns about student readiness for college, attributing the issue to the University of California’s “test-blind” admission policies. Professor Zvezdelina Stankova, in a San Francisco Standard op-ed, expressed alarm over the lack of preparedness she observes in students.
“Three days a week, I stand in front of lecture halls with 500 to 1,400 students. By the second week of the semester, I already know who is in trouble,” Stankova wrote. She highlighted that some students are significantly behind in mathematics, requiring remedial lessons in subjects like fractions and basic algebra, which should have been mastered in middle school.
Stankova, along with faculty members across 10 UC campuses, have signed open letters urging the reinstatement of standardized tests like the SAT and ACT in admissions. The former UC president, Janet Napolitano, led the phase-out of these tests in 2020 citing “equity” concerns.
“Since then, admissions officers have been forbidden from considering the one standardized measure that provided a common academic benchmark across California’s thousands of high schools,” Stankova wrote.
Data presented by Stankova shows a decline in math readiness among students after the change in policy. Between 2018 and 2020, 71% of students tested were ready or nearly ready for Calculus I. However, from 2021 to 2023, this figure dropped, with only 44% being ready in 2023 and a concerning 17% failing to answer any of the eight topics correctly.
The issue is not merely theoretical; it affects classroom dynamics. Professors have to pause lectures to reteach basic concepts, impeding progress in more advanced topics. An open letter from UC STEM faculty rejects the notion that the mathematics requirement is a barrier to equity. Instead, they argue it is necessary for equitable education.
“The SAT/ACT mathematics requirement is not an obstacle to equity; rather, it is a prerequisite for it,” the faculty wrote. Failing to measure gaps in preparation disadvantages vulnerable students.
In June, the UC announced a review of its standardized testing policy. UC President James B. Milliken emphasized the importance of addressing college preparedness through data-driven reviews.
The op-ed appears as some elite universities reconsider test-optional policies. Columbia University recently decided to reinstate standardized testing requirements for applicants starting next year.
David Rutz, the deputy managing editor for Fox News Digital, reported these developments, alongside reporters Joshua Nelson and Julia Bonavita. The movement reflects broader concerns about student preparedness in elite schools nationwide.