UC Changes Criteria to Reflect New SAT, ACT

University of California regents, in a widely expected move, voted Thursday to alter the university’s testing requirements for freshman applicants to reflect recent reforms in two national entrance exams.

The changes in the widely used SAT and ACT exams, including new writing sections, were largely propelled by the university, which had threatened to scrap the SAT in favor of a test more closely linked to high school coursework. UC President Richard C. Atkinson launched a national debate on the issue in 2001 by calling for numerous reforms in the SAT, including a writing component.

Changes in both exams were announced last year and will take effect in 2005. The revamped SAT will include a mandatory essay, along with tougher math and additional reading comprehension questions. It will no longer include verbal analogies, a pet peeve of Atkinson’s.

The new ACT will include an optional essay, which will be mandatory for UC applicants.

In recent years, the university has required applicants to take the SAT or ACT, along with three SAT II exams. The SAT II tests are single-subject exams, covering such areas as U.S. history, English and biology.

Under the new policy, applicants to the university, starting in 2006, will be required to take the new version of the SAT or ACT, as well as two SAT II exams. They will no longer have to take the SAT II writing exam, which the College Board has said may be dropped.

In making the policy change Thursday, Atkinson and other UC officials applauded the testing companies for their willingness to change the exams. Several regents also congratulated Atkinson, who will step down as UC president in October, for his role in pushing for the reforms.