One of the questions Irvine families ask most often about standardized test preparation is whether a student still needs to take the SAT when the University of California does not consider it. Answering it starts with the actual scope of the policy: what is no longer considered is the admission decision, not every stage.

How the policy came about

On May 21, 2020, the University of California Board of Regents unanimously approved a phased plan. It followed a two-year research-based review that began in 2018. The plan had three stages:

  • 2021 and 2022 application cycles: The university moved to test-optional. Students could submit scores voluntarily, those who did not submit were not disadvantaged, and the writing section requirement was eliminated.
  • 2023 and 2024 application cycles: The university moved to test-blind. In the university’s own description, campuses would no longer consider test scores in admission selection for applicants from California public and independent high schools.
  • 2025 and later: If a new test developed by the University of California was not ready, the standardized testing requirement would be eliminated entirely. The new test was never introduced, so the policy in effect today is that scores are not considered.

Where scores still count

The University of California lists the situations in which scores can still play a role, and this part is often overlooked:

  • Course placement after enrollment: Submitted scores can be used to set a student’s starting point in mathematics, English, and other courses after enrollment.
  • Some scholarship decisions.
  • Eligibility for the statewide admissions guarantee.
  • One of the alternative ways to meet minimum eligibility requirements.

In other words, scores do not add anything to the admission decision, but they can still affect a student’s schedule and costs after enrollment.

What this means for Irvine students

Three practical conclusions follow.

First, the University of California not considering scores does not mean other universities do not. Most private universities and some state systems still accept or require scores. Once a student’s application list extends beyond the University of California, test preparation remains necessary. The student’s list of target universities decides this question, not the policy of the University of California alone.

Second, without test scores, course rigor and GPA carry more weight. With one fewer quantitative measure in the admission review, the remaining measures must carry more of the judgment. Completion of A-G courses, the choice of honors and AP courses, and the grade in every grading period all become more important. Each school’s weighting rules and the grade levels at which AP courses open are covered in the Irvine Unified School District high school guide.

Third, the policy can change, but the timeline will not wait. The policy was set by a Board of Regents resolution, and any future change would also require Board action and would usually be announced in advance. Test preparation, however, is measured in semesters, and a student who waits for the policy to settle before starting often runs out of time. The target university list, not expectations about policy, should guide the decision.

EDUBUS recommendations

In the view of EDUBUS, whether to prepare for a test depends on the student’s application range, not on the policy of a single university system. Students applying only to the University of California system can shift their time toward coursework and extracurricular results. Students whose application range includes private universities or out-of-state public universities should not delay test preparation because of this policy. Test dates and registration deadlines appear on the test calendar, and preparation options are described in SAT Grammar & Reading Seminar and Digital SAT Prep.

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