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The Atlantic ·Behind the news

Actually, the SAT Was Necessary After All

by Idrees Kahloon

Published 2026-06-09 12:05:25-04:00

What happens when efforts to open university doors make learning harder inside?

0:00 / 13:24 · Narrator Charon

Context

This piece, published just yesterday in The Atlantic, unpacks a fascinating tension playing out within the University of California system. Faculty are in open revolt, arguing that the absence of standardized tests is leading to students in 'freefall' in basic math, even in calculus classes. It asks us to consider the difficult trade-offs selective universities face: how do you balance the noble pursuit of equity with the practical demands of academic readiness, especially when the stakes are so high for STEM education? It’s a thorny question, and one many institutions are wrestling with right now.

Show notes

University of California faculty are openly challenging the system's test-blind admissions policy, citing a decline in basic math fluency among incoming STEM students. The piece details professors' observations, the faculty's call for reinstating standardized tests, and examines the broader debate over their role in balancing academic excellence with equity, contrasting UC's stance with other elite universities.

Read on The Atlantic →