AI Generated Image
Students coming to elite universities unable to do basic math, professor says
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Berkeley mathematics professor Zvezdelina Stankova warns that the University of California system's "test-blind" admissions policies have led to many students arriving at college significantly underprepared in math, with some lacking skills expected from middle school.
- Data shows a sharp decline in math readiness among UC students since the elimination of SAT and ACT requirements, with only 44% of students in 2023 testing as ready or nearly ready for Calculus I, compared to 71% before the policy change.
- Thousands of UC faculty members have signed open letters urging the reinstatement of standardized testing, arguing that such measures are essential for equity and accurately assessing student preparedness.
- In response to these concerns, the University of California announced a review of its standardized testing policies, with leadership emphasizing the importance of improving college readiness and student success.
- The debate over standardized testing reflects a broader national trend, as several elite universities, including Columbia University, are moving away from test-optional admissions policies implemented during the early 2020s.
