| Update on UC's New Testing Requirements
Students applying to college for freshman admission in fall 2006 will be the first to take revised ACT and SAT tests. The new SAT Reasoning Test — which includes a student-written essay, eliminates verbal analogies and quantitative comparisons, adds shorter reading passages and new mathematics content — was introduced at test centers on March 12. The ACT Assessment plus Writing debuted February 12.
Students, parents and counselors have raised questions about the revised tests and how they relate to University of California admissions. We outline the testing requirement and answer the most frequently asked questions below.
Core Requirement
The new requirement affects students entering UC as freshmen in fall 2006 and later. Each applicant must submit scores on an approved test of mathematics, language arts and writing.
This requirement can be satisfied by taking either of the following:
• the ACT Assessment plus Writing
• the new SAT Reasoning Test
In addition, students must take two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a student entering UC as a freshman in 2006 took the SAT I and/or the SAT II: Writing prior to March 2005, will his or her examination results fulfill the testing requirement for a class entering in fall 2006 or later?
No. Because of the changes to the SAT Reasoning Test, UC expects such students to take the new SAT Reasoning Test.
If a student took the ACT Assessment before spring 2005, will UC accept this version of the ACT as long as the student also takes the ACT Writing Test when it is available?
ACT will not permit students to take the Writing Test by itself. Students who wish to use the ACT Assessment as their core exam must complete the ACT Assessment and the ACT Writing Test at the same sitting. (Note: This reflects a change from UC’s previously announced policy, which indicated that students could submit a separate ACT Writing score.)
The ACT Assessment plus Writing test will provide two additional scores beyond what students receive if they take the ACT Assessment alone — a Writing score and a Combined English/Writing score. Which score will UC use?
UC will use the Combined English/Writing score.
Can a student take the SAT II: Writing Test in combination with the ACT Assessment to fulfill the core examination requirement?
No. UC will not accept the SAT II: Writing Test as a substitute for the ACT Writing Test for fall 2006 applicants. (Note: The SAT II: Writing Test has been discontinued.)
Will freshman applicants who graduate from high school in spring 2005 (or earlier) and who apply for admission for the fall 2006 term be required to submit test scores from the new tests?
In accordance with UC admissions guidelines, freshman applicants must complete the subject and testing requirements no later than the date of high school graduation. Fall term 2006 freshman applicants who graduate from high school in spring 2005 or earlier are required to meet the eligibility requirements in place at the time of high school graduation.
Can a student meet UC’s requirement by taking two SAT Subject Tests in one discipline area — for example, the U.S. History and World History tests, or the Chemistry and Biology E/M tests, or the French Reading and French Reading with Listening tests?
No. The admissions testing requirement calls for completion of two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas.
Are specific SAT Subject Tests required for admission to certain campuses or majors?
Specific SAT Subject Tests may be preferred for admission to certain majors.
For example, applicants to the following UC campus schools, colleges or majors are strongly encouraged to take the SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2 and a SAT science subject test (Biology E/M, Chemistry or Physics) that is closely related to the applicant’s intended major:
Berkeley: Colleges of Chemistry and Engineering
Los Angeles: Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science
Riverside: Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering
San Diego: Jacobs School of Engineering; also recommended for students considering majoring in the biological or physical sciences
Santa Barbara: Engineering and Computer Science majors
Irvine: Applicants to the Henry Samueli School of Engineering are strongly encouraged to take the SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2 as one of the two required SAT Subject Tests.
UC Information
How will the new tests be weighted in UC’s eligibility index?
The UC Academic Senate’s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS) has recommended that, pending future research on the predictive validity of the different exams, the three components of the new SAT Reasoning Test and the two SAT Subject Tests be weighted equally in the eligibility index. For students who complete the ACT Assessment Plus Writing, the University will use the ACT Assessment with the English/Writing score plus two SAT Subject Tests in the eligibility index. A revised eligibility index — one for the SAT Reasoning Test plus two SAT Subject Tests and one for the ACT Assessment Plus Writing and two SAT Subject Tests — has been released for students applying for admission to the fall 2006 term.
If a student takes the ACT or SAT more than once, will the University use the highest score?
Yes. The University uses the highest scores from a single testing administration.
If a student takes more than two SAT Subject Tests, will the University use the best two scores?
Yes, provided that these scores represent two different subject areas.
How will UC admissions reviewers use the essay portion of the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT Assessment Plus Writing?
The University of California has no plans to view the essay portion of either exam or to use the essay subscore.
Will UC be revising its Eligibility by Examination requirements for 2006–07 admission?
Yes. Information on requirements for Eligibility by Examination will be available in September 2005.
Will UC use the SAT Reasoning Test (Writing) to satisfy the University’s Entry Level Writing Requirement?
Yes, UC will use the writing score from the SAT Reasoning Test (Writing) to fulfill the Analytical Writing Placement Examination (formerly the Subject A Examination) requirement. The ACT English/Writing score can also be used to meet this requirement. Information on the required minimum scores to fulfill the University’s Entry Level Writing Requirement using these new tests is expected in winter 2006.
Will UC use the SAT Writing score to demonstrate English proficiency in lieu of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?
Yes, the University of California will use the writing score from the SAT Reasoning Test (Writing) to demonstrate English proficiency. The ACT English/Writing score can also be used to meet this requirement. Information on the required minimum score to demonstrate English proficiency using these new tests is expected in summer 2006.
SAT Subject Test Requirements
Freshman applicants must submit scores on two SAT Subject Tests in two different subject areas of the student’s choice: English, history and social studies, mathematics, science or languages. The University accepts the following Subject Tests in partial fulfillment of the admissions testing requirement:
English
Literature
History and Social Studies
U.S. History (formerly American History and Social Studies)
World History
Mathematics
Math Level 2 (formerly Math IIC)
Science
Biology E/M (Special emphasis is placed on either ecology — Biology-E — or molecular biology — Biology-M)
Chemistry
Physics
Languages
Chinese with Listening
French
French with Listening
German
German with Listening
Spanish
Spanish with Listening
Modern Hebrew
Italian
Latin
Japanese with Listening
Korean with Listening
Effective fall 2006, completion of SAT II: Writing or SAT II: Math level IC will not meet the fall 2006 requirement.
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