The University of California system is suspending the SAT and/or ACT as requirements for admission. There is speculation that other universities across the country may do the same.

One key motive for doing so, according to UC, is that the SAT and ACT are unfair to poorer black and Hispanic students who can’t afford or have little access to tutoring and “prep”, which provide test-takers a clear advantage.

Critics from the College Board point out that the UC system may create its own test, which will cause students to have to take more tests if the SAT and ACT are still required to apply to other colleges. Others say the problem is the poor quality of schools in black and Hispanic neighborhoods and that this does not get at the root of inequality and why these demographics are underrepresented at the colleges.

I took both the SAT and ACT and did well on both, though I did better on the SAT. I had no prep or tutoring, though my parents certainly could’ve afforded it. I was not interested.

How important do you think tests (of any kind) are for college admissions?