There are three letters that strike universal anxiety among high school students. S-A-T.
The infamous SAT, formally an acronym for Scholastic Aptitude Test, was developed in the early 1900s to give colleges an idea of how well students would perform in college. Then the SAT Subject Tests (SAT II), which test your knowledge on specific subjects, was added into the mix.
Now, over 800 colleges no longer require the SAT and the University of California public university system has decided they will join this movement starting with the students who will apply for the fall term of 2012.
The idea of eliminating SAT tests has been circulating through college channels for years. Time magazine’s online article “Is This The End For The SAT,” by Andrew Goldstein published Feb. 26, 2001, stated that Richard Atkinson, a testing expert, cognitive psychologist and formal president of the University of California would “recommended that the University of California… no longer use the SAT in its admissions process” because “America’s overemphasis on the SAT is compromising our educational system.”
“I anticipate many of the students will still be taking it. From the students end, I can see how if they are applying to a UC, they might feel at a disadvantage [because other students will be taking it]. I look at it as a symbolic gesture because it says they [University of California colleges] look at the complete student,” said Advanced Placement (AP) Literature teacher and part-time freshmen application reader (for the University of California, Los Angeles) JaYoung Kim.
 On Feb. 4 2009, the University of California regents gave preliminary approval to change the UC requirements. The changes include termination of the two mandatory SAT Subject Tests (SAT II) in the application process.  Students will still have to take the SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I) or ACT with writing. However, this is a step forward toward the possible complete elimination of standardized testing for college requirements.
“These tests let kids show they shine in certain areas. They are not the most important tests looked at. Also, just because they won’t be required, kids can still send them in if they will help them in the admissions process. Colleges will look at any and all test scores they receive,” said College Counselor Linda Zimring who has worked for CollegeBoard and as an application reader for colleges.
In ABC News’ article, “Beginning of the End of the SAT” by Bob Jamieson published Oct. 7, 2006 states “…the SAT has outlived its usefulness…It is no longer required for admission.”  There have been complaints for years about the lack of connection that standardized tests have with being successful in college. Jamieson’s article emphasizes this idea with a study conducted by Bates College in Lewiston Maine who tracked classroom performance of the students who submitted SAT scores and students who did not.
“The study concluded that the submission of SAT scores did not predict success and the absence of scores did not predict failure,” wrote Jamieson.
With the future of the SAT II decided, UC faculty’s Board of Admission and Relations with schools committee (BOARS), which is part of the UC Academic Senate, has proposed also replacing the use of the SAT reasoning test (SAT I) in the UC system and another sort of achievement tests that has a relationship to how well a student will perform in college.  The fate of the SAT I is still undecided and there is no decision that has been made by the UC system regarding the termination of the SAT I.
“They (colleges) need some standard measure since schools are not equal,” said Zimring.
The controversial talk to eliminate standardized testing in the UC system is still on going, but for now they still require applicants to submit at least a score from SAT I or ACT. Taking the SAT II is optional beginning with applicants for the fall term of 2012, yet some students might find it advantageous to take the SAT II. For now, future high school seniors can check off one duty off their college-bound list.
“I am ecstatic that I don’t have to take it. I’m glad it’s optional because it means students can choose to take the SAT II or not,” said sophomore Karina De Paz.