The College Board is considering major modifications to the SAT I to put greater emphasis on academic achievement and reflect more of what is learned in the classroom -- a move that is, at least in part, a response to suggestions from the University of California and some other colleges and universities.

In March, UC's faculty advisory panel recommended a set of principles and recommendations to guide admissions testing for future applicants to the University of California. Since then, members of the Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS) have held discussions with officials at the College Board/Educational Testing Service and ACT to discuss possible options.

College Board President Gaston Caperton said the revised SAT I would likely require students to provide a handwritten short essay and multiple-choice writing questions. The proposed revisions would also include cutting or dropping the verbal analogies section and toughening the math questions to reflect more of what is learned in second-year algebra or trigonometry. Currently, the exam's math problems cover arithmetic, first-year algebra and geometry.

"We are tremendously pleased with the direction the College Board has established for a revised test based more on student achievement," said Dennis Galligani, associate vice president for student academic services. "We look forward to continuing to work with them as they continue to flesh it out."

Caperton said that he would meet with university presidents and advisory groups around the country during the next three months to discuss the proposed revisions. The College Board trustees are expected to vote on a final version of the plan in June, with any changes taking effect for the high school class of 2006.

UC's faculty committee also recommended that any change in its existing examination requirement take place no earlier than for the class entering in fall 2006 to allow time for a new test to be developed and approved by the various Academic Senate agencies, and to avoid any unfairness to students who were prepared to be judged on existing admissions tests. The UC Regents are expected to vote on the faculty's testing proposal in July.

A revised SAT I that meets UC's requirements could eliminate the need for a new California test since "transportability" -- the ability to measure in-state and out-of-state students by the same standard -- was such a critical issue.

If the UC faculty proposal is approved in July, ACT has indicated that it would be willing to add a writing test to its exam.

In the meantime, counselors should continue to advise students to follow UC's current admissions test requirements by taking either the SAT I or the ACT exams in addition to three SAT II subject tests.

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