(Austin) — There had been a move, by colleges and universities, to stop using SAT and ACT scores for admission requirements, but a major university in Texas is now bucking that trend. The University of Texas at Austin will once again require standardized testing scores for incoming freshmen. That decision comes four years after it abandoned the requirement.
But experts, like Harry Feder, of Fair Test, say this makes the flagship campus a bit of an out-lier, nationwide.
“Over 80-percent, of all degree conferring instutions in the United States, are either test-optional or test-free,” said Feder.
Feder says it appears that UT will be using standardized tests to make sure students are placed in majors that are the best fit.
“Now it seems that what UT is saying, is that we want to see the SAT scores so we can sort of better steer kids to different majors,” said Feder.
But Feder still says UT’s decision is an interesting move, because he claims that the vast majority of all colleges and universities have ditched standardized tests for a reason.
“I don’t think a standardized test is a good indicator of the capabilities of any candidate for an admission,” said Feder.
Last year, UT-Austin saw an all-time high number of applicants. However, there was also a dip in academic performance. In a statement, the university states that the standardize tests are a good indicator of success.