The New Digital SAT Debuts In March 2023
Put away the pencils and paper of years past, the new digital SAT is on its way! Earlier this year, Ivy Link reported on some of the top-line changes that are now just around the corner. The test will be completely digital, and it will be shorter: 2 hours instead of 3.5 hours. New information is trickling out, which we cover below.
When will the new tests begin?
International students will be the first to take the new test starting in March 2023
Students residing in U.S. will take the new test starting in March 2024, with a compatible PSAT available in October of 2023
How will the new test be scored?
Here’s the truly unfortunate news: the new SAT will be adaptable. This means that just a few errors in the beginning of the test can affect an overall score. The first sections of Reading/Writing and Math will be easier. However, if students gets certain answers wrong in the first section, they will be fed easier questions in the second section. These easier questions are worth fewer points. Therefore, if they miss a few questions in the earlier sections, they will hit a ceiling and their overall score will be lower.
How can students prepare for the new SAT?
Current study materials in all subjects other than Reading are still helpful. Sources have noted that the new test will focus more on geometry and trigonometry for the Math section, so keep that in mind. As for the writing multiple-choice questions, grammar, usage, and punctuation are still key. In short, students need to have a good grasp of these basic concepts. The biggest question mark at this point is regarding the Reading section. To date, there is no concrete information on what this section will look like. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
How does this affect my student right now?
In the short term, this new testing is going to affect International 11th graders (or equivalent academic year) who will be taking the new test in March 2023. Since students in the U.S. will still be taking the old test for this coming year, college admissions officers will be tasked with comparing different scores from different tests and determining how to make sense of all these scores.
Who does this new test benefit?
Quite frankly, the new test benefits the College Board, the creators of the test, more than it benefits the students. The new test will be easier to administer and score due to its digital component. However, digital tests, especially new ones, are clumsy and still full of glitches. Parents who had high school students in 2020 will recall the AP Exam disaster. For the next couple of years, the students taking this new SAT will be the guinea pigs. We aren’t saying that your student shouldn’t take the test, but your student should also consider taking the ACT as an alternative. At the very least, they should take an ACT diagnostic test and see if the test is a good fit for them.
That’s all we have for now, but keep checking back for more details. In the meantime, schedule a diagnostic ACT or SAT with Ivy Link, or contact us below to learn more about our test preparation services.
