The New Digital SAT is (Almost) Here
March has come and gone, which means the first batch of International Students have already taken the new digital SAT. If you’ve followed our previous posts, you knew that this was coming. It won’t be long before US students take the test as well.
It is interesting that they have chosen to use international students as guinea pigs for this new test. Though, let’s be fair, U.S. students who take the test over the next couple of years will also be guinea pigs for this experiment. How will it go? The College Board doesn’t have the best record when it comes to online testing. So it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Let’s go over what we know:
When will the new tests begin?
The new SAT will be administered to U.S. students starting in March 2024.
Why is the SAT changing to an online platform?
The main reason for the change is to make the exam easier to administer and to take. Theoretically, the test will be more accessible to more students. The exam will be shorter, the questions will be more concise, and students will have access to a variety of digital tools to use during the exam.
The other reason, or so it is argued, is that the College Board is trying to make the exam more in line with the students’ current learning experience. It is true that students today use several digital tools and platforms as part of their education. By moving the exam to a digital platform and by making the exam more concise, the hope is that students will be better prepared for college and perhaps even for their future careers.
What are the key changes to the SAT?
The exam will now be administered on either a laptop or tablet through an application called Bluebook. The exam will be administered at either a school or testing center. For students who don’t have access to a laptop or tablet, the school or College Board will have digital devices available for loan.
The new exam is shorter: 2 hours and 15 minutes compared to the 3 hour paper exam.
The exam will be broken into two modules: Module 1 and Module 2. Each module will have both a verbal and math section. Students must complete Module 1 before moving on to Module 2. The student’s performance in Module 1 will determine the questions asked in Module 2. So each test will be individual to the taker.
Students will have access to a digital countdown clock and graphing calculator through the platform. Students will also now be able to use the calculator on the entire Math section of the exam.
Results of the exam will be available within days rather than weeks.
Are there any downsides to the new SAT?
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. 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.
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