THE NEW DIGITAL SAT: A DETAILED REVIEW OF THE CHANGES IN THE SAT AND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE NEW, DIGITAL EXAM

 

 The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test developed to evaluate the written, verbal, and mathematical skills of candidates. It is administered by the College Board and is widely used by universities, particularly those in the US, to make admission decisions.

Previously, the SAT was a hand-written exam. However, the College Board has recently introduced a new digital version. The digital SAT is administered on a computer and aims to provide a more convenient and flexible testing experience to students. It also offers enhanced security and scoring accuracy. International test-takers will have the opportunity to take the first digital SAT on March 11th, 2023. 

There are a number of changes that have come with the new digital SAT, with adjustments being made to the timings, test format, content, and more. Below, we elaborate on these changes

The Test Format 

• The old SAT test consisted of four sections; reading, writing and two math sections. The digital SAT, however, has only 2 sections; the Reading and Writing Section, and the Math Section. Each section is designed as a two-stage adaptive test.

• Each stage in the Reading and Writing section has 2 pretest questions and 25 operational questions, bringing the total number of questions in this section to 54

• Each stage in the Math section has 2 pretest questions and 20 operational questions, adding up to 44 questions in total. 

• The questions are still multiple-choice with four answers to choose from, with the exception of the Student-Produced Responses (SPR) questions in the Math section. The SPR questions require the test-taker to write their own answer and may involve solving a problem, creating an equation, or completing a table or graph

• The digital SAT is an adaptive bisection test. This means that the difficulty of the subsequent question is informed by your performance in the previous one. Ultimately, each test-taker will have a different set of questions. This works to reduce chances of cheating, and therefore, instances of test cancellation in the future. 

Devices

• Unlike the old pencil-and-paper SAT, the digital version will be administered on a laptop or tablet, unless one requests special testing accommodations. 

• On test day, a candidate will either carry their personal computer or get one from the test center upon making a formal request beforehand. 

• The test will be done on the recently rolled-out Bluebook Application that is to be installed on your device before the test day.

Timings 

• The new SAT will run for slightly over 2 hours, an hour less than the old version. The total time allotted for the Reading and Writing section and the Math section is 64 minutes and 70 minutes respectively. 

• Since the test will be done on a computer, there will be a lot less time spent by facilitators before, during and after the test on housekeeping. 

• Test-takers will have the chance to space themselves as each will have their own timer displayed at the top of their screen on the Bluebook App. They will start when they are ready, which may be different times for each test-taker, and complete once their timer goes off. 

• It is speculated that test centers will also be able to run a number of tests in a day, as they have different groups of students come in at different times. This is attributed to the significant reduction in testing time as well as running the test on a computer. It will also help test centers accommodate a good number of students without personal devices as their computers can be used by another student once one finishes. 

Content

• Although the number of questions has been reduced by 56, the College Board has broadened the areas from which the questions are derived. The traditional areas were literature, science, and history. The new SAT will now have a wider range of topics set in college-level contexts and questions. 

• In the old SAT, the Reading section had five long passages with 9-12 questions after each. The Writing section had shorter texts, with questions alongside the excerpt. The digital SAT now combines the Reading and Writing section, having short passages with a question under each. 

• Test-takers are also allowed to use a calculator throughout the Math section, unlike in the previous one, where a calculator was only allowed in the last Math section.

Scoring

• The SAT will still be scored out of 1600: 800 points from each section.

• However, this being an adaptive bisection test, each question will be valued according to its level of difficulty. Hence, the more difficult questions you answer, the higher you will score. 

Bluebook

Bluebook is the application on which the digital SAT will be run. Once you log in, it automatically locks to fullscreen until you complete the test. On it are tools the student can make use of during the test including:

• A timer - The timer appears at the top of the screen while taking the test. In the case that the test-taker may find it distracting, they can opt to remove it. 

• A calculator - Bluebook has an in-built calculator that can be used for calculations as well as graphing. 

• A formula sheet - This contains different Mathematical formulas that used to be on the first page of each Math section. You are allowed to refer to it whenever you please.

• A bookmark - At the top of the screen is a bookmark you can use tag questions you would like to come back to in the section. 

From the College Board’s pilot program, both students and facilitators shared a lot of positive feedback. The new, digital SAT guarantees less test-day fatigue as the test is shorter. It is also a lot easier to administer, according to facilitators. It is cheaper for CollegeBoard to run the digital exam as opposed to the traditional pencil-and-paper version. Ultimately, with the prospects of having more test centers, the SAT exam will be more accessible to students all around the world.

At AFEX Test Prep, we have already begun our SAT classes. We are results-driven and offer comprehensive tutoring for our students to consistently emerge among the top 5% of test-takers worldwide. Join us today as you begin your college application journey!

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