SAT has upgraded its format every few years, but sources claim that this is the biggest SAT upgrade yet. Here is what is changing in the new SAT format and other information about SAT Digital!
SAT is going Digital. Filling in bubbles during exams is getting quite old, so authorities have decided to make the SAT completely digital. The digital test is meant to increase testing security and convenience for test takers and comes as a major update. Students can take the test on a personal laptop or tablet or the one issued by the school. The students need to download a digital testing app before the test day. This testing app should save the students' progress even if their computer crashes or they lose their internet connection. From 2023 spring, international students will be able to take the SAT online under the provision of the assigned proctors at schools or testing centres. The timeline for the SAT format is as follows:
The SAT Exam will be held for two hours instead of three. Instead of four, there will now be only two sections - a reading and writing section and a Math section. The reading section will have shorter passages, and students must answer one question per the SAT reading passage. The math questions will also be ‘less wordy’. These changes ensure that students stay informed and develop their opinions instead of being passive recipients of facts. Test-takers will also have more time to attempt the questions.
The SAT scores will be released days after the exam instead of weeks. Hence, candidates won't have to wait weeks or months to obtain the SAT exam result report, allowing them to apply for colleges more quickly.
SAT 2022 had sections for both calculator and non-calculator maths. However, the new SAT format 2023 allows students to use calculators for the entire math section. A graphic calculator will be built into the digital testing app for students who do not have their own calculator. This eliminates the barrier for students and schools with fewer resources. SAT also plans to introduce a set of tools through the digital version of the testing app, including a timer, a reference sheet, and a flagging tool to mark the pending questions for review.
Due to the SAT digital format, the College Board can deliver a different test for every student to eliminate cheating and issues related to test security. Every section will start with an introductory module. The student’s performance on the first set of questions will then determine the level of all the subsequent questions they see. This adaptive nature of the test helps students connect to various career options, courses, and training programs. The schools, states, and districts will have more flexibility in scheduling tests. Currently, there are strict protocols on how and when the SAT exam will be delivered to maintain the integrity of the test.
The aspects or factors that have not changed from the existing SAT format are as follows:
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