The New SAT is here! Check out the sample test linked below, and be sure to let me know when you’re ready to start preparing for your very best test score.
In March 2014, the College Board announced that the SAT will be undergoing some significant changes in 2016. I will keep this page up-to-date with information on the new SAT format as it becomes available. The official College Board information on the change can be found here.
I’ve had a chance to take a look at the new SAT, and you can take a look at a sample test from the College Board right here. I will update again when more information is released.
My prior thoughts from the spring of 2014 (below) still hold true now that I’ve seen the test. The test difficulty is about the same; the format has changed in some of these notable ways:
- The overall test format (number and length of sections) is now similar to that of the ACT.
- The Writing and Language (English, grammar, writing, call it as you will) section is now nearly identical to the ACT English section.
- The Reading section asks the same types of questions about the same types of passages, though some of the phrasing is new.
- The Reading section now includes diagrams, charts, and tables that are reminiscent of the ACT science section.
- The Math sections now include all formulas that you will need, but there is a no-calculator section (as well as a calculator-allowed section). The Math questions are nearly identical to those of the old SAT.
The test overall has been changed to be more “friendly” or “updated” (note the passage about Greek yogurt in the linked sample test!), but I am not sure that those changes will have any bearing on students’ scores.
My old thoughts from 2014:
So far, the “new” SAT seems to be a marketing campaign to make the SAT seem more accessible and relevant. My commentary below explains this in detail. If you have any questions about the new SAT, please email me.
Here are 9 things that have been said to be changing in the new format (source) and my opinion of what the test maker means (based on my experience with the last SAT revision).
1. Students must use evidence in their answers
Does this mean multiple choice is going away, at least in part? I’m not sure. But I do know that students have always had to find evidence for their answers before bubbling in the correct answer, so this one strikes me as pure marketing.
2. Vocabulary will be more practical
This is also marketing. The vocabulary level will probably be lowered (again), but it has been altered previously with no great effect. Students will still have to be able to handle unfamiliar words, and the same methods (reading classic literature, breaking words down into roots) will help them prepare.
3. Math section will cover fewer topics
There are definitely a lot of topics on the current math section (algebra, including word problems, functions, and linear equations, geometry, probability, sequences, arithmetic, logic…). My guess here is that they are taking out what the students perceive to be “trick” questions – the ones that make the test more of a reasoning test than a math test. I’m of mixed feelings on this one, because I think that the reasoning questions are all that made the SAT worthwhile.
4. Calculators will be banned from portions of the math section
Those mental math drills will pay off!
5. Widely-read founding documents and speeches will be included
The texts will be more familiar to students, at least theoretically. I am not sure if this will offer any real benefit to test takers, but it sounds good in marketing.
6. Students will not be penalized for incorrect answers
Here, the SAT is taking a page from the ACT’s playbook in order to help shed its elitist image. Students will no longer need a skipping strategy, but this is likely to have no impact on students’ test scores.
7. Students can choose whether or not to write an essay
Another page from the ACT. Unfortunately, it won’t be the student who decides but his prospective schools – sorry kids, you still are going to have to write the essay.
8. Smaller scores
The change to 2400 had no impact on scoring ability, and I am confident that the change back to 1600 will function similarly.
9. Digital SATs will be available
This is the only significant change I’ve noted so far. Students will be able to take the test on a computer. I believe that the current research on the impact of digital testing is outdated, but the overall impact is likely to be neutral.