The NEW Digital SAT
ROLLS OUT SPRING 2024
The SAT is going digital! Starting in March 2024, the new digital exam will replace the current version. This means that high school juniors - and others wishing to take their final SAT for a score this spring and beyond - will need to prepare exclusively for the new exam. This is a substantial shift: there are changes to test format, length, question type, scoring, and more.
The Basics:
Interface: The SAT will be administered digitally at school or at a testing center. Students will use their own laptops or tablets or those provided by the testing site.
Timing: The test will be shortened to 2 hours and 14 minutes, down from about 3 hours in the current version.
Test Format: The test will now contain only 2 sections - Verbal and Math - with 2 modules each. The 2nd module will "adapt" its level of difficulty based on performance in the 1st module.
Scoring: While scores will still appear on the normal scale of 200-800, the adaptive nature of the test will change the way points are accrued. It will reward more points to difficult questions and fewer to basic questions.
Some of the most noteworthy changes:
The entire Math section will allow a calculator: you may bring your own test-approved calculator or use a built-in digital graphing calculator.
There is no separate Writing and Language section: instead, there is one big Verbal section that includes reading comprehension, grammar, and expression. There is a much narrower range of writing question "types".
No long reading passages! Every question on the digital exam is "distinct", meaning that it belongs to its unique passage. So, each reading is approximately a paragraph or two.
Difficult questions count more: unlike the current exam, where every question is weighted the same, the digital exam will reward you more for getting hard questions right and less for basic questions. This is further reinforced by the "adaptive" nature of the test: the 2nd, harder module of each section will reward you more points for getting fewer questions than will its easier counterpart. This makes it even more important to have some advanced skills in order to access those points.
Quicker score release: scores will be available within days instead of weeks.
When is this happening?
The Digital SAT will replace the pencil-and-paper SAT in March 2024. To prepare juniors for what to expect, Fall 2023's PSAT will be digital as well.
Once the digital exam rolls out, students will no longer be able to take it on paper unless they are approved for certain accommodations. The Digital SAT has already rolled out for some international students.
How do I prepare?
Check out the changes in full.
College Board's Digital SAT Home:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital
An excellent article detailing all the changes:
Download the Bluebook App and practice.
This is the app that the College Board will use to administer the test. It offers sample test questions and 4 complete practice tests you can either take in full or just explore for practice. Your results will be linked to Khan Academy for further study.
Schedule a session or consultation!
This is a lot of new information to take in. Set up a consultation with me to get an overview, discuss personal questions and concerns, and receive guidance on prep.