Starting in spring 2024, the SAT – one of the most important exams for students who want to secure their place in their dream college – has become digital. This means no more pencils and paper answer sheets!
Yet, such changes often make students and their parents worry: What if we miss something? How do we prepare for the new test? Was the pencil version easier? No need to stress! We’ll give you all the answers and walk you through the new exam. Keep reading!
Digital SAT: The Main Changes
The first thing that many students want to know is whether the test content stays the same while only the format changes. To answer briefly: no. The College Board took the chance to introduce some major modifications. But let’s explore them in order.
The biggest change is the switch from paper to a digital format. You’ll take the SAT on a computer or tablet instead of filling out bubbles on a paper sheet. This means no more smudged pencils or accidentally marking the wrong answer. Plus, you don’t have to worry about papercuts!
What else? Here it goes:
- Bring your own device (if possible): The best way is to bring a laptop or tablet that meets the College Board’s requirements. If you can’t bring your own device, contact the College Board beforehand to see if they can provide one for you at the test center.
- Find your seat and log in: When you arrive at the test center, the supervisor will show you your seat according to your ticket of admission. There, you’ll connect to the test center’s Wi-Fi and enter a special code from the supervisor to start the test.
- Your own test pace: Since the digital SAT uses a special app to keep track of time, your test might not be exactly the same as others around you. Don’t worry; the app will make sure you get enough time for each section and break.
Adaptive Nature of the Test: Overview
One of the most important features of the new version of the SAT is that it is now adaptive. The main idea is simple: the new digital SAT will adjust to you based on your answers in the first module.
If you do well, the second module will be harder. If you think about it, it is logical – when you answer most of the questions correctly, you are likely capable of handling more complex questions as well. Therefore, the second module is designed to be more suited to your level.
The first part of each section is a mix of easy, medium, and hard questions covering different topics. Did you ace the first part? The second part might have trickier questions. Did you find it challenging? The second part will likely ease up a bit. This is what “adaptive” means, just like that.
Less Time, More Focus
The digital SAT is shorter. You’ll get 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete the test, compared to 3 hours on the paper version. This means a shorter test day overall, with fewer breaks, too. Less time sitting down means less odds of getting tired!
Good news: you don’t have to hurry. The digital SAT doesn’t have a set time for each question. The test keeps track of time for each section, so you can focus on answering each question carefully.
One of the reasons for the shorter duration is the use of smaller reading passages. Additionally, students will be allowed to use a calculator for the entire Math section, and there is a built-in calculator in the Bluebook app. Hopefully, this will help you feel more confident.
What Stays the Same?
You are right in thinking that some things had to stay the same. Though it was a revolutionary change, there were things that remained just as they were. So, what does the new digital SAT share with the paper and pencil test? Let’s take a look:
- Same knowledge, same skills: The digital SAT still tests the things colleges care about, like Reading, Writing, and Math.
- Same scoring system: Your score will still range from 400 to 1600, just like the old SAT.
- Same testing locations: You’ll still go to a school or a test center to take the test, with a supervisor watching over you. You won’t be able to take it from home yet.
- Free practice tests available: There are still free practice tests you can take online to get ready.
- Support for all students: If you need extra help during the test, you can still get those accommodations.
If you think about it, the College Board kept most of the technical and organizational aspects without changing, which is great.
How to Prepare for the Digital SAT?
SAT takers often wonder how this new format should affect their preparation. First of all, use the official digital SAT prep offered by the College Board. You can take full-length practice tests to check your results for both the Reading and Writing, as well as the Math section. That’s one of the best ways to prepare for the real test.
What else? Look for digital SAT unlimited practice tests and try to complete as many of them as possible. There are several online tools for that, so just make sure you choose the one that works for you. Besides, make sure to practice regularly before the test day. Don’t wait until the last minute to cram.
Remember that even though many universities have launched a test-optional strategy, the importance of the digital test is still paramount in the application process. Practice enough to show your skills when the time comes, and prepare specifically for the digital version. Why? As you already know, the paper and pencil test is different from the digital test. So, you can go in the wrong direction if you mix preparations.
Conclusion
After introducing the changes to the computer-based SAT, taking the test now will be a different experience in most respects. The College Board introduced many important new features in the Digital SAT. So, ensure you are familiar with all of them. Prepare well for the testing day, stay positive, and you will ace your way to any of the colleges you dream about. All the luck!
