Goodbye, penciled-in bubbles. Hello, digital SAT.
By now you’ve probably heard that the SAT – the standardized test that has been a staple of college admissions for decades – is going digital. The test will only be offered in a fully digital format starting in the spring of 2024, and the PSAT – the practice version of the SAT taken by most students junior year – will be administered digitally starting this fall.
So what’s changing?
The digital SAT will be shorter than the current version in duration, clocking in at just two hours instead of the previous three-hour length. Testing will still take place at a test center or at a school, but students will be able to choose between using their own devices — a tablet or a laptop — or a provided device.
Other changes include the allowance of calculators for the math section, the use of text-to-speech and other accommodations for students who have difficulty reading or writing, and shorter reading passages that reflect a wider range of topics. The test will also be adaptive, with the difficulty of the questions they’re presented adjusting based on how well they’re doing. The new SAT is also designed to autosave, so students won’t lose work or time if there are connection or technical issues.
Another big change is one that is one that has students buzzing: the change in scoring. In the past, the SAT was scored on a scale of 400 to 1600. The digital SAT, however, will be scored on a scale of 100 to 500, which the Board believes will make the scoring system more transparent and easier to understand.
Why the change to all-digital?
The College Board says that the move to a digital SAT is necessary to keep up with the times. as more students are using computers in their everyday lives. The digital format will also make it easier to administer the test, as there will be no need to print, ship, and distribute paper booklets or scan answer sheets.
The Board also believes this change will make the test more accessible and convenient for students, and more fair and relevant to the skills that students need in college and beyond. The shorter test time will make it easier for students to focus and avoid fatigue, and the use of calculators will allow students to show their full mathematical ability. The shorter reading passages and wider range of topics will better reflect the types of texts that students are likely to encounter in college.
The move to a digital SAT is just one of many changes taking place in the world of standardized testing. In recent years, there has been growing criticism of standardized tests, with some people arguing that they are unfair and do not accurately measure student achievement. Without a doubt, the long-term future of standardized testing is uncertain. But the move to a digital SAT is a sign that the College Board is adapting to a changing world, and working to making their testing more fair and relevant. And there are already measurable results that show the shift has had a positive impact on students. The shorter test length, the flexibility of taking the test on a computer or tablet, and the changes to the scoring system should make the SAT more relevant, accessible, and fair.