Digital SATs are around the corner. College Board is moving ahead against the backdrop of the Test Optional movement.
I turned to College Counselor, Shveta Bagade to tell us more.
What is Digital SAT?
An App. Students will install on their electronic device.
It creates a “firewall” between the SAT test and the and the rest of your device.
It's supposed to be really secure.
Format. The Test will be 2 hours and 14 minutes. 2 verbal sections 2 math sections. Shorter than the paper version.
One of the big changes that verbal section is that where as the current SAT has is a long passage with lots of questions for that one passage, the Digital model will have a very short passage with one question.
One of the reasons for this is apparently due to social media. Today’s young adults are used to reading parts of an article and making an assessment about that article, versus reading a longer multi-page page article.
Adaptive. In the first section, you’ll be evaluated how you do.
How you do, determines which stage you go to next!
So, every student's test will be unique to them.
Still 1600. The 1600 scale scoring is going to stay.
If a student takes a paper SAT (the last time will be December 2023), and then they decide to take it again, to improve their score, say, they take a digital version,
The scale is going to remain the same,
The colleges are on board with this.
Practice Tests.
Khan Academy, a big supporter of College Board, expects to start offering their Practice Tests in the Fall of 2023. An awesome free resource!
Exceptions
They will still have paper tests, for example for students who are blind. So, they will make accommodations on the electronic version, if applicable.
What’s About ACT ?
ACT is sticking with Paper for Now. As of right now, at least for the next couple of years, they have no plans to go digital.
Key Dates
International Students take the Digital SAT starting Spring 2023.
For students in the US, Spring 2024.
Current sophomores, if your high school offers PSAT, you will be taking the very first digital PSAT in the Fall of 2023.
So Sophomores, Get Ready!
All the Best.
Listen to the Podcast on College News Digest with Shveta Bagade. (22-Minute Listen).
Have a Great Week.
Venkat