Changes to the SAT and what they mean to you and your student

As you may have heard, the SAT is set to undergo a significant revision in the near future. For students taking the test in spring of 2016 (as well as the PSAT in fall of 2015), there will be changes to the test’s scoring, format, and questions. Most notably, the test will return to a 400-1600 scale, there will be no penalty for wrong answers, and the essay will be optional. Overall, this updated SAT reflects an emphasis on problem-solving instead of rote memorization, as well as a closer alignment to the type of material and instruction seen in high school courses. Any changes to the SAT that allow students to truly demonstrate their knowledge (and has the benefit of reducing stress on parents and students alike) will be met with our approval. We are excited that the College Board is making these revisions, and are optimistic that these changes will indeed improve the test.

So far, information on the new SAT has been broad. We expect to receive more specific details on April 16, when the College Board will provide a blueprint for the new test and also release sample questions. In the meantime, here are the primary changes announced by the College Board. You may also view the details at https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign.

Scoring and Format

  • The test will revert to the 1600-point standard, primarily comprised of a Math and a newly-combined Reading/Writing section.
  • The SAT will eliminate the ΒΌ-point penalty for wrong answers.
  • The essay will now be optional.
  • The primary test will be about 3 hours; the essay will be 50 minutes.
  • The test will be offered in print and digital forms.

Math

  • Some Math sections will prohibit the use of a calculator to better test students’ math literacy and number sense.
  • More math questions will be based on real-world scenarios, applying mathematical logic to situations in the sciences and social sciences.
  • More advanced math concepts will be introduced, likely including algebra II and trigonometry (although these topics have yet to be confirmed).

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

  • Critical Reading and Writing sections will be combined into one score.
  • Sentence Completion questions will be eliminated, as the test will focus on more “real-world” vocabulary, rather than typical, unfamiliar, “SAT words.” Students will be asked to decode the meaning of these words based on the context in which they are presented.
  • Some Reading questions will ask students to cite the passage in support of previous answers.
  • One passage in every new SAT will be what the College Board describes as a “Founding Document” (such as the Declaration of Independence) or related, important historical texts (such as Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address or Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech).

The Essay

  • The essay will no longer be free-response only. Rather, students will be required to analyze a given text in terms of the passage’s use of evidence, reasoning, and stylistic elements. Students will be expected to refer to the passage to support their claims.
  • The essay score will not factor into students’ Reading/Writing scores. Instead, schools will see it as a separate score.

 

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