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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE NEW SAT

The class of 2017 will be the first group of students to take the New SAT. The first administration is scheduled for the spring of 2016.

The New PSAT is scheduled to be offered for the first time in October 2015.

The New SAT, as announced by the College Board, includes the following changes*:

  • The New SAT will have 2 "sections" called "Evidence-Based Reading and Writing" and "Math," with each section scored on the 200 - 800 scale (for a composite score of 1600). There will also be an "optional" Essay (scored independently of the other two sections)...
    • The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is a combination of the current Critical Reading and Writing portions of the SAT. The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is split into two components called the "Reading Test" and another part called the "Writing and Language Test."
    • The New "Reading Test" will not contain the vocabulary-based sentence completion questions. It will be made up of only reading comprehension questions, (students will still be asked about vocabulary but based only on the context of the passage). Some questions will ask you to support your chosen answer to a previous question and others might ask you to analyze a provided graphic in the context of the passage. The test will still include one paired-passage asking students to determine similarities and differences between two passages related to the same topic. The total time length for the Reading Test is 65 minutes.
    • The New "Writing and Language Test" will not have grammar based questions coming from distinct, short sentences but will instead ask questions about grammar, sentence structure, logic, style, and punctuation based within longer passages (each roughly 400-450 words in length). In addition, some questions will ask students to analyze a provided graphic in the context of the passage. The total time length for the Writing and Language Test is 35 minutes.
    • The New "Math Test" will have one section on which calculator use will not be allowed. On the other math section, students will still be allowed to use their calculators. The test will still include "Grid-in" questions on which multiple-choice answers are not provided, thus requiring students to bubble-in their numerical answers. The focus of math questions will be on problem-solving and data analysis, more in-depth algebra, and real-world problem solving. Again, as in the other sections of the test, some questions will ask students to work with a provided graphic. In addition, students will be faced with higher level math, such as trigonometry, not seen on the current math sections of the SAT. The total time length for the Math Test is 80 minutes.
    • The New Optional "Essay" will be at the end of the test and will be optional based upon the colleges to which you are applying. The Essay will not be based on a short, broad question, as is the current essay. The new Essay will require students to read a long passage and then, in their essays, analyze how the author built his/her argument. The new Essay will test how students read, analyze, and then write an essay. The Essay is set to have a 50-minute time limit.

 

  • Other points to note about the New SAT...
    • The The total amount of time required for the test (excluding breaks) will be 3 hours (or 3 hours and 50 minutes with the "optional" Essay).
    • No penalty for wrong answers.
    • All multiple-choice questions will have 4 answer choices (as opposed to the current 5).
    • The New SAT will have the standard paper and pencil format as well as a computer based format (at certain locations).
    • The New SAT will also provide students with numerous "sub-scores" and "cross-test" scores.

* Please note that the College Board has stated that the New SAT test design and specifications are still under extensive research and testing, and as such, are subject to change.

 

Why did The College Board decide to change the SAT Test?
According to The College Board, the changes to the SAT were designed to align the test more closely with the high school curriculum and the skills required for success in college today. Don’t worry - despite many of the changes, the SAT will remain very coachable, and we are already developing new materials and strategies to address any and all of the test changes.

 

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO PREP FOR THE SAT, VISIT OUR "SAT PROGRAMS" PAGE!