Digital SAT Guide

The College Board stated on January 25, 2022, that the SAT would be entirely digital starting in the spring of 2023. The SAT will switch from using paper to only using computers. Let's examine the benefits that the modern Digital SAT Exam will offer.

The digital SAT is yet another step in that direction as more institutions and students make the transition to digital teaching and development. Except for students in the USA, who will be able to take the new computer-based SAT starting in the spring of 2024, international students will be able to do so starting in the spring of 2023.

Exploring the Digital SAT

The College Board ran a trial run of the digitized SAT in November 2021. According to the findings, 80% of the students found the computer-based SAT to be less stressful. The exam's digital format received excellent feedback from all of the educators, implying it is simple to administer.

What changes as SAT transitions to digital?

While the majority of the test will remain the very same, the redesigned digital SAT will include several extremely important changes that will affect how students study for and take the test. Several of the most major modifications to the digital SAT are listed below:

• SAT Time and Duration

The College Board has changed the length of the new digital SAT from three hours to just two hours, shaving off a full hour. Test weariness is a genuine issue, thus the individuals who found it difficult to concentrate for three hours would appreciate the time reduction.

• Shorter SAT sections

Section lengths will be reduced along with the overall test period. The revised SAT will have shorter reading portions and more direct questions. The topics for the passages will also be based on what students are most likely to be reading in their college courses.

• Calculators on the SAT

At the moment, there are two categories for SAT math: arithmetic with a calculator and arithmetic without a calculator. For every math question on the new digital SAT, a calculator is permitted. Students will have access to a calculator on the computer screen. On the day of the SAT exam, they no more have to bother about bringing the proper calculator.

• Computerized SAT

The computer-adaptive nature of the digital SAT means that the complexity of the questions in the other sections will depend on how well you perform on the first portion. The problems in the second half will be more challenging if you score well in the first section.

• Announcement of SAT Results

The result for the actual paper test version is revealed within 2 and 6 weeks after the test. About 10 days after you receive your free score, it is sent to the universities you have chosen. With the modern electronic SAT, the results will be available in days as opposed to weeks, cutting down on waiting time.

The digital SAT cannot be done from home; it must be taken in a testing facility. Your test data will be saved in case the internet connection at the testing location is lost, so you won't waste any time.

Students may bring their laptops or utilize the computers at the testing facility to take the exam (some centers may ask you to use their devices only). Students without access to either can borrow laptops or PCs from the College Board.

What features of the digital SAT don't change?

Despite the fact that the latest digital SAT has undergone many noteworthy improvements, some things remain the same, such as:

• How students prepare for the SAT
• The SAT's use in colleges
• How to evaluate students
• How tests are graded
• The SAT's subject matter

Read our article on Digital SAT for International Students to get a foundational understanding of the Digital SAT Guide. To get in touch with Masterclass Space contact us.

Benefits of the SAT going digital

Standardized examinations rank students according to their academic performance and social status. Beyond overall grades, profile, and extra - curricular activities, high test scores demonstrate your cognitive talents and college readiness.

The digital SAT has a unique set of benefits:

• Stress among pupils is reduced by shorter duration
• lengthens the period of time students have for each question
• Students can retake the SAT and still submit their college applications on time thanks to early result notifications.
• Students can mark questions to come back to later.
• It makes the SAT more readily available to more students.

How the SAT has evolved throughout time?

The SAT Exam has always undergone a change From 2016, the SAT no longer deducts points for incorrect responses. The SAT's overall score decreased from 2400 to 1600 that same year. In 2021, the College Board stopped offering the SAT Essays and SAT Subject tests.

The SAT has changed and adjusted to the times as they have changed. The exam's format, type of questions, and scoring methodology have all undergone changes. The SAT is transitioning to a more straightforward test format that benefits both students and test administrators.

The number of applicants for the digital edition of the SAT exam may exponentially increase in 2024 due to the exam's simplification and convenience of use. Because of this, you will have to study even harder to achieve a fantastic SAT score.

How to prepare for the digitized SAT and practice?

In the fall of 2022, College Board will make official study resources available, including full-length digital sample exams. There are a few things you may do to prepare as you await for the digital practice test items. Arithmetic, algebra, and geometry-related math subjects will still be tested on the digital SAT, so keep your skills up to date and exercise remembering formulas. The further you read, the sharper you read, so keep that in mind as you get ready for the verbal section. Consume a variety of periodicals whenever you can, preferably for at least 15 minutes every day, to improve your comprehension skills. Additionally, now is an excellent time to review grammar concepts like use and punctuation.

What happens if a student doesn't own a device?

If a student doesn't own a device, they can ask the College Board to lend them one, and they will provide them a device to use on exam day. This is true for both international and American students attempting the SAT over the holiday.

Any student who needs the gadget to take the digital AP Exam at home in 2020 or 2021 was given one. For the SAT, we'll put in place a similar strategy. Later this year, more details regarding the procedure for borrowing a device will be available.

If the majority of institutions don't require tests, would the SAT still matter?

The SAT remains to be a crucial component of a comprehensive admissions procedure. Test results can support a student's grades or reveal talents that go beyond what their high school grades may suggest when examined in the context of where they live and learn.

Millions of students took the SAT even after almost all colleges during the pandemic made it optional. With the graduating high school class of 2022, this pattern has persisted. The majority of students desire to take the SAT, evaluate their results, and then choose whether or not to submit their scores to universities. 83% of students who responded to a survey stated they would like the option to give their test results to institutions.

You can get further details on applying to institutions, Counseling for different courses as well as information on Digital SAT Guidelines on our website info@masterclassspace.com.