Recently, College Board, the makers of the SAT, announced a substantial change to the test. Anyone who has taken it before remembers the stressful, hours-long effort that taking the SAT was. Soon though, the experience will be quite different. Let’s take a look at the purpose of the changes, what they are and when they’ll take place.
Why Are Changes Being Made to the SAT?
The SAT previously drew criticism that the exams have a racial and wealth bias skewing university admissions and perhaps even social-upward-mobility as a result. More recently, universities have begun not to require the SAT, a trend that’s accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A survey from this past December by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing found that nearly 80 percent of four-year institutions said entrance exams were not required for fall 2022. Harvard, itself, announced it will be completely test-optional through 2026, telling candidates who opt out of taking the SAT or its competitor, the ACT, that they will not face any type of disadvantage in the application process.
Because so many schools are choosing to go SAT optional due to the pandemic, there’s been a substantial decline in SAT test-takers; about 1.5 million members of the class of 2021 took the SAT at least once, down from 2.2 million in 2020.
What College Board Says
The College Board, however, doesn’t take this to mean that the test is obsolete or should fall by the wayside. The organization argues the SAT is an “objective measure” of a student’s college readiness. Its leaders further argue that students will continue to take the test, even if it’s optional as to have the choice to submit their scores should they do well.
The board said it began experimenting with digital SAT exams in the United States and internationally in November. Roughly 80 percent of students said they would prefer an online exam because it is less stressful. Educators also said they had a positive experience with the tests being administered online.
“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant,” Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of College Readiness Assessments at the College Board, said in a news release.
Since the Test is Digital, Can Students Take it at Home?
The tests will be administered in a school or a test center with a proctor present. The College Board previously scrapped plans to offer an at-home digital test because of concern about students being able to access three hours of uninterrupted internet and power. Student broadband access has been a constant struggle throughout the pandemic, especially in rural and low-income areas.
What Changes are Taking Place?
The primary objective is to make the SAT shorter, administered completely online and report scores faster. This should result in a test that is easier to take, easier to administer and a better fit for today’s students.
Specific changes to the test include the following:
- Testing Time: The test will take just 2 hours. The current test takes 3 hours without the optional essay and 3 hours 50 minutes with it.
- Scoring: Students will receive scores much faster; days rather than weeks.
- Administration: Those taking the college entrance exam will be allowed to use their own laptops or tablets, but will still have to sit for the test at a monitored testing site or school when the changes go into effect, the College Board said.
- Reading: Shorter reading passages with 1 question per passage. Currently, there are longer passages with up to 10 questions each. The passages will also “reflect a wider range of topics that represent the works students read in college,” according to The College Board.
- Math: Students will be allowed to use calculators on the entire math section whereas they’re only allowed to use a calculator on 1 of the 2 math sections on the current test.
When is the Change Taking Place?
For U.S. students, the test will go online in 2024 affecting the class of 2025 first.
For international students, the test will go online in 2023.
Wrap Up
The SAT has faced criticism for years as a result of its alleged wealth and racial bias. With declining uptake, College Board has taken steps to address the criticism and make a test that they feel is better suited for today’s students and so far has been well-received. Although many universities are going test-optional, that doesn’t mean they’ll be “test-blind.” A high SAT score can give students an edge in the admissions process. For expert help on the SAT, contact us today for a free consultation.
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