A Student-Friendly SAT®? College Board Modernizes Its High-Stakes Test
On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, College Board broke exciting news when they announced that the SAT® Suite of Assessments would not only soon be delivered digitally, but that the digital SAT® would be considerably shorter and section-adaptive. These forthcoming changes are much-needed to reflect the change in times (i.e., the test-optional era) and to become more student-friendly. Let’s unpack this story, so you can see just what all the buzz is about!
Digital Format
According to College Board, the digital format of the SAT® will launch in the US in 2024 (and internationally in 2023), which means that the class of 2025 will have the first chance to sit for the new digital SAT®. However, test takers in the US will have their first opportunity to check out the new digital format with the PSAT-NMSQT® and PSAT 8/9® as soon as October 2023, followed by the PSAT10® in 2024. This bodes well for current 9th graders who can start to better prepare for digital testing now in time for graduation and college admissions.
Additionally, the new digital SAT® will be section-adaptive. This means that each subject will be broken into two sections: the student will perform the first section, as usual, then an algorithm will select an apt level of difficulty for the second section. This section-adaptive test allows students to have a more bespoke experience, which should theoretically translate to a more precise score. A considerable win-win if the results match the expectations!
Speaking of wins, another major change to the digital SAT® is the test’s duration. The new digital version will shorten the length of the SAT® from 3 hours to just 2 hours! And, as if that isn’t enough, the changes made to the sections will allow students more time per question!
(Insert wide-eyed, gobsmacked emoji here).
Content
Which brings us to content and section changes. Students will find two major changes on the new digital version in the reading and math sections.
SAT® Reading
The digital SAT® has axed its long reading passages - literally halving them - so that there will be shorter reading passages with just one question per passage.
In addition to trimming the fat, College Board promises reading passages that are more academically relevant, stating: “...passages will reflect a wider range of topics that represent the works students read in college.”
SAT® Math
College Board has finally (finally!) thrown out the No Calculator math section; making every single math question calculator- (and student-) friendly! A huge win for students who struggle with this section!
In College Board’s press release, Vice President of College Readiness Assessments at College Board Priscilla Rodriguez weighed in on the changes, stating:
“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant. We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform - we’re taking full advantage of what delivering an assessment digitally makes possible. With input from educators and students, we are adapting to ensure we continue to meet their evolving needs.”
(Slow clap for Priscilla Rodriguez).
Accessibility
Going digital enables the SAT® to be more accessible than ever before. Students will be permitted to choose to either take the exam using their own computers, laptops, or tablets or use a device provided by the testing center or school. Schools that administer the exam will, of course, use their own discretion in what devices are deemed appropriate for taking the SAT®; however, digital testing will allow schools and testing centers more flexible test dates, times, and locations. The days of having to order, ship, and store paper tests, booklets, and materials will soon be gone.
I’m sure that many of you (as was I) are questioning the inequity of going digital for students and school districts that cannot access technology as easily (or not at all). To soothe this concern, College Board promises: “If students don’t have a device to use, College Board will provide one for use on test day.” Additionally, “If a student loses connectivity or power, the digital SAT has been designed to ensure they won’t lose their work or time while they reconnect.”
(I just got the warm fuzzies, how about you?)
Scoring
The scoring scale for the SAT® remains unchanged. All exams will continue to be scored using the 1600 scale. In this regard, the new digital SAT® will be able to be compared to the paper version. Keeping the same scale also means that the digital SAT® will continue to be comparable to the ACT® as well.
However, the challenge will be how the proposed adaptive scoring approach will impact how scores are tabulated and weighted. Consider the following scenarios:
Student A does well on the first section of the math test. The testing software will instantly assess this performance and adjust the second section accordingly. As a result, Student A will face questions that are more difficult than they worked through in the first section. This increased difficulty will increase the odds of more incorrect responses.
Student B does poorly on the first section of the math test. The section-adaptive model will likely decrease the difficulty of the remainder of the math test. This adjustment will increase the odds that Student B is able to get more questions correct during the second half of the test.
A score that simply counts the number of correct answers out of the total number of questions is out. As such, weighting of questions based upon difficulty is a critical component of an adaptive test.
While this new model allows the SAT® to get a more granular look at student strengths and weaknesses, there will need to be work done to ensure that the scoring formulas remain consistent and provide the same (if not higher) level of actionable and comparable data as a non-adaptive test would.
Thankfully, College Board’s own Graduate Record Examination (GRE®) has been a fully-digital, section-adaptive test since 2011. The experience gained from that high-stakes testing should translate well to this latest iteration of the SAT®.
One of the most definitively positive changes in scoring is the significantly faster turnaround time for score reports: students and educators will be able to receive scores within a matter of days, rather than weeks. (High five!)
Added bonus: the new SAT® Suite score reports will be more reflective of the variety of directions that students go in following high school; therefore, students’ score reports will include linked information and relevant resources to community colleges and two-year college programs as well as career and workforce training programs.
Accommodations
While students and educators alike are high-fiving over the upcoming digital SAT®, it is necessary to note here that students with learning differences may not be so quick to celebrate. College Board has not yet made any comments to clarify whether or not the new digital version can be modified or if there will continue to be an option for taking the paper version as a special accommodation.
There is bound to be plenty of discussion to come about what the future of SAT® accommodations will look like. They will exist for sure, we just don’t know what they will look like yet. Our advice is to check in with College Board for any and all questions regarding accommodations on College Board exams.
Test Prep
We’ve previously discussed how to customize your test prep to ready your clients for computer-based testing. If you have not already begun to do so, now is prime time to start teaching and practicing the skills that your students will need to succeed on a digital exam.
Now - more than ever before - students, parents, and educators will be seeking out high-quality test prep with their focus on the imminent digital future of standardized testing.
That’s where we come in. Clear Choice Prep’s 100% custom, white-label test prep software, curriculum, and materials can take you and your test-prep business to the next level! Our software allows for students to engage with SAT® content in authentic digital contexts while also allowing you the ability to create and facilitate your own adaptive and personalized test-prep programs.
For more information, contact us for a quick chat or schedule a free demo.