Digital SAT Info

As the COVID-19 Pandemic has shown schools and jobs alike, much of the work we do day-to-day in-person can be easily translated into digital means. This same ideology is now being applied to the SAT: by spring 2024, this standardized test will be 100% digital. What does this mean for high school students? Let’s take a look.

Testing Day

On the day of the test, students will come to their designated test center/school with their device. These devices include Mac or Windows laptops, iPads, tablets, or Chromebooks. If you do not have one prepared, one will be given to you to borrow. Additionally, make sure your device is fully charged and bring your charger, just in case. Most devices will have enough charge (if completely charged) to get through the test, but it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Next, your device should also have the digital testing app downloaded and installed, prior to arriving at the testing center. If not, you will need to do it as soon as reaching the center, as the administrators know which students do not yet have access to the app. Once you begin entering the test code on the app and starting the exam, your device will lock and you will only be able to access the testing screen. In order to aid in the process, technology coordinators will be in every exam room to ensure that everything runs smoothly. 

Additionally, you will be able to use scrap paper during the test, even though the test itself is digital. So, don’t worry if you can’t mentally solve some math problems! Scrap paper will be provided to each and every student. 

SAT Format & Content

Format-wise, the SAT will be implementing one major change. The biggest change when it comes to turning digital is adaptive testing. As a result of the SAT becoming virtual, the time allotted has been reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours. In order to implement this, the SAT will be using adaptive testing — meaning that based on the student’s performance in the first module of a section, the second module will be tailored to the appropriate difficulty level. So, if you were to ace the first module of the Math section, the second module will be a higher difficulty level in order to gauge your knowledge more efficiently. 

As for content, the majority of it will be the same. A rumored change will be a wider variety of reading passages, which may include some poetry or prose. In addition, a higher standard of vocabulary may be expected, as it is an easy way to differentiate students’ comprehension levels via adaptive testing. 

What’s the same?

Although the SAT is transferring from paper to screen, there are still many elements that Collegeboard ensures will remain the same. This includes the scoring scale of 1600, taking the actual test in a test center/school, free practice and resources online to study, and accommodating everyone’s needs on test day. If you do not have a device to take the test on, one will be provided for you at your testing location, making the SAT accessible. 

How can you prepare?

If you want to ensure a high score on the SAT, Collegeboard provides many resources to help you study. Still, if the SAT is merely just one factor in your plan to go to a great university, PathIvy can help you fill in the rest of the details. Reach out to us today to gain access to the best college preparation strategies available today!

Written by Victoria Harris, PathIvy Team