New Digital SAT Exam: Facts, Benefits, and Preparation Tips | The Test Advantage

By Mr. Osama Ahmad March 9, 2023 10 min read

New Digital SAT Exam: What You Need to Know

The New Digital SAT in a Nutshell

The new digital SAT is a computer-based test that started in 2020. It's designed to be more personal and efficient than the old paper test. Some cool features include getting your scores right away, getting practice suggestions just for you, and being able to skip questions and come back to them later. The digital SAT also has new types of questions, like drag-and-drop and fill-in-the-blank, which make the test more fun and interactive. This new test shows how standardized testing is changing with technology, while still being reliable and fair.

When Will Students Take the Digital SAT Test?

The College Board will offer the digital SAT to U.S. high school students on certain dates in 2022. But not all test centers will have the digital version yet. It will be slowly introduced over time. The digital SAT has the same content as the paper test, with Reading, Writing and Language, and Math sections. The scoring is the same too. The digital test has some benefits, like faster scoring and a user-friendly interface. Students should check with their high school and counselor to see if the digital SAT is available and right for them.

What is the SAT? Does the SAT Still Matter?

The SAT is a big test that many colleges use to help decide who to admit. It checks how ready students are for college by testing their reading, writing, and math skills. High school students usually take it in their junior or senior year. The SAT is still important for many colleges, especially competitive ones. Some people think the SAT isn't fair to all students and doesn't really show how well someone will do in college. But for many students who want to go to top colleges, a good SAT score can help them stand out. Some scholarships also use SAT scores to decide who gets money for college. While the SAT might be changing, it's still a big part of getting into college for many students.

Changes in the Digital SAT

The digital SAT has some cool new features. You can use an on-screen calculator for some parts of the test, which helps you focus on solving problems instead of just doing math. The digital test also has more interactive questions, like drag-and-drop and highlighting, which can better show how well you think critically. However, taking the test on a computer might be challenging for some students who aren't comfortable with technology or don't have good internet access. To help with this, the College Board offers free online practice materials and works with schools to provide digital testing opportunities.

Advantages of Digital SAT 2023

The digital SAT in 2023 has several benefits. It's easier for more students to take the test, even from home, which helps students in remote areas. The test times are more flexible, so you can take it when it works best for you. You get your scores faster with digital testing, which helps you plan better for college applications. The digital test is more interactive, with features like highlighting and note-taking, which can help you focus better. It's also better for the environment because it uses less paper. Overall, the digital SAT aims to be more accessible, flexible, and eco-friendly than the old paper test.

Digital SAT vs Current SAT: What's Different?

The main difference is that the digital SAT is taken on a computer, while the current SAT is on paper. The digital test has cool multimedia stuff like videos and graphics. You can move back and forth between questions and use an on-screen calculator on the digital test. The digital SAT is a bit shorter, taking about 2 hours and 45 minutes instead of 3 hours and 50 minutes. Both tests are scored the same way, but the digital one gives you your scores faster. The digital SAT offers a more interactive experience, but both versions are accepted by colleges.

Changes to Test Structure on the New Digital SAT

The new digital SAT has some big changes. You take it on a computer instead of with pencil and paper. This makes the test smoother and reduces mistakes from bad handwriting. The digital test has cool features like on-screen calculators and the ability to highlight text. They also removed the essay section to make the test simpler, but you can still write an essay if you want to. The scoring changed too - now the highest score is 1600 instead of 2400. The test has two main parts: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Each part is scored from 200-800, adding up to a total possible score of 1600.

Will it be Difficult to Take the Test Online?

Taking the SAT online might be tricky for some people, but it depends on a few things. If the test is easy to use and navigate, it might not be hard. But if you need special software or a really good internet connection, it could be challenging. Some people might not be used to using computers a lot, which could make it harder. If you're worried about taking the test online, you can practice on websites like thetestadvantage.com, which has computer-based tests to help you get ready.

Changes to Questions on the Reading and Writing Section

The digital SAT's Reading and Writing section has some new types of questions. There are now "graphic analysis" questions where you look at graphs, tables, and charts to answer questions. This helps prepare you for college courses where you might need to understand data. There are also new "information and ideas" questions that test how well you can find the main idea in a passage and combine information from different sources. These changes help you develop critical thinking skills that are important for college and beyond.

How to Prepare for a Digital SAT Test

There aren't many resources for the digital SAT yet, but The Test Advantage has created lots of materials to help you prepare. You can find hundreds of questions for vocabulary, reading, and writing sections on their website. Go to the "Basics" section to access these Digital SAT questions and start practicing.

The Differences: What's Changing as the SAT Goes Digital?

The biggest changes are in the reading and writing sections. Now, there are only 54 questions over two modules instead of 96 questions over two sections. The test is also adaptive, which means it gets harder or easier based on how you're doing. This makes the test shorter but can make the scoring curve tougher. It's important to prepare well for these new changes.

What's Staying the Same as the SAT Goes Digital?

Even though the SAT is changing to digital, some things will stay the same. The test will still check your knowledge in reading, writing, and math. It will still take about three hours and fifty minutes. Everyone will get the same instructions and test conditions. The scoring will still be out of 1600, with separate scores for reading, writing and language, and math. But there are some small changes with the digital format. You'll be able to zoom in on reading passages and highlight text. For math, you'll use an on-screen calculator instead of scratch paper.

How to Prepare for the New Digital SAT

Here are some tips to help you get ready for the new digital SAT:

Get familiar with the digital format by taking practice tests online.
Practice managing your time, as you'll need to work quickly on the computer.
Focus on improving your weak areas, like math or reading comprehension.
Develop test-taking strategies, like skipping hard questions and coming back to them later.
Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising to reduce stress.

You can find lots of practice questions and resources at thetestadvantage.com to help you prepare.

Devices Required to Take the Digital SAT

To take the digital SAT, you'll need a laptop or desktop computer that runs Windows or MacOS. Tablets and Chromebooks won't work for this test. You also need a good internet connection, a web camera, and a microphone. It's better to use a mouse instead of a laptop touchpad. You'll need to download a special secure browser from the College Board to take the test. Make sure to check all the requirements on the College Board website so you have everything you need on test day.

Calculators Allowed on the Math Section of the Digital SAT

For some math questions on the digital SAT, you can use a calculator. But not all questions need one, and sometimes using a calculator might even slow you down. You can use a basic scientific or graphing calculator, but not one with a keyboard or internet access. It's a good idea to practice with the calculator you plan to use on test day so you're comfortable with it. Remember, though, that the calculator doesn't replace knowing math concepts. You still need to understand the math to do well on the test.

Digital SAT Scoring Scale

The digital SAT is scored from 400 to 1600 points. This total score comes from two main parts: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Each of these parts is scored from 200 to 800 points. You also get subscores for specific areas in each section, scored from 1 to 15. These subscores give more details about how you did in different parts of the test. The digital scoring is fast and accurate because a computer checks all the answers. This means you get your scores quickly, usually within two weeks after the test.

Helpful Resources for Digital SAT Preparation

To help you prepare better for the Digital SAT, here are some useful blog posts from The Test Advantage:

These resources cover a wide range of topics to help you prepare for different aspects of the Digital SAT. From vocabulary strategies to practice tests, these blog posts offer valuable tips and information to boost your performance on test day.

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