The SAT is finally going digital! Beginning in the fall of 2023 for PSAT, and in the spring of 2024 for SAT, students will take the test on either a personal or school-issued device. (Students without access to either will be provided a device by the College Board).
The digital test will be shorter—about two hours instead of three.
In other good news, a calculator will be permitted on all math problems, unlike the current paper-SAT which has a no-calculator math section.The Reading section is also getting a makeover: shorter passages with just one question each! With the digital test, students can expect quicker score results. So good news all around!
The digital format comes with some cool features like an on-screen timer (that can be hidden until the last five minutes of a section), on-screen highlighter/annotator tool, and an answer-eliminator tool. Students can also move back and forth within a section and flag problems for review. Students can see an overview of their answers, unanswered questions, and flagged problems.
Best of all, students will have access to an on-screen Desmos-style graphing calculator for every math problem. Students can also bring their own approved calculators if preferred.
Overall, the new test looks much friendlier. At 2 hours and 14 minutes, the digital SAT will be shorter than the ACT. However, for those of us that don't adapt well to change, the ACT will remain pencil-and-paper for this testing cycle!
More Than A Teacher has been helping students navigate the shifting test-prep landscape since 1989. Book your free consultation today by calling us at 512-453-7272 or sending an email to info@morethanateacher.com.
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