What are the changes to the new SAT exam?
Steve Keating
Changes to the SAT exam in 2023 & 2024:
The good news is that the SAT has become shorter! Outside the US, starting in March 2023 all students taking the SAT now take the new digital test.
There are two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math.
Reading and Writing takes 64 minutes (two 32-minute modules). There are 54 questions in total.
Math takes 70 minutes (two 35-minute modules). There are 44 questions in total.
That’s a total of two hours and 14 minutes. There is a 10-minute break between Reading and Writing, and Math.
The first module in Math and the first module in Reading and Writing consist of easy, medium and hard questions. The test has become computer-adaptive, in that the difficulty level of the second module (in both Reading and Writing, and Math) depends on how well you did on the first module in the relevant section. You want to do as well as you can in the first module of each section, so the second module will consist of harder questions, which are worth more points.
Another change is that now a calculator can be used throughout the entire Math section. There is no penalty for guessing incorrectly, so you should answer every question.
You do the test at a test center, and you bring your own device. Acceptable devices include Windows laptops and tablets, Mac laptops and iPads. Before the test, you download Bluebook, which is the test application that you will use for the test.
You can also bring your own calculator, or use the embedded calculator in the Bluebook app. There is a list of acceptable calculators on the official SAT site.
When you download the Bluebook app, you will gain access to 4 full-length SAT practice tests with answers and explanations.
Why not prepare yourself for the SAT by booking a trial lesson with nativespeakers.ch?
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Cambridge are now offering a digital alternative to paper-based Cambridge exams. It’s called "Cambridge English Qualifications" and is available for levels A2 – C2. Check out the many advantages now!