Every decade, it seems, gets its own version of the SAT. This exam–one of America’s most influential and controversial tests–has endeavored to reflect college readiness and the nation’s educational priorities since 1926. The newest revision charts a bold path to the future of standardized assessments while still channeling the reading, writing, and quantitative problem solving priorities that have been foundational to SAT success for nearly a century.
The most visible and glaring change will be an entirely digital SAT and PSAT for just about every student. The dSAT, as the new version of the test is known, has been the only SAT available outside the United States since March 2023. Domestic students will experience the revised exam in two stages:
October 2023: Students will take the digital PSAT.
March 2024: Students will begin taking the digital SAT.
At this time, College Board holds that the switch from the current version of the SAT to the digital one will be absolute; after the transition, the only version of the SAT will be the digital one. That said, students can take the current version of the SAT until and including the December 2, 2023 administration.
WHAT’S THE SAME?
The SAT is still a timed standardized test assessing most of the usual critical reading, writing, and math skills.
WHAT’S NEW?
This shorter exam will be administered in a completely digital, adaptive format.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
In terms of content, the dSAT strongly resembles a streamlined version of our most recent SAT with some notable throwbacks to prior eras. The major difference for test takers and proctors alike will be the digital format of the test.
Mike Bergin