After talking about this test for so long, the “new” SAT doesn’t feel that new anymore. But until students took the official test, educators were operating on a heady mixture of released test material, College Board propaganda, and more than a little conjecture. We don’t have to guess (too much) any longer. With two official administrations behind us and one more left this spring, the new SAT is now the only SAT. What have we learned?
1. The SAT is your test if you are much stronger in math than reading.
The SAT and ACT differ in small but significant ways, yet colleges accept both tests equally. Thus, part of test preparation has always been determining which exam is better suited to a test-taker’s strengths. Traditionally, the SAT, with its emphasis on college-level vocabulary and critical reasoning, rewarded avid readers, whereas teens who did not read for pleasure gravitated towards the ACT. No wonder the ACT became so popular! But the current SAT eschews all that tough vocabulary while adopting most of the features of ACT English and Reading with a more generous allotment of time per question. Sure, the SAT includes a No-Calculator Math section and questions on advanced Algebra 2/Trigonometry concepts, but students who favor math and science over English Language Arts don’t mind.
TAKEAWAY: If you are strong in math but find yourself running out of time on ACT passage-based sections, look to the SAT.
2. The SAT may not be as standardized as it should be.
A test like the SAT derives value from the fact that it is standardized, meaning that the test is administered the same way no matter where or when you take it. But it’s hard to shake the sense that the College Board is still working out the details. Rumors about test day inconsistencies abound, from altered order of test sections to variable break lengths. Considering the egregious errors in College Board printed test material like the Official SAT Study Guide and Getting Ready for the SAT bulletin, we shouldn’t be surprised. But neither should we believe that the June SAT will administered the same way at every test center.
TAKEAWAY: Go into the test knowing more than your proctor, but expect the unexpected.
3. Test day security is tight.
Whether the College Board is trying to keep test material off the streets or just save face while ironing out the kinks in the new exam, the organization has enacted stricter security measures than ever. Prepare for long registration lines at the test site.
TAKEAWAY: Make sure you arrive at the test center with your accepted photo ID and admissions ticket, and—obviously—don’t cheat!
4. There’s nothing to worry about.
Sure, the SAT still feels like a work in progress, but most students in the high school graduating class of 2017 have plenty of time before college applications are due. As much as we know about the tests now, we’ll know even more this summer, especially when the new percentiles data comes in. If you took an SAT this spring and scored well, congratulations. If you didn’t score as well as you wanted to, you won’t need to share those scores: Score Choice is still the law of the land. Furthermore, the ACT offers a more stable and consistent test for anyone who dislikes the uncertainty surrounding this SAT.
TAKEAWAY: Stay tuned for more information so you can score your best either now or in the fall.
Mike Bergin