SAT GOING DIGITAL: What does this mean for future test takers?

By Nicole Solano, ‘23

The SAT is moving to a digital medium and it's coming to the U.S. in 2024. Find out what that means for upcoming test takers who have taken it and those who have yet to take it.

WHAT’S NEW?

Other than the change in format, College Board has decided to maximize the new features a digital test can bring. The SAT will still be held in a testing facility with the option of using your own device or a school-issued one. One of the main differences is the amount of time—the SAT will now be two hours instead of three and there will be more time per question. There will also be shorter passages and calculators will be allowed throughout the entire math section instead of separating it into a calculator and non-calculator section. Most notably, College Board claims that with the new digital format, students will be able to receive their scores in days instead of weeks. What this means for students is that they can figure out earlier if they got the score they needed and, if not, what skills they need to work on and when they want to retake the test. Though this sounds all good and well, how does this affect juniors who have been accustomed to the paper format and plan on taking it again?

ADAPTING TO THE DIGITAL FORMAT As students learn about the switch, they also discover how it may impact their study plans.

HOW ARE JUNIORS AFFECTED?

Previous to this upcoming adjustment, juniors shared that they used resources, including SAT prep books and tutors. Some even used the online tests that College Board provides or the Khan Academy website’s practice questions. When asked how they felt about the test switching to a digital format next year, junior Nathan Kreyman shared, “I think it’s for the better because they are modernizing and making it a much more stress-free test since it’s shorter.” As a result of this, Kreyman believes that more people will be inclined to take the SAT, meaning more opportunities to gain scholarships. As for getting used to the new setup, junior Blake Coppens suggests, “I think [going digital] is probably for the better because they’re shortening the length and whenever kids study, they’re usually studying online so this can familiarize themselves with the format.” Does this mean that resources like paper prep books will no longer be useful? For the testing experience, not so much, but as for content, they can still be helpful by providing questions worded similarly to the actual test.

PROSPECTIVE TEST-TAKERS

When looking at upcoming test takers, it’s important to note that they have yet to take the paper-based SAT, so the switch is less likely to impact them. When asked about their expectations for their testing experience, sophomore Marcelo Paulk shared he expects to be less stressed. Another perspective comes from sophomore Lucas Fonte who said, “I don’t think it’ll stress me out; it’ll be like any other test. I’ve already had experience with FSAs and overall, I think the test will be better because we get the scores earlier and we can make faster decisions that’ll affect our future outcomes.” Here Fonte, references how knowing your score can let you know if you need to sign up for the next one without missing the registration deadline.

UPCOMING TEST TAKERS Many students expect to be less stressed about the test due to its new digitalized version.

Overall, it seems the consensus among future test-takers is that the shorter test time will be helpful, but it truly depends on the person taking the SAT as it can vary from student to student. The whole idea of digital tests is not new, but it’s possible that the way the SAT is formatted is something certain students are already accustomed to, and the switch may just throw them off. Whatever the case, there are online resources such as Khan Academy that can give a sense of what it’s like to take the test, and, when push comes to shove, there are always PSATs that can sub in for the digital experience without affecting your actual score.

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