In December of 2013, the administrator of the
SAT®, the College Board, announced that revisions to the SAT will be
implemented in the spring of 2016. This past Wednesday, specific details were
released around what these changes will entail. As with previous test
revisions, the PSAT will change first in the fall of 2015, and the SAT will
follow. The new PSAT will serve as a preview for the new SAT.
The revision is comprehensive, and there's no
question that the SAT in 2016 will look significantly different from the
current version. We've summarized key updates in the chart below; headlines
include the return to a 1600 scale, an optional essay, and shifts in approach
to both vocabulary and math concepts.
|
Changes to the SAT
|
Current SAT
(Class of 2014-2016)
|
New SAT
(Class of 2017 and beyond)
|
|
Scoring
|
· ¼-point penalty for
wrong answers
· Score is based out
of 2400 -- 800 for Math; 800 for Reading Comprehension; and, 800 for Writing
|
· No wrong-answer
penalty
· Score is based out
of 1600 -- 800 for Math; 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Optional
essay will receive a separate score
|
|
Timing
|
· 3 hours 45 minutes
|
· 3 hours; 3 hours 50
minutes with optional essay
|
|
Administration
|
· Only available in
print
· Test focused on
broad range of non-essential topics and content
|
· Available digitally
and in print
· Fewer questions with
a greater focus on in-depth analysis of content
|
|
Essay
|
· Essay is required
· Students have 25
minutes to write a persuasive essay in response to a prompt
· Accuracy of
information not tested
|
· Essay is optional
· Students have
50-minutes to analyze document and draft essay
· Essay requires
students to analyze source documents and explain how the author builds an
argument
· Facts matter
|
|
Math
|
· Focus on wide array
of topics
· More emphasis on
computational skills
· Calculators
permitted for all sections
|
· Focus on 3 topics --
problem-solving and data analysis, “the heart of algebra,” and
“passport to advanced math”
· Real-world problem
solving including analyzing data, charts, and graphs
· Calculator no longer
permitted for all math sections
|
|
Reading and Writing
|
· Writing score
combines writing multiple-choice and essay
· Reading section has
two question types: sentence completion and passage-based questions
|
· Reading and Writing
sections combine into “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing” section
· No Sentence
Completions
· Focus on real-world
vocabulary-in-context as well as revising and editing writing in passages
· Focus on analyzing
Literature, Social Studies, and Science passages
· One passage will be
a Primary Source from American and/or World History, such as The Constitution
or Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech
|
As a reminder - current seniors, juniors and
sophomores will not be affected by these changes. These graduating
classes should continue preparing for the current iteration of the SAT.
However, current freshmen, or the graduating class of 2017, will see the new
version of the SAT in the spring of 2016 as juniors.
At Kaplan, our 75-year history has included
numerous test changes, and we understand the challenges that come with
navigating one. We are paying very close attention to all of the
developments around the SAT change and are committed to helping you and your
students understand what the changes will mean for them. To this end, we will
continue to share news online at our SAT Test Change Resource Center, kaptest.com/satchange.
Rest assured, our team is already working to
adjust our curriculum for the class of 2017 and beyond. We are ready to
create high quality resources that support you and your students.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact
me if you have any questions. I look forward to continuing to partner
with you to help your students achieve their college dreams.
Kind Regards,
Jason Locke
Kaplan K12 & College Prep
T 201.835.9777
