The College Board announced changes for the redesigned SAT/PSAT/NMSQT that will take effect in 2016. Key alterations have been made regarding the types of questions, grading system, critical vocabulary, and essay section.
Should a student choose to complete the optional writing portion, the maximum score will remain at 2400, while the highest score will be 1600 if the test-taker opts out of the essay. The three categories of the SAT will still be critical reading, math, and writing. Similar to the ACT, the redesigned SAT will not be penalized for incorrect answers.
The essay section typically poses the greatest source of anxiety for students, and has been completely reworked. It is now fifty minutes in length, double the current length.
“Instead of a short prompt and providing a personal, evidenced based opinion, students will now be asked to read a longer passage of 600–700 words and to analyze how the author built their argument,” head of guidance Mr. Paul Weber said.
Regardless of the essay section being optional, some school districts will require students to take it. This will not be the case in Massapequa though. It is “strongly recommended,” according to Mr. Weber, but school districts are not allowed to make the essay mandatory.
These changes will affect current sophomores the most, being that they will be able to take the SAT when the changes are rolled out. No preparation materials have been released, which will make determining what skills must be improved that much more arduous of a task.
The reading section “may include more focus on drawing from significant texts.” according to Mr. Weber, and math questions will focus less on abstract problems and more on application-based questions. Likewise, the vocabulary formerly associated with the SAT, which had been repeatedly labeled impractical and inapplicable, has also been axed. Now, students will be tested on fewer “multiple-meaning words.”
“I haven’t witnessed the adjustments being made firsthand, nor do I think I ever will,” senior Chris Kvartek said. “But, I’m open to change, and it’s comforting to know that the College Board is at least attempting to do what they believe will most accurately assess students.”
The image of students incessantly flipping flash cards had been a quintessential part of the SAT process, but mere memorization will no longer provide the upper hand. In the near future, test-takers will be tasked with the utilization of pertinent words as well as their relevancy to higher education and profession-related responsibilities.
“The idea is that students will be less able to ‘prep’ or ‘cram’ from an SAT through memorization and must have a deeper understanding of the material presented and how to apply it,” Mr. Weber said when asked if the hackneyed lists that boast containing the ‘Top 250 Words’ were the best way to study for these tests.
The rehaul of the SAT also comes as institutions of higher learning adopt a trend of being “test-optional.” Such schools state that tests such as the SAT and ACT are not needed to apply, and claim that not submitting test scores does not place applicants at a disadvantage. Still, these tests remain an integral component of college admissions for many other schools.
“It is unfortunate for some, and fortunate for others, that so much emphasis is placed on one Saturday morning exam,” Mr. Weber said. “While this is a nice trend, it is important to recognize that the SAT and ACT will not be going away anytime soon.”
Overall, the redesigned SAT poses new challenges for students, but academic officials are stressing the fact that this should not discourage students from taking it. The intricacies and new objectives associated with this test have been put in place to lead students to read and think with a more critical lens and truly comprehend information that can help them succeed along the course of their career.