The Revamped SAT

If you have a student in high school, chances are you've heard a lot of rumblings about changes to the SAT. If you're still not clear on what this will mean for you and your high-school aged student, check out this nifty summary:  

• A return to the 1600 score scale. The SAT will revert back from its current 2400 top score potential, to the old (pre-2005 SAT) 1600 score that us parents probably recall from our high school days. All this really translates to is an easier-to-understand format for your student's score.
• No penalty for wrong answers. The SAT will no longer deduct points for incorrect answers. Similarly to its college exam counterpart, the ACT, only correct answers will count toward your student's score. So guess away!
• Fewer answer choices. Answer options will be reduced from 5 choices (typically A-E) to only 4 choices (A-D) on the revised SAT. This means less time to read through the available answer options, and a better (statistically speaking) chance of getting the right answer when you guess. Score! (Pun fully intended.)
• More graphs and charts. Students will be given more data in the form of graphs and charts, and asked to analyze that data as it pertains to the subject being tested (e.g. reading, math, etc.) Students can best prepare by familiarizing themselves with standard graph and data options, such as bar graphs, line graphs, and scatterplots.
• The essay goes optional. The essay, which was formerly a required part of the SAT and integrated into the Writing score, will now become optional, and be scored separately. This is particularly good news for students who aren't confident writers.
• Two math sections; one with calculator, and one without. Students will want to prepare themselves with a lot of practice work in mental math! Although students will still be provided with a chart of standard formulas and equations, and they will still have the ability to work problems out on scratch paper, students will be expected to answer a series of math questions without the use of a calculator.
• Overall shorter test. Excluding the (now optional) essay, the overall test time decreases by 45 minutes. The writing and reading sections see a total overall decrease of 30 minutes, but math actually increases by 10 minutes. Although a shorter duration will hopefully lead to better focus and less fatigue, be cautious of the writing section, which decreased by 25 minutes (from 60 minutes in the old SAT to 35 minutes in the revised SAT) while only decreasing by 5 total questions (from 49 questions in the old SAT to 44 questions in the revised SAT). Students can prepare by practicing their reading for speed, and active reading skills to help easily identify relevant information from a passage or chart.
  • It should be noted, however, that the Essay has doubled in length (from 25 minutes on the old SAT to 50 minutes on the revised SAT). This is good news for students needing more time to prepare a well-organized essay; however, students should still prepare in order to stay the course and do their best.

• No more obscure vocabulary words. Vocabulary will be more relevant to a student's coursework, and geared toward college and career-readiness. So say goodbye to sesquipedalian words. (See what we did there? :))
• Students have more time per question on the revised SAT than on the ACT. Compared to the ACT, the new SAT will allow students more time per question on each of the three sections: 33% more time on the grammar section, 43% more time on the reading section, and 40% more time on the math section. On the math section that allows calculators, the new SAT will allow 49% more time per question than the ACT. This is effectively akin to receiving 50% extended time on the revised SAT, without receiving any accommodation. Students with slower processing speeds who are unable to attain an accommodation for extended time on the ACT may fare better on the more generously timed SAT.

  If you still aren't sure what to expect, or how best to prepare, consider hiring an in-home tutor. Club Z! has highly qualified, skilled SAT tutors who are familiar with the upcoming test changes, and can help your student get the score he/she needs to get into his/her school of choice! Call 800-434-2582 to reach the office nearest you, and schedule your free consultation today.