What Every High School Student Needs To Know About Recent SAT Exam Updates

As springtime rolls around, many students are preparing to take the SAT. Whether they are taking the test for the first time or trying again for a better score, standardized testing can be stress-inducing for many students. Adding to that stress are the numerous changes to standardized testing policies in college admissions over the last few years, as well as pending changes to the test itself. Many students and families are left with questions such as: Do I really need to take standardized tests? What is a good score? How can I best prepare?

If your student is preparing to take the SAT this spring or continuing their preparation for a later test date, here’s what they need to know to tackle the test with confidence:

Schools are increasingly adopting test-optional policies, but students should (generally) still submit their scores.

During the pandemic, many top schools—including all eight of the Ivies—paused their standardized testing requirement. Some schools adopted a test-optional policy, meaning that they do not require test scores but consider them if they are submitted, while others became test blind, meaning that they do not consider standardized test scores whatsoever. Since 2020, many schools have continued to uphold these policies—in the fall of 2021, the University of California system became permanently test blind, and just last week, Columbia University became the first Ivy League university to announce that their test-optional policy will remain in place indefinitely.

At the same time, the rise of test-optional policies does not mean that students should avoid taking the test or submitting their scores. Students who submit their scores still tend to fare better in the admissions process, and while test scores are not the only thing colleges notice, they do inform schools about the student’s readiness for collegiate-level coursework. If students are still unsatisfied with the outcome after taking the test a few times to try to achieve their goal score,, they may consider not submitting their scores. Generally, students should not choose this option unless their score falls at or around the 25th percentile of admitted students for the particular school, at which point they may also want to consider whether the school will be a good fit for them academically.

The SAT is shifting to a digital format.

The SAT will soon be conducted in an entirely digital format. While the digital test has yet to be fully launched, international students will be the first to take the test in its new format this spring. Domestic students will begin taking the test in spring of 2024, while the digital PSAT will be administered starting in the fall of 2023 to provide students with exposure to the new format before its formal rollout. While the content and scoring for the digital test is generally the same as the traditional paper and pencil SAT, there are a few differences worth noting. First, the digital test will be shorter than the paper version, particularly when it comes to the reading section. The reading section will include more focused questions about shorter passages (about a paragraph long), and passages will be taken from a more diverse range of reading materials, including poetry, history, and literature. In addition, the math sections, which were traditionally split into calculator and non-calculator portions, will be combined, and the use of a calculator will be permitted for the entirety of the math section of the test. All of this being said, the changes to the format of the SAT do not indicate a change in the rigor of the material—the digital SAT will be neither more or less challenging than the paper test, and the scoring will be equivalent, based on the traditional 400 to 1600 scale.

When it comes to preparing for the new digital format, practice makes perfect.

Students should prepare for the digital SAT in much the same way that they would prepare for the paper exam. Regardless of your student’s learning style, practice and repetition is key to mastering standardized tests. Taking multiple practice tests can help students identify the types of problems that are particularly challenging for them and experiment with different strategies to master them. If they are concerned about the change in format, they can shift their preparation to the computer to get more comfortable with taking tests in a digital format. College Board has also released digital practice tests which students can take to get a more concrete understanding of what they can expect from the test’s new platform.

Sophomore year tends to be the best time to prepare for the tests in earnest, as students will have had some degree of experience with almost all of the concepts included on the test. As sophomores continue to take challenging classes and practice the concepts they learn outside of the classroom, they should also take the PSAT early in the year to assess which concepts they need to focus on in their preparation. The frequency and rigor of a student’s preparation should increase (whether independently or with a tutor) during junior year, when most students will take the SAT. Students should set goals and create a clear and specific schedule for their test prep so that they can balance their preparation with other academic responsibilities. Additionally, reading across genres throughout their high school years is especially important for success on the reading section—in their free time, students can vary their reading between literature, nonfiction, and articles from sources like The New York Times or The Washington Post.

While test taking can be a source of anxiety for many students, approaching the SAT with a strategic mindset and preparation process can help to diminish stress and increase your student’s confidence. While the future of the SAT’s use in college admissions is uncertain, the test currently remains an important element of the admissions process, and one that students should strive to conquer. For more information on standardized testing, check out this helpful guide to preparing for the SAT as well as our FAQ on standardized tests!