New digital SAT

Let us look at the new digital SAT

As someone who essentially works with international kids, I was excited to hear that worldwide SAT examinations are going digital from March 2023 onwards.

My head was filled with memories of my past students and their experience when the international ACT exam went digital in late 2018, and I wondered what this news would mean for international kids.

While I won’t know until my first candidate takes this new form of SAT. here are my thoughts on the relevant changes and what they mean:

More exam dates under new digital SAT means more attempts

International locations will get two additional test days each year. I hope this means that students who reside outside USA will no longer feel lack of opportunity due to fewer opportunities to take the exam.

It might additionally result in lower expenses as candidates will likely stop traveling abroad to try “one last time” for a better rating on a more convenient day.

New digital SAT test adaptability depends upon situation to situation

An electronic examination is simple and allows for more adaptability. While this seems like a good thing, if school-based test centres provide the examination during regular working days (as the College Board is encouraging them to do).

It would certainly make it harder for international kids who are home-schooled or attend schools that do not have examination facilities to sign up for and it take an examination. In the end, it may be more limiting.

Under new digital SAT Students can use their very own devices

Laptop computers, tablet computers, or devices released by the test centre have inbuilt controls. Letting test takes use their own tools seems simpler than firmly insisting that test centres supply them systems from their end, this allows home device advantage and everyone gets signed up on their website with ease

A personal laptop for taking the test will be a very appealing idea for kids, and, ideally, if they have made use of Khan Academy’s complimentary prep materials to obtain experience with the brand-new layout beforehand then getting started with their test online will take no time at all.

Nonetheless, not all test takes will always have access to a personal laptop, and asking an exam centre to offer one, as required by the university board, is typically easier in theory than in practice.

New digital SAT is of shorter duration

A much shorter exam will be reduced from three to two hours, with more time allotted to each question. This appears much less stressful, and the College Board reported that majority of examination test takes discovered this to be accurate.

Better Analysis section performance will be achieved under new digital SAT

According to the College Board, students who are stronger in a language other than English performed significantly better on the analysis sections of the paper and pencil versions of the SAT. Non-native English speakers may not benefit from this change.

Here are my recommendations for international students applying to enter college in 2024 –

Kick back! A test-optional admissions environment has given students a lot more control. Yes, a high score will certainly benefit a student; however, if a student isn’t a solid test-taker, they can concentrate their efforts on various other areas of their application.s

Try it– I encourage students to prepare for it and also do their best. If the score is low and the student feels they will not be able to achieve their target score, they can stop re attempting again and again

When to begin? Some students will want to take a paper-based examination between August and December of 2022, while others will not have the format change on their radar. Is there a rush?

This is something that your Educational consultant can decide and tell you accurately after evaluating with you. Be very mindful towards the negative impact of the score on you mental health.

For further information family and prospective test takes can look at 11-page “Digital SAT Irregularity Chart“.

By

Satyam Khanna