News
Digital SAT Updates
In the 2024 school year, College Board has officially switched to an all-digital model for the SAT. This comes as a significant change from the former paper and pencil model that was utilized for the past several decades. College Board representative Priscilla Rodriguez stated that based on information gleaned from focus groups, students found digital testing to be less complicated and more natural than other alternatives. Students expressed feelings of anxiety when taking the physical SAT and had more confidence when it was administered digitally. This comes as no surprise considering the amount of technology that has been integrated into modern education structures. Because of this, 2024 is the first year that the SAT will be fully adapted to a digital format for all students.
In practice, this means students must take the SAT on their own electronic devices or devices provided by their schools. The digital exam will be administered through an app called Bluebook. This app requires access to an internet connection though College Board claims that the exam takes up very little bandwidth. As an added precaution, the app will automatically save all progress within the exam so that students do not risk losing their work due to internet outages.
College Board is confident in their digital SAT infrastructure as this is not the first time they’ve offered the exam digitally. Throughout 2023 international students took the digital SAT and many high school students took the digital PSAT in the fall of the same year. Thus, College Board believes that the digital SAT will be a successful step towards modernizing the exam for students in the years to come.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
607-848-1266
Standardized Testing Requirements at Yale
Following Dartmouth’s lead, Yale is the most recent Ivy League school to reinstate standardized test scores as a requirement for new students. This means that Yale applicants will need to submit either SAT, ACT, or advanced placement scores in order to be considered for admission. This adjustment will go into effect for students applying for the fall class of 2025.
Yale claims their previous choice to forego standardized test scores became a hindrance to applicants from low socioeconomic backgrounds. According to the Ivy League, admissions committees had less student information to work with therefore putting more emphasis on GPAs and extracurricular activities when assessing applications. Thus, students who suffered in these areas were not given an opportunity to reinforce their scholastic strengths via test scores.
Administrators at Yale assert that requiring standardized testing scores helps them get a fully rounded view of each individual as a student. They claim having access to these scores will “highlight an applicant’s areas of academic strength.” However, they wish to emphasize that test scores alone can not predict student achievement and will only be used as a piece of a larger puzzle when reviewing student qualifications.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
607-848-1266
Test Score Requirements at Dartmouth
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, most universities including Ivy League schools opted to make SAT and ACT scores optional rather than required upon application. This measure was taken to ensure a more equitable application process for students. However, in 2024, Dartmouth will be the first Ivy League school to reverse this decision by once again requiring students to submit either their SAT or ACT scores for its newest class of students. While many are outraged by this decision, Dartmouth claims its ultimate goal is to increase diversity.
A study conducted by Dartmouth suggests that making test scores optional has actually harmed their goal of inclusion. Students from disadvantaged families and low socioeconomic backgrounds submitted test scores less frequently than advantaged students. However, disadvantaged and/or marginalized students who did submit their test scores frequently achieved higher scores than students without these disadvantages. Thus, if SAT or ACT scores had been required, it is believed that more diverse students would have been admitted.
In addition, Dartmouth administrators believe that reinstating their test score requirement is necessary to predict student performance. Test scores considered in conjunction with high school grades are the best indicator of a student’s success according to research conducted at the college. This study also claims that test score requirements tend to attract students from schools that do not frequently send students to Dartmouth. Thus, if proven correct, the mandate would lead to a more inclusive student body. Still, it remains to be seen if other colleges and universities will follow in Dartmouth’s wake and once again require SAT and ACT scores.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
312-848-1266
Overview of the Digital SAT
In the near future, students will only be able to take the SAT via a digital format. Last November, a select portion of SAT students were offered the chance to test out this format by taking the digital SAT. Among this group, 80% of students found the new test taking process to be less stressful than the paper version which was previously the standard. The College Board began offering the digital SAT to international students in March of 2023 and plans to fully implement it in March of 2024 for class of 2025 juniors (current sophomores).
The digital SAT boasts a number of benefits. Among these, the digital interface allows the test to adapt to each student. With an adaptive test model, each section independently adapts to the student’s level of ability, making the resulting score more reliable. Additional benefits include shortening the test-taking time period from 3 hours to 2 hours and making scores available to students just days after they take the exam. The digital SAT will also offer a range of online tools students may use at their disposal. These tools include an on-screen timer, elimination tools which allow students to cross out incorrect answers, and the ability to flag questions for review so that students can go back to check them.
The content of the test will remain essentially the same with minor format changes. For the math section, students will have 44 questions to complete in 70 minutes. Students will have access to a graphic calculator on the screen during this portion of the test. During the reading and writing section, students will have 64 minutes to answer 54 questions regarding reading comprehension and grammar. The digital SAT will make reading questions shorter and reinstitute sentence completion questions. Each section of the test will still be worth 800 points and students will continue to have access to a reference sheet for formulas. Altogether, the digital SAT looks to streamline the test taking process while adapting to the changing landscape of technology based assessments.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
College Enrollment Still Down from Pre-Pandemic Levels
Rates of college enrollment, which decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Across the country, the rate of undergraduate enrollment dropped 8 percent between 2019 and 2022, marking the steepest decline on record, and while admissions rates are increasing slightly, they have yet to return to 2018 levels.
Despite predictions that the decline was only temporary, it appears that many of those who opted out of college at the beginning of the pandemic have decided not to return to school. While those who don’t attend college typically have a lower average earning potential, many are questioning the benefits of attending colleges and universities when tuition prices continue to rise and rates of student debt are at an all-time high.
Fewer graduates from college could lead to shortages in certain fields, such as healthcare and engineering, while the market for computer science skills has steadily increased. Additionally, many young people are pursuing education outside of the traditional four-year degree; trade schools and apprenticeship programs, for example, are on the rise. The pandemic, which threw a wrench in the plans of many, may have caused a lasting shift in the way young people consider their future.
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
What to Bring to the SAT
When you take the SAT, there are a few things you'll need to bring with you. See below for a list of what not to forget on your test day!
Printed Admissions Ticket
When you register to take the SAT, you will receive an admissions ticket for your specific testing location. You’ll need to bring a printed copy of this ticket with you to the testing center - before printing, double check to make sure the location hasn’t changed!
Photo ID
Accepted photo identification must be the original version of an ID issued by the government or by the school which you currently attend. The name on the ID must match the name on your registration.
Two No. 2 Pencils
It can’t hurt to have a spare - and make sure they have working erasers!
An Approved Calculator
You can use a calculator on the Math Test - Calculator section! Accepted calculators include all scientific calculators, most graphing calculators, and four-function calculators (although these are not recommended due to their simplicity). Note that you may not share calculators with others.
Face Covering
Make sure you check the masking requirements for your specific testing location, and bring along a face covering just in case.
A Watch
While not required, it can be helpful to bring a watch with you to the test, so that you can more effectively pace yourself. Smart watches will not be allowed - the simpler the better! Also, be sure to make sure your watch doesn’t have an alarm set.
Water Bottle and Snacks
For most students, there will be one 10-minute break and one 5-minute break during the test. You won’t be able to use your phones, but you will be able to take a drink and have a quick snack!
Anna Jordan, Tutoring Coordinator
anna@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266
The SAT Changing to a Digital Format in 2024
To adjust to the changing landscape of standardized testing, in 2024 the College Board will be offering the SAT digitally to students in the United States. Covid-19 and other factors caused a decreased demand for SAT scores by colleges causing many high schools to forego in-school SAT testing. Because of this, students have less access to and incentive to take the SAT than ever before. To support students’ changing needs, College Board has adapted the SAT to an improved digital format. They believe this change will increase student interest and make the test more relevant to student needs.
According to Priscilla Rodriguez of College Board, “the digital SAT will be much easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant.” Rodriguez claims this testing format will benefit students as it is similar to the online tests they’ve seen in school. The digital SAT will be adaptive, meaning questions will vary based on student answers. The efficiency of adaptive testing means that students will spend around two hours taking the test digitally as opposed to three hours with the previous manual version. Other changes include shorter reading passages and access to calculators for the entirety of the math section.
To take the SAT digitally, students will meet at a testing location where the test can be monitored. Students may use their own computers. However, if a student does not have access to a computer, one will be provided to them for the duration of the test. Students will no longer need extraneous materials such as writing utensils and calculators. Therefore, lack of access to these materials will no longer be an issue. In addition, digital SAT scores will now be available just days after testing as opposed to several weeks with the hand-written version. The College Board believes these adjustments will benefit students by modernizing the standard SAT format.
Kayley Horton, Tutoring Coordinator
kayley@testprepchicago.com
(312) 848-1266