By now, students have settled into the digital SAT. But, there are some aspects of the test worth understanding before embarking on a test prep journey. So what should you know about the SAT? Read on for info from our test prep experts.
1. The digital SAT is shorter than previous forms.
Students tend to prefer this shorter test form. The SAT is 2 hours and 14 minutes of working time, about an hour less than the former paper version.
2. Section difficulty is adaptive.
There are four modules on the test: two for Reading & Writing and two for Math. Students will take a medium-difficulty first module, and their performance on it will determine whether they get a lower or higher-difficulty second module. To reach a top score, students need to get to the higher-difficulty module two.
3. The digital SAT may not feel difficult on the first try, but it isn’t necessarily easy to score well on.
The shorter passages and overall time mean students often walk out feeling pretty well about their performance. But, because it’s both short and adaptive, on average, the Digital SAT is just as difficult to score well on as any other standardized test. It takes high accuracy to do well.
4. Reading and grammar are combined.
On tests like the ACT, grammar and reading are separate sections. On the Digital SAT, reading comprehension and grammar are combined in the Reading & Writing section.
5. Math allows a calculator.
In many math classes, students are required to work without a calculator. Not so on the SAT. Both Math modules on the test allow a calculator, and the test platform even includes a (very powerful!) built-in graphing calculator.
6. Scoring is complicated.
The scoring algorithm on the Digital SAT is complicated. Questions have varying point values, and two per module are unscored experimental questions that won’t count towards the score. Different combinations of incorrect questions can also lead to differing subtracted point values. The most important thing? Students should focus on accuracy and getting as many questions correct as possible!
7. Reading & writing passages are short and sweet.
Compared to the ACT or English class readings, the Digital SAT passages tend to be fairly short–just three to five sentences. They vary in difficulty, with some tricky ones testing topics like poetry and data interpretation.
8. Math is heavy on Algebra.
Students will see geometry, data analysis, and trigonometry, but the heaviest emphasis will be on topics from Algebra I and Algebra II.
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