If you’re in the class of 2017 or 2018, you might have heard that the SAT is changing. You might also have no idea what that means.
I’ve been studying/doing extensive research on the SAT and put together the information I though would be most helpful to all my fellow confused juniors, and the slightly lost sophomores.
Why did they redesign the SAT?
The College Board says that it wants to make the test more relevant to what students will do in college. It’s going to have a larger focus on STEM and the vocab people actually use.
What’s different about it?
Oh boy, a whole lot has changed. Here’s a quick comparison:
(get ready to read a lot)
Is the new test easier or harder than the current one?
I think that’s hard to say. I’ve heard that the Math will be harder and the Reading will be easier, but I’m not sure whether or not that’s true. I think you should take a practice test (like the PSAT or one on Khan Academy), and then you can know the how difficult the test is for you.
On a scale of 1600 points (like how it was when your parents took the test). Both the Reading/Writing section and the Math section are scored on a scale of 200-800. The essay is graded separately on a scale of 6-24.
Was the October 2015 PSAT for the old or new SAT?
This year’s PSAT was based on the new SAT, so it you took the PSAT in Oct 2015, you’ve seen the format for the new test.
When can I take the new SAT?
The new test is starting on March 5th, 2016. Here’s the schedule for the rest of the year.
Can I still use my older sister’s study books?
NO. Old prep books won’t help you at all. The way the new test is structure is different. Question format, section length, content, it’s all changing. On the old SAT (or in old prep books) you’ll find reading questions that are completely different than the ones on the SAT you’ll actually be taking.
Only use new SAT study resources. Make sure any book you buy says “New SAT”, “Redesigned SAT”, or “2016″. I’m going to link some good free resources down further.
Do I need to go to a prep course?
I don’t think you need to. Many prep courses just give you practice tests and tell you basic strategies, both of which you can find in books in the book store. Prep courses cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. I’m self-studying for my test, and so far I’ve only spent like $40 on some books. However, if your family has the resources and you feel like you need someone’s help, then go for it. Certain people can really benefit from taking courses.
Just know that it’s not necessary in order to get a good score. You just need the skills. motivation, and commitment.
(if you need prep help but can’t afford it, see if your school offers free test prep)
Is the essay really optional?
By definition? Yes. In the world of college admissions? Not really. Let’s be real, getting into college is big competition. By opting not to take the essay, you might look lazy/uncommitted to admissions officers. While it sucks that you have to spend 50 minutes of your life just to impress some random, face-less judge come application time, that’s just the way it is.
How much do college really care about SAT/ACT scores anyway?
I’m not an admissions officer, so I can’t say for sure, but I can give an educated guess and say colleges care a pretty decent amount about test scores.
Good scores definitely make you stand out. Colleges say they look at apps holistically, but I’m sure if they pick up an application, and the student got a 450 on the SAT, they might instantly make their decision. It’s not fair how much importance standardized testing has.
If you don’t get the score you want, take the test again, and just remember that the other elements of your application are taken into consideration too.
***Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board- a must have. includes 4 practice tests and hundreds of practice questions.
Barron’s New SAT- in my opinion, Barron’s is the best test prep company out there. includes some vocab flash cards, so that’s cool.
***Barron’s SAT 1600- for people whose scores are already high. the practice questions are really hard, and it includes a million strategies. if you want a perfect score, go with this book.
Barron’s Math Workbook for the New SAT- i recommend anything Barron’s honestly
***Up Your Score- its written by college kids who got perfect scores on the test when they took it, it’s funny, readable, and includes a lot of good strategies. it actually acknowledges the fact that the SAT sucks. definitely recommend if you want an in depth look at the test.
Khan Academy- i cannot stress how awesome it is. Khan Academy is providing A+++, free SAT prep. they teamed up with the College Board, so everything is test approved. you can take the same four practice tests that you buy in the College Board book, but it’s free. there’s a million practice questions, lesson videos, and a progress tracker, all for free. this a big deal guys.
Quizlet- it’s good for vocab lists
College Board- you need to make an account to register and to see your scores
SAT Up- A pretty good app, current SAT prep is free and new SAT prep is $25, so wtf? i think the app might become cheaper/free in a couple of months after the current SAT is completely done
Daily Practice for the New SAT- it’s by the College Board, so the problems are pretty good, but i found it to be really buggy. i’m sure the app will be fixed within weeks.
SAT Vocab for MindSnacks- you learn vocab through these really cute games (i use the MindSnacks app for learning german and that’s also A+)
registration deadlines are 1 month before the actual test. for example, you have to sign up for the March SAT by Feb 5th. be on that and don’t forget
most people need multiple months to study for this test. if it’s a month before a test date, and you still aren’t confident, don’t be afraid to wait until the next testing
free resources are your friends
keep looking for new study resources as they are updated. right now there aren’t that many out there for the new sat so just be patient
only take practice tests made by the College Board (this includes Khan Academy), other tests are often too easy and aren’t true representations of the real test
the SAT isn’t everything. your score doesn’t have to define you. the test doesn’t measure your intelligence, it measures your ability to take a test
most people end up taking the SAT at least twice
