The Redesigned SAT
BY PAIGE KENYON
Co-Lifestyle Editor
Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT): is an exam that measures "academic skills, used for admission to [United States] colleges." The rigor of this test makes it feared by all high school students who eventually have to take this test to attend higher levels of education such as college. In recent years, the College Board and Education boards have changed the curriculum of these tests to prepare students for "real life situations." To implement this these institutions have altered these tests given to see how students can apply their knowledge rather than bubble in answers. These changes are seen in the new CAASP test juniors have to take and the redesigned SAT.
With the implementation of a different curriculum there are numerous changes to the new SAT. One of these changes includes no penalty for wrong answers where the current SAT subtracts .25 of a point for each wrong answer. Also, no vocabulary words will be tested since this test will measure what is learned in high school and what is needed to succeed in college rather than testing memorization. Furthermore, these questions are seen in the four different parts of the test, the reading, writing and language, and math portions in addition to the optional essay.
In the reading portion of the test, students will be required to apply knowledge from various classes to answer questions from passages that range from classical work to science, economic or global passages. With these passages students are then required to describe relationships between these different articles in addition to understanding how the author uses certain words to provide a specific meaning or mood. According to the College Board's website on the SAT, the reading test is about "How you take in, think about, and use information."
In the writing section, these same skills are tested as students answer questions to read, find mistakes and then fix them, something students do normally when they proofread. To do this, students are tested on using evidence to strengthen their argument, improve words in context, edit analysis and expression of ideas in these passages.
For the math portion, everyday situations are applied to learned formulas. The math tested will be be the math that students "rely on most in all sorts of situations" according to the college board website. To do this, the math section will focus on algebra, problem solving and data analysis and advanced math which test the students ability to use equations and systems to solve complex applications and understanding.
One of the major changes to the new SAT, is the essay which requires students to read a passage and use this passage to explain the authors argument. This differs from the current SAT which asks students to agree or disagree with a given topic. In addition this essay is completely optional for students but depending on certain college requirements this essay portion might be required.
After taking the redesigned PSAT this October juniors and sophomores were exposed to the new testing format and it's changes compared to the current SAT.
"A large difference that I saw between the two tests is that every time I answered a question in the critical reading section I would immediately have to justify the answer. Those questions would ask me where I found it and to cite it" junior Riya Sagar said.
When asked what test she preferred better, the redesigned PSAT or the current SAT Sagar said, "I personally prefer the old sat because I feel like it worked with the strengths that I have."
Implemented in March, students who believe they will do better on the old SAT can test either on Dec. 5 or Jan. 23. For additional resources or information and practice for the new designed SAT, the college board has partnered with Khan Academy for students to watch free videos and they have also published a review book for the redesigned SAT, Offical SAT STUDY GUIDE.








