THE NEW, IMPROVED, AND MORE USEFUL SAT
In the spring of 2016, students will be introduced to a new and improved SAT. The new SAT will be more focused and useful than ever before.
According to CollegeBoard, less than half of students who take the current SAT are college-ready. Among college-ready students who are identified as low-income and high-achievers, the majority do not apply to colleges within their reach. CollegeBoard also reports that among students ready for Advance Placement (AP) courses, African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are less likely to take AP math courses than their peers. The goal of revising the SAT is to support college readiness and success for more students and to make sure that students who are prepared take full advantage of the opportunities earned through their hard work. The redesigned SAT will reward productive use of classroom time and encompass a focus on rigorous coursework.
The following are the top eight major SAT changes to look out for.
1. Relevant vocabulary words
In previous SATs, students were stumped with typical SAT vocabulary. Students were highly encouraged to memorize obscure vocabulary words from flash cards. There are no more difficult SAT words students have to memorize in order to comprehend the question. Students will be asked to interpret meanings of words based on the context of the passage. These words will include vocabulary used in high school, college, and beyond.
2. Essay section is now optional
Students have three hours to complete the SAT. The essay section will allow an additional 50 minutes. The essay section will entail analyzing a source document. The essay prompt will be shared in advance and remain consistent. The only thing that will change in this section is the passage. Although the essay section is optional, many school districts and colleges will require students to complete the essay.
3. Non-calculator section
The calculator is allowed on one out of the two sections on the new SAT. This section will make it easier to assess students' fluency in math and their understanding of math concepts. It also rewards well-learned technique and number sense.
4. Perfect score is back to 1600
The new SAT will be scored on a 400 to 1600-point scale. The scores on the essay section will be reported separately.
5. No penalty for wrong answers
Students will no longer lose a quarter of a point for incorrect, multiple-choice answers. The new SAT will allow students to get points for questions they answer correctly. This encourages students to give their best on all questions.
6. Focus on math that matters most
The new SAT will focus in-depth on the following three essential areas of math: problem-solving and data analysis (ratios, percentages, proportional reasoning); heart of algebra (linear equations and systems); and passport to advance math (includes some trigonometry and pre-calculus).
7. Real-world problems
The questions will now be directly related to work performed in college and career.
8. Inclusion of founding documents and great global conversation
Students will now encounter a passage from one of the founding documents or from a text from global conversations. Founding documents include the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers. Global conversations include vital matters such as freedom, justice, and human dignity.
Watch President Coleman’s address to learn more about the reasons behind the SAT redesign.
According to CollegeBoard, less than half of students who take the current SAT are college-ready. Among college-ready students who are identified as low-income and high-achievers, the majority do not apply to colleges within their reach. CollegeBoard also reports that among students ready for Advance Placement (AP) courses, African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are less likely to take AP math courses than their peers. The goal of revising the SAT is to support college readiness and success for more students and to make sure that students who are prepared take full advantage of the opportunities earned through their hard work. The redesigned SAT will reward productive use of classroom time and encompass a focus on rigorous coursework.
The following are the top eight major SAT changes to look out for.
1. Relevant vocabulary words
In previous SATs, students were stumped with typical SAT vocabulary. Students were highly encouraged to memorize obscure vocabulary words from flash cards. There are no more difficult SAT words students have to memorize in order to comprehend the question. Students will be asked to interpret meanings of words based on the context of the passage. These words will include vocabulary used in high school, college, and beyond.
2. Essay section is now optional
Students have three hours to complete the SAT. The essay section will allow an additional 50 minutes. The essay section will entail analyzing a source document. The essay prompt will be shared in advance and remain consistent. The only thing that will change in this section is the passage. Although the essay section is optional, many school districts and colleges will require students to complete the essay.
3. Non-calculator section
The calculator is allowed on one out of the two sections on the new SAT. This section will make it easier to assess students' fluency in math and their understanding of math concepts. It also rewards well-learned technique and number sense.
4. Perfect score is back to 1600
The new SAT will be scored on a 400 to 1600-point scale. The scores on the essay section will be reported separately.
5. No penalty for wrong answers
Students will no longer lose a quarter of a point for incorrect, multiple-choice answers. The new SAT will allow students to get points for questions they answer correctly. This encourages students to give their best on all questions.
6. Focus on math that matters most
The new SAT will focus in-depth on the following three essential areas of math: problem-solving and data analysis (ratios, percentages, proportional reasoning); heart of algebra (linear equations and systems); and passport to advance math (includes some trigonometry and pre-calculus).
7. Real-world problems
The questions will now be directly related to work performed in college and career.
8. Inclusion of founding documents and great global conversation
Students will now encounter a passage from one of the founding documents or from a text from global conversations. Founding documents include the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers. Global conversations include vital matters such as freedom, justice, and human dignity.
Watch President Coleman’s address to learn more about the reasons behind the SAT redesign.
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