Info about the new digital test - info about the blue book app is 1/2 way down the page Direct link to download the bluebook app

My understanding is all this is available in the bluebook app. It will link out to more practice on targeted topics in Khan Academy

My favorite SAT resources Erica Meltzer is my long-time favorite resource for reading and writing. She has just release her updated books for the digital test. I have not read them yet, but I'm guessing they will be as exellent as her previous books. The Complete Guide to SAT Reading, 5th edition The Ultimate Guide to SAT Writing, 6th edition I have a variety of math books I use with my students. I love Richard Corn's math book for the ACT. He provides brief, focusing explanations for the context that is covered and a handful of practice problems. He's just released a book for the digital SAT. Getting Top Math Scores on the Digital SAT: A Guide for Strong Students I also love No BS SAT Math by Jackie Pollina and Josh Kariyev. They dive into each topic and explain it from the ground up with lots of practice problems and full video explanations for all questions. This book is great for students who need a thorough review (and perhaps a chance to re-learn) of all the math covered in the SAT. The digital SAT is covering the same math topics (though perhaps in different amounts per Mike's analysis here) The 1600.io SAT math books are also very thorough and complete. And has an amazing online component here. I also love the Math Chops online practice for lots of targeted practice on the math that each kid needs (its adaptive)

Are you talking about using the paper-based reading longer passages to prepare for the digital reading passages? They are apples and oranges. You can see the examples of the digital questions here. And the timing is totally different as well. I think of them as three completely different tests: ACT, paper SAT, digital SAT. Yes they all cover high school content but in very different ways. Best to choose one and then do all your practice with that same test only.

Hi all - I've got more details on the digital test. PSAT - They will be releasing a digital form of the PSAT in June for students to practice on to get ready for the October digital PSAT Digital practice tests - There are currently 4 digital practice tests in the app. We were hoping that they would be releasing more this year but that won't be happening. They will be releasing 2 more practice tests in early 2024 and then two more in early 2025. However, they will be releasing more questions into the "Educator Question Bank". Unsure who will be able to access this. And there will be overlap between the quesiton bank and existing test questions on the released practice tests. However, they will be added questions to the question bank on a rolling basis. In September they will give studuents access to a Student Question Bank that will give them an opportunity for more practice. Khan Academy - The CB is again partnering with the Khan Academy (KA). Within the Bluebook app, students will be able to link out to lessons and videos to learn more about the content they are missing on the practice test. There will also be additional practice questions written by KA to give students more practice. Score release timelines - They are staying with the two weeks to release scores through 2023/2024 but hope to eventually move to score being released much more quickly. Scoring - New information. There is no set number of questions that will trigger the easier/harder second module. So instead of a set number of questions, they instead look at theta and that's what determines the second module. You can read more about theta and item repsonse theory here. And more about all the CB research data here. Accommodations - There will be accomodations just like for the current paper test. It was unclear whether students had to use their whole time or could move forward once they were ready.

Great question! Yes, the Verbal sections are completely independent of the Math sections.

@JazzyMom There's always the ACT for folks who want to sit out the first year of the digital SAT

@EKT Yes - if you muck up the first section, the test will then give you the easier second section which will have a ceiling on your scores. (At the moment we think the range of scores possible for the easier second section is 200-650 and the range for the harder section is 400-800) I was also skeptical. It's based on Item Response Theory which is a mathematically valid way to compose tests. Right now I have to plow through all the easy, medium, and hard questions on the existing paper SAT. But I am a high scorer - and the easy questions really aren't useful. I consistently get all of them correct. To really gauge my ability, the test should give me more medium and hard questions. And the reverse is true for the lower scoring students - giving them hard questions is a waste of time becuase they will miss most of them. By giving students the right sort of questions, the test can more quickly figure out where they are going to score. So they can cut out 1/3 of the questions b/c high scoring students don't need easy questions and lower scoring students don't need hard questions. As to taking different tests - it could be as simple as changing the numbers on the exact same question. Or they could give entirely different questions that statistically test the same. I have many, many beefs with the College Board. But the one they thing are brilliant at is statistical analysis - they have millions of data points and can very accurately predict student scores. Does that help? The College Board says they are going to release a technical manual explaining the new scoring system sometime this summer or fall.

The test isn't easier. (Even though some students think it FEELS easier) On the paper based test, each test had its own scoring table - so, yes, different raw scores resulted in different scaled scores. With this adaptive test, with questions being pulled from a question bank, each kid is going to have their own test. But the College Board is confident they can come up with an accurate score that's comparable across kids and tests.

Yes, my understanding is that PSAT will have the same format as the SAT. We don't quite know that for sure yet, since College Board hasn't yet released a digital practice PSAT - but they should be doing that this summer.

@gstharr Yes, there is a ceiling to your score if you end up in the easier second section. I don't know how accurate this is since the College Board isn't releasing this info, but tutoring folks have estimated that scoring range for the easier second module is 200-650 and the range for the harder second module is 400-800. So quite a lot of overlap. Folks seemed to indicate that statistically the methodology is pretty solid - meaning that, even for slow starters, kids should end up in the correct second module.

Great question - The PSAT used to be half the length of the SAT. Now the PSAT will be the same as the SAT, but it will use an easier and different scoring table. The SAT goes from 400-1600. The PSAT goes from 320-1520. And the PSAT is scored against other 10th graders while the SAT is scored against other 11th graders. So just use the digital SAT for practice for the digital PSAT

Hi all - I just got back from a college conference and have a lot more info on the upcoming digital SAT. Here are the changes from the paper-based SAT .1. The test is SHORTER: From a 3 hour test to a 2 hour test .2. Students will test on their own (or school) computers in a school or test center .3. Instead of 4 sections (Reading, Writing, Math no calculator, Math with calculator) it will have 2 SECTIONS: VERBAL and MATH. .3. The test is ADAPTIVE by section: Each section will have two modules. The first module has easy, medium and hard questions. Depending on how you do on the first module you will then see an easier second module (with more easy and medium questions) or a harder second module (with more medium and hard questions) You need to answer about 2/3 of the first module correctly in order to get placed into the second harder module .4. You end up with about 20% more time per question -Reading+ Writing: Paper test: 96 questions in 100 minutes total, ~ 1 min per question*. Digital test: 54 questions in 64 mins, ~1.2 min/question -Math: Paper test: 58 questions in 80 minutes, ~1.4 min/question. Digital test: 44 questions in 70 mins, ~1.6 min/question -*not that you would ever spend exactly x min per question - you would obviously spend more time on harder questions and less time on easier questions, but it useful to get a sense of the timing on the new test .5. Much SHORTER READING PASSAGES (3-5 sentences) with only one question per passage. This is the biggest change of the test. You also have the ability to highlight, mark out wrong answers, and flag questions to come back to (within each section, but not across sections) .6. The test app has a DESMOS calculator built-in and will be available during all math questions (so no more no-calculator section) You'll want to explicitly teach your kids the DESMOS calculator (it has a lot more functionality) so they can use it on the test. Kids can also bring their own calculator. Feedback so far has been that some kids use the DESMOS calculator exclusively and some kids use their own calculator for quick calculations and then use the DESMOS calculator for its graphing and function capabilities. .7. Score should be back in DAYS instead of weeks .8. The scores are the same (out of 1600), so a 600 on the paper test is the same as a 600 on the digital test .9. The feedback from students has been amazing: They LOVE it. (The digital test went live overseas in March 2023) They say it FEELS a lot easier. (My students hated the long reading passages on the old test) .10. DATES: The Oct PSAT will be digital. The digital SAT rolls out to all students here in the states on March 2024. (So the paper based test retires for good on Dec 2023) .11. If anyone remembers the debacle from the last time the SAT switched tests back on 2016 with a new test design and new concordance tables, etc, folks are saying that this switch is much easier. And so far the College Board is administering it pretty flawlessly. It looks like they learned from their mistakes back in 2016. .12. Test Prep Material: You can access 4 tests now on the College board's app called the Bluebook. They will also be partnering with Khan Academy. College Board will be releasing two more tests in the fall along with a question bank. Third party vendors are creating mock test question banks and a similar online interface to fill the gap for students who want more practice .13. Score reporting - much less helpful. They won't release old tests. Each test question is worth an unknown, varying, amount of points so they won't tell you how many questions you got correct. I'm not sure if you'll even be able to see your old test questions (like you can now with the paper test). .14. Security - This test is much more secure. Each student will have their own test. They will have similar questions, but in a different order and with answer choices in different orders. You can find out more info about the digital SAT on the College Board website here Originally, I was going to advise students next year just to take the ACT and let the SAT work the bugs out of the digital test. But now, hearing how much students love it and seeing how well the College Board is handling the transition, I have changed my mind and think everyone should at least look at it.

@Silver "It's okay to take the SAT for the first time May of Junior year, right?" The new digital SAT debuts in the states for the March 2024 test. It will be offered: March, May, June, Aug, Oct, Nov, Dec in 2024 It's completely fine not to take the test in March. Though usually my students don't take the May test date b/c of other AP tests happening that month.

Just to clarify about the new SAT rollout (it will be computer-based and adaptive; no more long reading passages with multiple questions - it will have short reading passages with a single question; no more no-calculator section with math - you'll be able to use your calculator for all math questions; it will be a little over 2 hours instead of 3 hours) International students will take the new SAT starting spring 2023 US students will take the new SAT starting spring 2024. Kahn Academy will have 4 (I think?) practice tests available for kids but I'm not sure if they'll be available this fall (Fall 2022) for the international kids or next fall (Fall 2023) More info via the College Board: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital I'm advising my students to take the SAT fall of their junior year (fall 2023). If they're not happy with their scores, switch to the ACT for spring 2024.

I always make sure my students work on new-to-them material because the SAT never asks the same question twice. But I do think there is a lot of utility in showing them the underlying structure of the problem. One of my complaints about the SAT math explanations is that they only talk about that particular problem, and don't extrapolate to the larger category of the problem type. So if the question asked about putting an elephant into a refrigerator, the explanation shows how to do that. But then kids are stumped on the next question about stuffing a giraffe into a box. Even thought it's the same question: how do I put an animal in a container? Keep showing kids the PATTERNS across a variety of questions. The SAT only has so many types of problems - but they have an unlimited way to ask about those problems. Remember the old picture frame problem - I want to increase the size of my picture frame by one inch, how much material do I need? You have to remember to account for one inch on EVERY SIDE of the frame. So it's the same problem even though the SAT rarely asks about picture frames but often asks about pools and patios, painting a wall with windows, checkerboard squares, and donut holes.

I would recommend you only use tests published by the College Board (real, authentic SAT tests) You can download 8 tests from the College Board website. (And, yes, these are the same tests than Khan Academy uses) And, you can also download official SAT QAS tests from reddit. (18 additional tests from 2016-2022) You're correct -Section 3, the no-calculator section, is crazy fast. (I can barely get through Section 3, whereas I could do Section 4 twice in the time alloted). For my students who want to get high math scores, it really is a numbers (ha!) game. A lot of my best scoring students churn through math tests, focusing on *perfect execution*. Getting used to how the SAT words questions (they are tricky in unexpected ways), and where and why you make mistakes (didn't double check the question, didn't read the last part of the question, etc) are both really important test taking skills (that have nothing to do with understanding math)

Just wanted to confirm @UmmIbrahim's reply that there are NO MATRICES on the PSAT and SAT. (I'm a long time SAT/ACT tutor) There are a couple matrices on the ACT. There are rarely box and whisker plots on the SAT (one shows up maybe every 4th test?) However, most kids are completely flummoxed by them. Mashup Math has a terrific 5 min video on box and whisker plots that covers everything you need to know. (To be clear, you don't need to know how to construct them, you just need to know how to interpret them)

Whoops - good catch. I meant ACT. Here's the blub from their website on their COVID requirments: Requiring face coverings be worn by students and staff (See FAQs for details) Making hand sanitizer available Placing COVID-19 related signage, including floor signage to maintain six feet distances at key locations such as check-in and seating arrangements   Requiring health screenings and wellness checks on both testing staff and examinees on test day 

"She said proctor didn’t wear his mask the whole time and tried to tell kids they couldn’t wear their watches (including analog watches, like DD was wearing). Luckily, the kids knew the rules and set him straight." Ugh! This is why (before COVID) I took the tests as much as I could - to make sure proctor's weren't screwing up. I'm so glad the kids knew the rules. The week before the test, I go over all the rules with my kids so they know what should (and should not) be happening (and what to do next) If you want to, I'd report that proctor to the school - SAT's new policy is that everyone has to wear a mask.

Here's what the ACT folks are saying today. Via their Twitter feed here: We know you're anxious to hear from us. 2021 seniors whose registration for June or July was cancelled & who haven't received a refund will still get emails today. 2021 seniors whose registration for April was cancelled & who haven't received a refund will get emails tomorrow. They are also saying they are opening registration for the fall tests on Aug 3.

Here's what's new for this year: https://www.commonapp.org/events/whats-new-common-app-2020-2021-updates Here's where you can register to start your application: https://apply.commonapp.org/createaccount

Regular registration for the Aug 29 SAT closed tonight at midnight, EST. You can register here: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/dates-deadlines?excmpid=SM056-AL-1-tw Since dates and deadlines are crazy with COVID, I'm recommending to my students to sign up for August. If the Aug dates get bumped, they should be first in line for other dates later in the fall.

The ACT just added a ton more dates in the fall. Registration opens the last week in July: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html The fall dates are: September Saturday, September 12 Sunday, September 13 Saturday, September 19 October Saturday, October 10 Saturday, October 17 Saturday, October 24 Sunday, October 25

The ACT just added a ton more dates in the fall. Registration opens the last week in July: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html The fall dates are: September Saturday, September 12 Sunday, September 13 Saturday, September 19 October Saturday, October 10 Saturday, October 17 Saturday, October 24 Sunday, October 25