We've been preparing students for the newest version of the SAT, the Digital SAT (dSAT), since January. The dSAT is taken on a student's digital device and is adaptive by section: you must do well on the first module to get to the second harder module and challenge for a higher score. We did a deep dive on the new format here, and that analysis is still broadly valid. Here are some more thoughts:
- The questions have different weights!
Getting an easy question incorrect will really lower a score while getting a super-hard question wrong will have much less impact. Hence, students need to work hard to not make silly errors on the easier questions in the first module. If you don't get to the harder second module, scores are really capped at about 580/800.
- The test is shorter!
It is now just over 2 hours long and the computer based nature means that there is much less faffing about at the start with the answer sheets and whatnot. Kids click "Start Test", and they are off to the races. A much more pleasant, and much shorter, experience for all concerned than the old SAT and especially the ACT.
- Focus is key!
While shorter, the Reading and Writing half of the test requires students to focus on a brief passage about, say, Native American pottery, to answer one question and then tackle the next question which may cover an experiment in botany, followed by interpreting a Shakespeare quote, etc. Switching so quickly is a challenge for many and requires laser-like focus for the full 64 minutes of the two Reading modules. We have developed some great timing strategies to maximize Reading/Writing scores.
- DESMOS is a game-changer!
The DESMOS graphing calculator is embedded in the testing app and on some math modules it can be used on up to a third of the questions to effectively blunt-force your way to the correct answer through trial and error. Learning how to employ this powerful tool is key to a higher score, especially for students who don't remember what a discriminant will tell them about the number of solutions to a quadratic function.
- The test has worked!
We had profound fears regarding the many, many things that could go wrong with this transition to a new test format. Thankfully, things have gone largely to plan - a few issues aside. International students are being used as beta testers before the test is rolled out in the States from next March but to give College Board credit, it seems to be working just fine.
