What We Know About the New Digital SAT
When Will the SAT Change?
Beginning in March of 2023, all students taking the SAT at international test centers will take the digital SAT.
In the Fall of 2023, the PSAT will be digital (so current sophomores will take the digital SAT in the fall of their junior year). The SAT will remain a paper and pencil exam for the Fall of 2023.
In March 2024, the digital SAT will roll out at all U.S. testing sites.
What Will the Test Be Like?
Students will use their own computer/tablet or a site-provided one to take an online-only exam. A testing app will need to be installed; students will connect to the College Board to download their encrypted question modules.
It’s shorter than the paper test–only 2 hours and 14 minutes for standard time.
Each section (Reading & Writing and Math) includes three modules, one for Part 1 of the exam and two possible sections for Part 2.
The test is adaptive (by section, not by question). The difficulty level of the Part 2 exam varies based on a student’s performance in Part 1.
Scoring uses Item Response Theory, which means that a student’s pattern of mistakes and the varying weight of items will impact the final score.
Reading & Writing Basics:
Two 32-minute modules of 27 questions each
13-17 Reading, 10-14 Writing
Gone are the long passages; each question has its own short passage.
Math Section Basics:
Two 35-minute modules of 22 questions each
There will be a Desmos online graphing calculator embedded in the exam. There are no “no-calculator” math questions.
Both Reading and Math Sections will include an additional 4-5 unscored questions (mixed in).
Some Things to Know:
Students will not be able to tell whether they are in the easier or harder module while taking the exam and should not try to figure it out.
Scoring will remain on a 1600 scale; score reports will be less transparent and will not include a full release of the test questions.
The majority of scores can be reached regardless of which second module a student gets shifted to, but more challenging questions are worth higher value in the scoring system.
The digital exam tests the same skills as previous exams but with different content.
The exam is much shorter but with more time per question, so it should be more accessible and less stressful for students.
It is highly unlikely that students with very high score potential would not get routed to the harder second module.
What Should Students Do Now?
Class of 2024 - Do nothing; your exam choices remain the same, and you will not have the opportunity to take the digital SAT before you apply to colleges.
Class of 2025 - You have more choices:
Students who will have Algebra 2 complete before the Fall of 2023 and are eager to get an exam under their belt, or be done with testing in the spring of junior year, can take an initial paper SAT in the fall. However, remember that student scores tend to go up later in the year, and all subsequent exams will be digital.
Another approach is to take the digital PSAT in the fall, determine whether the ACT or digital SAT is for you, and prepare for early spring exams (either SAT or ACT), with additional tests in the summer and early Fall as necessary.
Note: It is likely that test prep for the digital SAT will not be robust and worth investing in until at least the summer of 2023, when more data and information will be available.
Visit the College Board for the latest updates.