College Board announced in early 2022 that it will offer the PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT® tests digitally starting in 2023 and 2024.
The testing organization will administer the first digital PSAT test in fall of 2023. College Board recently confirmed that the fall of 2023 PSAT test will be the first digital test available. However, any national SAT tests or SAT School Day tests administered during a school test day in the fall of 2023 will be on paper.
Over the last 30 years Vint Hill Educational Services has seen numerous adjustments, reconstructions, and make-overs by College Board. With each change we have adapted and found new and improved ways to prepare our students.
This is not the first time that College Board has made significant changes to the tests, and it won’t be the last! However, the shift to an online format will involve some major changes to how the students take the tests and how certain questions are formatted. This digital conversion has been signaled by the company for some time.
In this post, we answer some common questions about what to expect with these changes and provide our advice for families moving forward.
What does “going digital” really mean for the PSAT and SAT tests?
“Digital” can mean a lot of things at first glance. But one thing is clear with this announcement: students will not take the online PSAT or SAT tests at home.
In their announcement, College Board stated that the digital SAT test will still take place in a proctored, in-person environment. Students will still take the tests at school or at a testing center.
The test will take place on a laptop or tablet through an exam application developed by the College Board. This application will need to be downloaded to the device prior to test day. Students can use personal or school-issued devices.
How will the basic format of the PSAT and SAT tests change?
The shift to digital will fundamentally change how College Board administers the test. Here are some basic, yet significant, format changes that students will need to prepare for:
The SAT test will last approximately two hours, which reduces overall testing time by about an hour.
The new digital format will be adaptive, meaning it will vary from student to student.
The new digital format will consist of two modules of varying difficulty. After the first module, one of two potential second-stage modules will be administered. The difficulty of module 2 is dependent on module 1 performance.
On the digital version, questions that test similar skills and knowledge are grouped together and arranged from easiest to hardest.
How will this change the reading and writing sections of the PSAT/SAT tests?
The most significant changes to the new digital version of the tests will be within the reading and writing sections. College Board confirmed that this move to a digital format will change some aspects regarding the content of the test, though the new digital test will continue to evaluate the same core skills of reading comprehension, making inferences, evaluating informational graphics, editing for grammar, and editing text to achieve a rhetorical purpose.
Here are some key differences on the reading/writing sections:
The digital version of these tests will feature more direct questions and short excerpts instead of full-length reading passages: 25-150 words per passage compared to 350-750 words per passage on the current version, with one question per “passage.”
Average time per question on the new digital format is 1.19 minutes compared to 1.25 minutes on the current version.
On the reading section, there will be no more line references on the new digital version. Instead, portions of text are underlined.
On the reading section of the digital version, “Craft & Structure” makes up 28% of the questions, with “Information and Ideas” accounting for 26% of the questions.
On the writing section of the new digital test, “Standard English Conventions” accounts for 26% of the questions (compared to 21% on the current version), and “Expression of Ideas” 20% (compared to 25% on the current version).
How will this change the math sections of the PSAT/SAT tests?
College Board has also announced the following changes to the math sections when it shifts to the digital format:
Students will be allowed to use calculators on every math question of the new digital test. Students can use their own calculator or use the calculator built into the exam application.
Average time per question is 1.6 minutes on the new digital format, compared to 1.25 minutes (no calculator) and 1.45 minutes (with calculator) on the current version.
The new digital test will contain shorter word problems—generally 50 words or less.
“Grid-ins” are now called “free response.”
There appears to be a slight increase in the number of more difficult math questions, but the same four concepts are tested: Algebra I and II, geometry, and trigonometry.
What should students do now before the format changes?
Stay the course. Continue to prepare as you are now and stay engaged with us so we can help you with specific recommendations as you approach the change. The skill set needed for this test will not change. The test will still include reading, writing, and math.
Still need to prepare for upcoming SAT and PSAT tests? Now is a great time to start.
2023 MOCK ACT/SAT TEST DATES
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We also offer one-to-one private mock testing at our offices or virtually through Lessonspace. This consists of a full-length practice test for your child. Tests include: ACT, SAT, PSAT, SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, and SAT Subject Tests. We provide the test booklet, essay booklet, answer sheet, testing timer, calculator, and pencils.
We can send parents a practice test as well, to administer to their student in-home. We will send out a free practice test packet along with proctoring instructions. Parents must send the answer sheet back to us via email or mail.