All About New Digital SAT
According to the College Board, the SAT will be converted to digital format in 2023 for international students and in 2024 for US students. Compared to the current SAT this test will take 2 hours rather than 3. In contrast to the traditional SAT, this digital version will provide test takers with their scores in a matter of days instead of months. In the event of external or internal issues, the paper-pencil version of the test may be canceled. Due to its unique form and the fact that each student will use their own device or one issued by the school, the digital SAT will be more secure.
Exam Details:
Below, in Table no. 1 few details of the digital SAT suite.
| Category | Reading and Writing (RW) Section | Math Section |
| Test length | 1st module: 25 operational questions and 2 pretest questions 2nd module: 25 operational questions and 2 pretest questions | 1st module: 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions 2nd module: 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions |
| Time per stage | 1st module: 32 minutes 2nd module: 32 minutes | 1st module: 35 minutes 2nd module: 35 minutes |
| # Of questions | 54 questions | 44 questions |
| Total time allotted | 64 minutes | 70 minutes |
| Question type(s) used | Discrete; four-option multiple-choice | Discrete; four-option multiple- choice (?75%) and student- produced response (SPR) (?25%) |
Digital SAT Timeline:
In Table 2 there is a Timeline for administering the Digital SAT. Here, all students will take the PSAT™ 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT® digitally starting in the fall of 2023, followed by the digital PSAT™ 10 in the spring of 2024.
| International SAT | PSAT-Related Assessments | U.S. SAT and SAT School Day | |
| Spring 2023 | Digital | Paper and Pencil | Paper and Pencil |
| Fall 2023 | Digital | Digital | Paper and Pencil |
| Spring 2024 | Digital | Digital | Digital |
Content Specifications:
Reading and Writing:
The SAT Online Reading and Writing section measures students’ college and career readiness in literacy. For college readiness and success, the section focuses on key elements of comprehension, rhetoric, and language use. Table 3 describes the content domains and question distribution for the Reading and Writing sections.
| Content Domain | Domain Description | Skill/Knowledge Testing Points | Operational Question Distribution |
| Craft and Structure | Measures the comprehension, vocabulary, analysis, synthesis, and reasoning skills and knowledge. | Words in Context Text Structure and Purpose Cross-Text Connections | ?28% / 13-15 questions |
| Information and Ideas | Measures comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills and knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information. | Central Ideas and Details Command of Evidence § Textual § Quantitative Inferences | ?26% / 12-14 questions |
| Standard English Conventions | Measures the ability to edit texts to conform to core conventions of Standard English sentence structure, usage, and punctuation. | Boundaries Form, Structure, and Sense | ?26% / 11-15 questions |
| Expression of Ideas | Measures the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals. | Rhetorical Synthesis Transitions | ?20% / 8-12 questions |
Math:
SAT Suite assessments measure students’ knowledge and skills in math needed for college and careers. Geometry and trigonometry are the key elements of the digital SAT Suite Math section.
Math Section Content Domains and Question Distribution are shown in Table 4
| Content Domain | Domain Description | Skill/Knowledge Testing Points | Operational Question Distribution |
| Algebra | Measures the ability to analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities. | Linear equations in one variable Linear equations in two variables Linear functions Systems of two linear equations in two variables Linear inequalities in one or two variables. | ?35% / 13-15 questions |
| Advanced Math | Measures skills and knowledge central for progression to more advanced math courses, including demonstrating an understanding of absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical. | Equivalent expressions Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables Nonlinear functions. | ?35% / 13-15 questions |
| Problem- Solving and Data Analysis | Measures the ability to apply quantitative reasoning about ratios, rates, and proportional relationships. | Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units Percentages One-variable data: distributions and measures of center and spread Two-variable data: models and scatterplots Probability and conditional probability. | ?15% / 5-7 question |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | Measures the ability to solve problems that focus on area and volume; angles, triangles, and trigonometry; and circles. | Area and volume Lines, angles, and triangles Right triangles and trigonometry Circles. | ?15% / 5-7 questions |
Scoring:
The digital SAT Suite assessments yield three scores: a total score and two section scores. The total score is the arithmetic sum of both section scores from the entire evaluation. Section scores are based on students’ performance in Reading, Writing, and Math.
NOTE: Subscores and cross-test scores will no longer be reported for the digital SAT Suite.
Vertical score scale:
Table 5 details how the vertical scale works for the digital SAT Suite.
| Testing Program | Total Score Scale | Section Score Scales |
| PSAT 8/9 | 240–1440, in 10-point intervals | 120–720, in 10-point intervals |
| PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 | 320–1520, in 10-point intervals | 160–760, in 10-point intervals |
| SAT | 400–1600, in 10-point intervals | 200–800, in 10-point intervals |
Downloading the test from the college board website is a good way to get familiar with the test and prepare for it.
