Beginning in 2024, the SAT will undergo considerable changes. The College Board will convert the SAT from a paper-and-pencil examination to a digital, computer-based exam. Students have many questions regarding how the new test format will compare in difficulty to the existing SAT.
Many students want to know whether the digital SAT is easier or harder than the traditional SAT.
This comprehensive tutorial examines all of the major differences between the paper and digital SATs to help you understand how the two test modes compare. We'll look into:
- Why is the SAT going digital?
- Major revisions to the digital SAT
- Is the digital SAT easier or harder? In-depth difficulty comparison
- How to Prepare Effectively for the New Digital Exam
Explore the SAT Course Book a Free Trial Session
Why is the SAT going Digital?
First, consider why the College Board decided to develop a computerized version of the SAT in the first place.
There are a few important reasons driving the transition to the computerized SAT:
- Increased accessibility – A digital SAT may be taken anywhere with internet connectivity, making it more accessible to students worldwide. This flexibility was especially significant during COVID-19, when in-person testing was restricted.
- Better security – The digital test format makes it far more difficult to leak questions ahead of time and share them with other students. The College Board can more readily change test formats.
- The digital SAT is shorter than the paper version, lasting only 2 hours and 14 minutes instead of 3 hours (or 3 hours and 50 minutes if the Essay part is included).
- More interactive questions – A computer-based test allows for more creative question formats than merely multiple choice, such as drag and drop, drop down menus, and multi-select questions.
- Faster score delivery – Students can receive digital scores in days instead of weeks.
Now, let's look at the significant format changes and how they may affect the test's difficulty.
Major Changes to the Digital SAT Format
The digital SAT differs significantly from the paper-based test in terms of structure. Here are the five important updates you should be aware of.
1. Digital Interface
The most visible change is that students will take the digital SAT on a laptop or tablet, rather than a traditional pencil and paper exam booklet.
All questions will be displayed on the screen, and students will answer them using a keyboard, mouse, and basic word processing tools.
2. Shorter Length
As previously stated, the digital SAT is approximately 1 hour shorter than the existing SAT. Below is a breakdown of the revised test length:
Reading: 32 minutes x 2 modules = 64 minutes
Writing and Language: 32 minutes x 2 modules = 64 minutes
Math: 35 minutes x 2 modules = 70 minutes
Total testing time was 134 minutes (slightly over 2 hours), compared to 170 minutes for the paper SAT.
3. SAT sections are renamed as modules
The conventional Reading, Writing, and Math portions are now known as "modules" on the digital SAT.
Each section is separated into two modules, which students complete consecutively. There is a short pause between the Reading/Writing and Math parts.
4. Question Format Changes
With the transition to a digital interface, question formats are being changed to take use of the new technology. For example:
- Reading – Passages are shorter, with only one question each passage, as opposed to lengthier passages with several questions.
- Writing – Questions will be designed to measure writing skills rather than complex grammar rules.
- Math – Students will be able to use an on-screen calculator throughout the Math session. The calculator currently available is a basic four-function calculator.
Some questions will feature a multi-select format, in which students can choose numerous responses from a list.
5. Adaptive Testing
The inclusion of adaptive testing marks a significant change to the digital SAT. This means that the test difficulty changes depending on the student's performance.
The second module in both the Reading/Writing and Math portions will be adjusted to be more tough or easier for each student depending on how they performed in the first module.
This helps to deliver a more precise score by asking harder or easier questions based on each test taker's ability level.
Is the Digital SAT easier or Harder Overall?
Now that we've covered the major changes to the digital SAT format, let's look at how these changes may affect the test's difficulty relative to the paper version.
The following are the key reasons why the digital SAT may be slightly simpler for students:
- Shorter duration – The significant reduction in exam length means students have less content to cover and more time per question. This may assist reduce weariness.
- Digital tools – On-screen calculators and basic word processing capabilities such as copy/paste might help you spot accidental errors.
- Multi-select questions – Having numerous correct answers to choose from may make it easier to recognize the appropriate solutions.
- No penalty for incorrect answers – On paper SATs, students lose 1/4 point for incorrect answers. The digital test carries no penalty.
- Adaptive testing – Students who struggle with easier problems will be directed to easier second modules, increasing their scoring potential.
However, there are certain updates that could make the digital test more difficult:
- New question types – Unfamiliar formats such as multi-select may throw pupils off if they haven't practiced them.
- Digital interface – Test takers who are unfamiliar with reading lengthy text on displays may struggle with the digital test.
- Technical concerns – Computer glitches during the real test may divert students' attention and impair performance.
- Adaptive testing – Students who excel at harder first modules will be directed to more sophisticated second modules, raising the level of difficulty.
Overall, testing experts agree that the digital SAT will be slightly easier than the paper test for most kids. But this advantage is minor. Strong preparation tactics will remain important for success on exam day.
How to Effectively Prepare for the Digital SAT
To optimize your potential on the new digital SAT, your preparation strategy should include:
Take Digital SAT Practice Tests
The easiest approach to prepare is to use the Digital SAT Practice Tests, which are in the same digital format as the actual test.
Taking full practice tests is essential for being comfortable with the digital interface and adaptive testing. Review your results to identify areas for improvement.
And what if you can't discover the correct Digital SAT Practice Tests? Look no further than Tutorwand's innovative Digital SAT Practice Platform. Designed by specialists to maximize exam preparation,Tutorwand provides an adaptive assessment engine that simulates the actual Digital SAT exam. Tutorwand allows students to learn important abilities by administering full-length practice examinations and topic-specific quizzes.
Its AI-powered scoring delivers individualized feedback, allowing you to focus on your deficiencies. Take advantage of Tutorwand's prep materials, which include thousands of practice questions and extensive video explanations. Prepare for test day success with Tutorwand, the ultimate SAT prep game changer.
Be sure to check out the many other SAT prep tools available on Tutorwand, such as our blog on Digital SAT tips and tricks.
The Digital SAT provides New Possibilities
The transition to the digital SAT provides new opportunities to display your talents in an updated format. With enough preparation for the new test dynamics, students can feel confident taking the exam online in 2024 and beyond.
Concentrate your study efforts on the essential academic skills tested by the SAT, while also becoming acquainted with the digital environment. With the perfect balance of subject review and format practice, you'll be ready for test day!
SAT eBook
It is very important to know minor to major facts when starting your preparation for an aptitude-based exam like SAT, with updates that can help with your SAT preparation.
We are pleased to announce the release of TestprepKart's free SAT study guide for the new SAT. This free SAT ebook gives you everything you need to know about the test, from content to content mastery, among the top practice goals you need.
Leave a Reply