If you’ve already decided to take the dreaded three hour scantron SAT, you might have to reconsider. The College Board made changes on Jan. 25 to the SAT regarding time length, score delivery time and most importantly the change to a completely digitized test.
These changes will be implemented by Spring 2024, meaning the graduating class of 2025 will be the first high school class to take the digital SAT. These changes apply to all students at the middle school who plan to take the SAT.
The change to a digital format of the test is due to positive feedback from students who took a global pilot of the digital SAT. Students who took the pilot test praised features of the digital SAT such as the highlighting tool and the countdown timer on the screen. According to College Board’s Newsroom, the digital SAT will give every student a unique test form.
Students who take the digital SAT will be able to view their score in a few days as compared to weeks with the paper and pencil version. College Board hopes this will allow students to get “the information they need to make key college decisions quicker,” according to their website.
The SAT will now be a 2-hour test with more time per question. For example, the digital test contains shorter reading comprehension questions with shorter passages and only one question tied to each passage. Word problems in math sections will also be shorter.
“I think the two-hour test will be more manageable,” Alex Dinh ’25 said. “I also think that taking the test online might keep me focused more, because I’m not looking at this huge test, I really only see one question at a time.”
However, some are also concerned about the use of digital screens.
“I think paper tests would be better for me because after a while looking at a screen, my eyes start to hurt,” Micah Parr ’25 said.
While the SAT is making major changes, College Board has decided to keep the 1600 scale score as well as in-person testing at a testing center or school. Testing locations are required to provide a digital device to students who do not bring their own device.
More information on sections, timing, number of questions and additional scoring information will be sent out this summer.
