The SAT Exam’s Upcoming 2024 Changes

The SAT exam will be undergoing several changes this year, the major one being that students will be able to use their own devices to take the test instead of the conventional pencil and paper. College Board will provide devices to any student who does not have access to one.

The SAT’s new design prevents students from losing their allocated time or progress if internet connection is lost at any point during the exam. The scoring of the SAT will also take less time, with students receiving their score in a few days post-exam rather than a few weeks post-exam. 

“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, the vice president of college readiness assessments at College Board. This new digital SAT will be shortened to two hours instead of three and allow more time per question. Also, the reading section will feature shorter passages with a broader range of topics relevant to the readings that students will encounter in college and have one question per passage. The reading section has undergone multiple changes; whereas, the only difference in the math section is that the use of calculators will be allowed for the entire section rather than a part of it.

The current paper-pencil test makes it possible for students to cheat, and if one test is compromised, the whole test might be compromised, which results in the cancellation of scores or administrations. However, the digital exam will guarantee a more secure SAT, since every student will receive a unique test.

While there are plenty of changes being made to the SAT and PSAT, many things are also staying the same. For instance, these exams will still be scored on a 1600 scale and be used to measure the skills students have learned throughout high school and determine their readiness for college. Plus, students will proceed to have access to Khan Academy’s free practice, and have the opportunity to get recognized by the College Board National Recognition Programs and gain scholarships.

The responses from the digital SAT pilot group have been generally very positive. “I like how easy the setup was overall, the quick instructions on test day, and the very much less stressful test format. It was way less stressful and had less cumbersome instructions,” said Danielle, a digital SAT pilot student in the U.S. The test is not only receiving positive responses from students but teachers too. “The digital SAT is efficient, easy, and most convenient. We did not have to unpack, securely receive, gather, distribute, or collect test books or answer papers. Monitoring a student’s progress during the test was reassuring and effective in reaching out to a student in case of a technical problem. The test day was hassle-free,”  said Sudarshana, a digital SAT pilot test coordinator in India.

In the spring of 2023, the international SAT will be held digitally, and so will the PSATs by the fall of 2023. By the spring of 2024, all SAT and SAT-related testing will be done on a device. Therefore, the class of 2024 will be the first students to take the SAT on a digital platform.