CURRENT SAT VS

REDESIGNED SAT

8 MAJOR CHANGES

Relevant Words in Context

Command of Evidence

Essay Analyzing a Source

Focus on Math that Matters Most

Problems Grounded in Real-World Context

Analysis in Science and in History/Social Sciences

Founding Documents and Great Global Conversation

No Penalty for Wrong Answers !!!

1. RELEVANT WORDS IN

CONTEXT

Rather than focusing on rare and exotic words that are usually not

used in everyday language, there will be more focus on common

words. Students will be tested on meaning in context. No more

memorizing lists of ridiculous vocabulary!

College Board Sample: Relevant Words in Context

2. COMMAND OF

EVIDENCE

Students will be asked questions that will test their ability to

synthesize information between several paragraphs, informational

graphics, and text from a wide array fields. There is a greater focus on

critical thinking.

College Board Sample: Command of Evidence

3. ESSAY ANALYZING

Students will be asked to analyze the author's writing style, tone,

reasoning, persuasive and stylistic elements. This will resemble the

abilities expected of students on college writing assignments.

College Board Sample: Essay Analyzing

4. FOCUS ON MATH THAT

MATTERS MOST

There will be a greater focus on math that will help students

succeed in college and beyond. There will be greater emphasis on

algebra, data analysis, and problem solving with a shift away from

geometry.

College Board Sample: Focus on Math that Matters Most

5. PROBLEMS GROUNDED

IN REAL-WORLD CONTEXT

Throughout the test, students will be given multi-step questions

placed in the context of real world applications.

College Board Sample: Problems Grounded in Real-World Context

6. ANALYSIS IN SCIENCE AND IN

HISTORY/SOCIAL SCIENCES

The test will emphasize literature and scenarios from history,

science, and social studies for students to analyze. This is to help

students hone the skills that will help them succeed in college.

College Board Sample: Analysis in Science, History, Social Science

7. FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND

GREAT GLOBAL CONVERSATION

They want to ensure that students will continue to be inspired by

and talk about the founding documents: The Bill of Rights, The

Declaration of Independence, and The Federalist Papers. Students

will get one passage in a certain context on these documents.

College Board Sample: Founding Documents

8. NO PENALTY FOR

WRONG ANSWERS!

This doesn’t even need to be explained!

The current SAT penalizes you 0.25 points for each incorrect

answer

• Thereby discouraging random guessing

Category Current SAT Redesigned SAT

Total Testing Time 3 hours and 45 minutes 3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the essay

[optional])

Components 1. Critical Reading 2.

Writing 3. Mathematics 4.

Essay

1. Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 2.

Math 3. Essay (optional)

Important Features Emphasis on general

reasoning skills; Emphasis

on vocabulary, often in

limited contexts; Complex

scoring (a point for a

correct answer and a

deduction for an incorrect

answer; blank responses

have no impact on scores)

Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a

clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge,

skills, and understandings most important for

college and career readiness and success;

Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in

extended contexts and on how word choice

shapes meaning, tone, and impact; Rights-only

scoring (a point for a correct answer but no

deduction for an incorrect answer; blank

responses have no impact on scores)

Category Current SAT Redesigned SAT

Essay Required and given at the

beginning of the SAT; 25

minutes to write the essay;

Tests writing skill; students

take a position on a

presented issue

Optional and given at the end of the SAT;

postsecondary institutions determine whether

they will require the Essay for admission; 50

minutes to write the essay; Tests reading,

analysis, and writing skills; students produce a

written analysis of a provided source text

Score Reporting Scale ranging from 600 to

2400; Scale ranging from

200 to 800 for Critical

Reading; 200 to 800 for

Mathematics; 200 to 800

for Writing; Essay results

scaled to multiple-choice

Writing

Scale ranging from 400 to 1600; Scale ranging

from 200 to 800 for Evidence-Based Reading

and Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on

each of three traits for Essay; Essay results

reported separately

Subscore Reporting None Subscores for every test, providing added

insight for students, parents, admission

officers, educators, and counselors

WHICH ONE HAS MORE

QUESTIONS?

Component Time Allotted

(minutes)

Number of

Questions

Critical Reading 70 67

Writing 60 49

Essay 25 1

Mathematics 70 54

Total 225 171

Current SAT

WHICH ONE HAS MORE

QUESTIONS?

Component Time Allotted

(minutes)

Number of

Questions

Reading 65 52

Writing and Language 35 44

Essay (optional) 50 1

Mathematics 80 57

Total 180 (230 with Essay) 153 (154 with Essay)

Redesigned SAT

IN CONCLUSION

Lots of changes! – No one can be sure how it will affect student

scores at least until it has been administered next year.

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