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SAT Test Change ®
SAT Test Changes
Welcome!
Admissions Stats
Fact vs Myth – the SAT vs ACT and the New
SAT
Overview of the tests – SAT, ACT, and the New
SAT
Sample Questions
Admissions Timeline
Prep Options
Agenda
SAT Test Changes
Why Standardized Tests?
Getting in is tougher than ever
Another year of record numbers of students applying to universities
Admissions was as competitive, and in some cases even more so, than last
year
Significant decreases in acceptance rates at universities all over the country
this year
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
Acceptance Rate 2013
Acceptance Rate 2014
SAT Test Changes
Test Scores Are Important
Some employers today are even asking to see applicant’s
old SAT scores**
Nearly 90% of colleges placed considerable or moderate
importance on test scores*
A good test score can open the door to more colleges and
academic scholarships. Merit based scholarships are based
on two factors: SAT or ACT scores and high school grades
SAT Test Changes
March 2016
Class of 2017
takes first
administration
of new SAT
Test Change Timeline
2016 2014 2015
October 2014
Class of 2016
takes final
administration
of old PSAT
October 2015
Class of 2017
takes first
administration
of new PSAT*
January 2016
Final
administration
of old SAT
* Details about the changes to the PSAT not yet released
PSAT
SAT
SAT Test Changes
Which Test Can I Take?
• You will always have the choice of taking either the SAT or the
ACT
• Rising Juniors can take Kaplan’s free SAT-ACT combo test to
help you decide
• Cover all your bases with Unlimited Prep
• Junior or Senior: You will take the current SAT
• Sophomore: You will have the option of taking either the current
SAT or the new SAT
• Freshman: Most of you will be taking the new SAT, but you have
the option of taking the current SAT in January of your
sophomore year
SAT vs ACT
Current SAT vs New SAT
SAT Test Changes
Big Picture Changes
Timing
Test Format
Scoring
Going Digital
3 Hours + optional 50-minute Essay
2 Areas: Math & Evidence-Based Reading & Writing
4 Sections: Reading, Writing & Language, Math w/ Calculator,
Math w/out Calculator
Essay is optional
1600 scoring scale
No penalty for guessing
Offered in paper and digitally
SAT Test Changes
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test
65-minute Reading section
35-minute Language and Writing section
All multiple-choice questions have only 4 answer choices
Math Test
55-minute section with calculator
25-minute section with no calculator
Includes grid-ins and multiple choice questions
All multiple-choice questions have only 4 answer choices
Essay
Optional
50-minutes long
Structure
SAT Test Changes
Reading 36%
Writing & Language
19%
Math with Calculator
31%
Math without
Calculator 14%
Time on Task
SAT Test Changes
No wrong answer penalty
Scored on a scale of 1600
800 points for Math
800 points for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
Test Scores, Cross-Test Scores, and Subscores
available
Optional Essay scored separately
Scoring
SAT Test Changes
Scored on a scale of 1-15
7 subscores total
Subscores
Reading & Writing Language
Command of Evidence
Relevant Words in Context
Writing Language
Expression of Ideas
Standard English Conventions
Math
The Heart of Algebra
Passport to Advanced Math
Problem Solving & Data Analysis
SAT Test Changes
Composite
Score
400-1600
Math Area
Score
200-800
Evidence-based
Reading and
Writing Area
Score
200-800
History/SS
Cross-Test
Score
10-40
Math Test
Score
10-40
Writing &
Language
Test Score
10-40
Reading Test
Score
10-40
Science
Cross-Test
Score
10-40
SAT Test Changes
Reading* 2-8
Analysis* 2-8
Writing* 2-8
Essay Score
*Essays are scored by two separate raters on a scale of 1-4 per section
SAT Test Changes
What are students saying about the new SAT?
No More Sentence Completions
No Wrong Answer Penalty
Addition of founding document
No More
Calculators…Sometimes
*From a Kaplan March 2014 e-survey of 335 students from across the United States who took a Kaplan SAT course and took
the March SAT.
Students surveyed most strongly support this one,
with 85% in favor of this change
74% of teens surveyed give this change a thumbs-
up
This addition has the support of 70% of students
surveyed
Just under half of students surveyed (49.6%) think
it’s a good idea to solve some math problems
without a calculator
SAT Test Changes
New SAT Sample Question
Writing & Language
Arctic Sea Ice and Global Warming
Polar ice consists of sea-ice formed
from frozen seawater as well as ice
sheets and glaciers formed from the
buildup and compaction of falling
snow. The Earth is home to ①two
polar ice caps; high latitude regions of
a planet or natural satellite covered in
ice.
A)NO CHANGE
B) two polar ice caps high latitude
regions of a planet or natural satellite
covered in ice.
C)two polar ice caps: high latitude
regions of a planet or natural satellite
covered in ice.
D)two polar ice caps. High latitude
regions of a planet or natural satellite
covered in ice.
SAT Test Changes
Sample Question: Writing & Language
Page 10, #21 A careful review of this research reveals that this drop occurred steadily over the twenty-year 21 period, suggesting this temperature change was the result of an error rather than a growing trend.
21
21. Which choice completes the sentence with accurate data based on the line graph?
A. NO CHANGE B. most of this drop occurred during
only a portion of the 20 year period C. almost the entirety of this drop
occurred during a period of only one year
D. the reverse is true
The New SAT Challenge
Which Test Should I Take?
Current
SAT
ACT
New SAT
The New SAT Challenge
Make a Plan: Sophomores
ACT New SAT
October 2015
November 2015
December 2015
January 2016
Current SAT
September 2015
October 2015
December 2015
February 2016
April 2016
June 2016
October 2016
March 2016
May 2016
June 2016
October 2016
The New SAT Challenge
Make a Plan: Sophomores
October 2015
New PSAT
January 2016
SAT
March 2016 +
New SAT
Summer 2015:
Prep for the
New PSAT
Prep for the SAT
Prep for the
New SAT
Want to take the ACT?
Options for Junior year:
February 2016
April 2016
SAT Test Changes
Timeline
Freshman Year Sophomore Year
PSAT in October
Take AP and Subject
Tests
Summer Prep for
PSAT
Establish good study
habits
Extracurricular
Activities
Prep for Honors and
AP Classes
SAT Test Changes
Timeline
PSAT in October for National
Merit
Focus on Academics – this is
a critical year!
Research admissions
requirements for target
schools
Prepare for SAT and/or ACT
Take AP and Subject Tests
Junior Year Senior Year
Take SAT and/or ACT for the
last time
Take AP and Subject Tests
Request letters of
recommendation
Complete and send out
college applications
Fill out FAFSA and research
scholarships
SAT Test Changes
Thank you!
Questions?
