It has happened: no more paper and pencil exams to get into your dream college or university. And this is undoubtedly good news since literally all prospective students these days are more prone to digital testing. Say goodbye to flipping pages – now, you can navigate sections of Reading and Writing with just a touch.
The once daunting task of managing a paper and pencil SAT is now replaced with the convenience of an interactive, user-friendly platform. The future is here! Yet, is that all to know? Of course not! Keep reading to learn more.
The Transition From Paper and Pencil Testing
The College Board has officially moved into a new era with the introduction of the digital SAT. The class of 2025 and beyond will be taking a digital exam. But that’s not the only good news: the test will be shorter. If a paper SAT took 3 hours, you’ll need only 2 hours and 14 minutes to go through a digital version. One of the first questions you probably have is which device you need for the test. Let’s figure out.
Device Requirements
Before the test day, you’ll need to download the Bluebook app to your device. Bluebook is the official SAT testing platform. Note that you can’t use your phone. You can run Bluebook on:
- Windows laptop or tablet;
- Mac laptop;
- iPad;
- School-managed Chromebook.
Yet, there is one more thing you have to do before the test starts. 1–5 days before your SAT date, you’ll complete a quick exam setup. It is a technical test to check if your device meets all requirements. After that, you can download your test and generate your admission ticket.
But what if you don’t have the required device? Don’t worry. You can lend it! After registering for the digital SAT, you’ll see the “Request a device” option on My SAT.
After your request is approved, a device will be available at the testing center on your test day. Yet, you need to arrive 30 minutes early to sign in and complete an exam setup. Keep that in mind.
If you are an analog-studying person, there is some good news for you, too. You’ll get scratch paper during the test. The thing is that the app doesn’t let you draw math diagrams. You can use a pencil or a pen to take notes and reflect on the questions before actually answering them. After all, we might outgrow paper and pencil SAT, but we still need paper to think over and visualize the answers.
DSAT Scoring System
You might be curious if the digital SAT score is the same as the old paper SAT score. Don’t worry, they’re like twins! Scientists and researchers have checked and double-checked to ensure a 1250 on the digital SAT is the same as a 1250 on the paper SAT. So, no matter which version of the test you take, your score will remain the same. For each section, you can still get from 200 to 800.
What’s a Good DSAT Score?
A score of more than 1,210 is considered sufficient. You’ll be in the top 25% of those who pass the test and have an excellent chance of getting into a college or university. So, it’s worth the effort to hit the 75 line.
What does that mean? It’s time to figure out what the digital SAT percentile is. For instance, when you hear that students have entered the 97 line, this shows that their scores are higher than those of 97% of the other test-takers. The better the result, the higher the percentile you reach.
Test Results
After you take the digital test, you’ll get your scores faster. But here’s the catch: you won’t be able to see the questions you answered after the test is over. In any case, such a structure seems more student-friendly and can lower stress.
Adaptive SAT: How Does It Influence Your Score?
Adaptive Design
The first thing you need to know is that the SAT is now adaptive (that’s good news). It means that the complexity of each following module (each section has two modules) depends on your previous answers. The test adjusts itself after you complete the first module of each section.
Thus, the complexity does not change after every single question, which can make things less stressful. Still, note that results from the Reading and Writing section do not affect the adaptivity of the Math section and vice versa, which is logical.
Easy, Medium, and Hard Questions
So, we already know that each section consists of two modules:
- Module 1 has easy, medium, and hard questions mixed in, which makes it an average challenge;
- Module 2 gets harder or easier, depending on how you did in module 1. If you nailed module 1, get ready for tougher questions in module 2.
Interestingly, the questions in the Math section become progressively harder. However, in the Reading and Writing section, you can’t judge the difficulty based on the question number alone.
Benefits of the Adaptive Approach
Now, the SAT employs a more personalized approach. It helps to reveal every participant’s knowledge and skills more accurately. What does it mean for students? It directly affects the final grade. Those who start the first module well and do great in the second one have good chances of getting a higher grade.
But does this mean a student who gets easier questions in the second module will get a lower grade? Yes and no. Indeed, if you receive the harder module 2, your score ceiling will be higher. Yet, less difficult questions will help other students get more correct answers and do better as a result. Because at the end of the day, the single biggest factor that influences your score is the number of correct answers, not the difficulty level.
How to Prepare for the Digital SAT?
Getting ready for the digital SAT is no different from preparing for the paper test. Yet, the latest option will be easier anyway. The reading passages are not that long, and the questions are supposed to be direct. Still, you have to be aware that there are 8 content domains measured on the SAT:
Make sure you are well-prepared for these. The best way to do it is by practicing. The most successful students often say that their secret was doing as many practice tests as possible. They help you navigate the test and get a higher score as a result.
Study Within Limited Time Frames
Even if you have only four weeks to prepare, don’t worry. If you craft a schedule and stick to it, you may score well. Here are some practical ways to succeed:
- Familiarize yourself with each section. Learn how you do in every section. What are your mistakes?
- Identify your lowest-scoring area. Knowing your weaknesses is the key: you can work more on these areas and improve them. Check SAT practice test results regularly and focus on mistakes.
- Work on your weaknesses. Work on your weaknesses for at least 25 minutes a day. Seek extra materials to complement your textbooks.
Study in Groups
We all have different studying styles, and identifying your own is vital. Yet, we recommend working in groups at least for some time. Why? You will be able to catch more, find studying buddies, and improve without realizing you made an effort. Group study involves gamified learning, which is impactful in the long run. Even if you are an introvert, just give it a shot. You’ll be surprised.
Conclusion
The digital SAT is not just a shift in testing methodology; it’s an embrace of the digital wave shaping the future of education. Still, preparation for the test requires the use of diverse materials and maybe even help from a tutor. Make sure you are not making less effort after you’ve learned the test will be shorter. It is a psychological trap. Take your time, sleep well before the big day, and continually track your knowledge. All the luck!
