The new SAT was introduced this month, meaning high school students won’t be taking the same SAT students have been taking in years past. There are several important changes that test takers should know about before preparing for the test. Knowledge of these changes could greatly affect your score, so read on for some key facts about the new version of the SAT.
Scoring Changes
The SAT will revert back to the old scoring, with 1600 being a perfect score rather than 2400. The essay section will be scored separately.
Guessing is Good
If you aren’t sure about an answer, go ahead and guess. In the new version of the SAT, it won’t count against you to get an answer wrong. If you’re running out of time, fill in all the bubbles quickly so you’ll at least have a chance of getting some questions right.
Easier Vocabulary
Obscure vocabulary words are a thing of the past. The new SAT has simpler words that would normally be used in conversation. This is great news for test-takers since it means the time once spent studying vocabulary words can be spent preparing for other sections.
Optional Essay
The essay portion is now optional, although it is recommended that test takers complete the section anyway since many colleges will require it. The essay portion will be scored separately, however, and will not be included in the overall SAT score. And instead of a personal essay, students will read a passage and be asked to explain how the writer is persuading the reader.
More Science Passages
Although the new SAT will not have a separate science section like the ACT, more passages will include scientific concepts. Therefore, expect more graph, charts, and evidence-based questions.
Want to be prepared for the new SAT? Read Kaplan’s New SAT Premier 2016