SAT Test Change ®

Sam Pritchard, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director

Test Changes

ACT Test Updates &

SAT and PSAT

Changes

Student Impact

Welcome!

The Transition Year

Test Changes

Test Change Timeline

Sept2015 Oct2015 Dec2015 Jan2016 Mar2016

ACT:

Enhanced

Scoring +

Writing

Test

PSAT:

New Test

Launches

SAT:

New Test

Launches

SAT:

Last

Current

Test

SAT:

2nd to

Last

Current

Test

Test Changes

Updated ACT Overview

Category Features

No changes to 1-36 scoring Scoring

Math

Reading

More probability & statistics

New paired passages

Essay Requires analysis of 3 different

perspectives

Test Changes

New SAT Overview

Category Features

Timing

Scoring Now scored on a scale of 1600

Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

Math

New optional Essay scored separately

No guessing penalty

3 hours, 50 minutes

Test Changes

Scoring Details

Test & Cross-Test Scores 3 Test Scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language

2 Cross-Test Scores: Science, History/Social Studies

Range of 10 - 40

Area Score

Math

Range of 200 - 800

Area Score Evidence-Based Reading

+ Writing

Range of 200 - 800

Composite Score Sum of the two Area Scores

Range of 400 - 1600

Test Changes

New SAT Overview

Category Features

Reading and Writing combined

Reading details: No sentence completions

Passage topics include US and World Literature,

History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500 - 750

words)

65 minutes

Writing and Language details: Focus on extended prose (400 - 500 words)

35 minutes

Evidence-

based

Reading &

Writing

Section

Test Changes

New SAT Overview

Category Features

Three areas of concentrated focus: Problem solving and data analysis

“The Heart of Algebra”

“Passport to Advanced Math”

Math fluency emphasized 25 minutes without a Calculator

55 minutes with a Calculator

New enhanced grid-in

Math

Section

Test Changes

New SAT Overview

Category Features

Essay is optional

50 minutes

Requires students to analyze a 650-750

word document and explain how the

author builds an argument

3 Scores (2-8) Reading

Analysis

Writing

Essay

Test Changes

Category Features

New PSAT/NMSQT Overview

2 hours, 45 minutes Timing

Structure Aligned with the New SAT, and almost

the same length

No Essay

No guessing penalty

Now scored on a scale of 1520

Evidence-Based Reading & Writing

Math

Scoring

Test Changes

PSAT & New SAT Scoring

PSAT/NMSQT: 320-1520

SAT: 400-1600

300 600 900 1200 1500

Composite Score Range

Test Changes

Scoring Details

First New SAT administration

21 days + up to 4 weeks for scores to be

available

New SAT Concordance tables

Released in December for the PSAT and

May for the SAT

New and Old SAT scores

Schools will accept both scores for a 3-

year transition period

Test Changes

Administration Details

Accommodations for Students

No change has been communicated

Test Fees & Waivers

Test fees with the essay will be about

the same as the current SAT

Test fees without the essay will be less

than the current SAT

Test waivers cover the essay

No Saturday PSAT in 2015

The PSAT will be administered on two

Wednesdays: October 14 or October 28

Test Changes

Open Questions

Will schools “Superscore” the Old &

New?

Will schools require the optional Essay?

What impact will Test and Cross-Test

Scores have on admissions?

Test Changes

Test Options

Class of 2017 Class of 2018 and

Younger

Current SAT

ACT

New SAT

Test Changes

How is the Test Changing?

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rds

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Evid

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sage

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l Ski

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Math Writing & Language

Rea

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om

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SAT

Wo

rds

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Geo

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Essa

y

Nu

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er &

Op

erat

ion

s

Test Changes

Questions Per Reading Passage Topic Sc

ien

ces

Hu

man

itie

s

SS/H

isto

ry

Lite

ratu

re

Scie

nce

s

SS/H

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Scie

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s

Hu

man

itie

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Lite

ratu

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Car

eers

Hu

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s

SS/H

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ry

Current SAT New SAT ACT

Lite

ratu

re

Test Changes

New SAT and ACT: Top 5 Key Differences

1. The New SAT has a greater focus on

History & Social Studies passages

2. Both focus on Algebra, but the New SAT

has a greater emphasis on Data Analysis

& Problem Solving

3. The ACT requires more Science reading

4. The New SAT has a No Calculator Math

section

5. The New SAT has grid-in questions, and

an extended thinking grid-in question

What’s the Difference?

New SAT?

ACT?

Test Changes

Test Paths

Student Profile Potential Test Path

Early Decision

APs and Subject Tests

Current SAT or ACT

Regular Decision

ACT not an option New SAT

Great Test Taker Current SAT & New SAT & ACT

Anxious test taker

Obvious strengths with one test

Current SAT or New SAT or ACT

Test Changes

Kaplan Practice Tests

Current SAT Practice Test

New PSAT Practice Test

New SAT Practice Tests

ACT Practice Tests

Combo Practice Test

SAT Test Changes

On Demand Self-paced, online course

Your Next Steps

Unlimited access to classes

Unlimited Prep

Prepare with a teacher near you or online

Classroom

Most complete

classroom option!

Will prepare you for the

New PSAT, the current

SAT, the New SAT, and

the ACT

SAT Test Changes

Your Next Steps

Private Tutoring or Small Group Tutoring

Tutoring tailored to fit your goals and schedule

The Most Personalized Prep: custom study plan based

on your needs

Tutors with Top Scores

The Ultimate in Convenience: you set the schedule,

whether in-home or online

Test Changes

Thank you!

Questions?

For more information, visit

kaptest.com/satchange

Get some last-minute strategies for the PSAT

kaptest.com/psatcram