{"id":4123,"date":"2021-03-28T17:42:16","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T17:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/southsiouxcity\/?p=4123"},"modified":"2021-09-24T16:52:41","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T16:52:41","slug":"elementor-4123","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libraries.ne.gov\/southsiouxcity\/elementor-4123\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look at the New SAT"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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By Susan Monroe<\/p>

On March 5, 2016 the updated SAT launched, let’s take a closer look at what the revamped test is all about. Detailed information abounds, so the goal of this post is to winnow it down to the essentials.<\/p>

New Features<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Perhaps bowing to the competition, the new SAT features content that is similar to the ACT. And it has also adopted two ACT features. Test takers don\u2019t lose points for wrong answers\u2014so there\u2019s less temptation to leave an answer blank\u2014and they are offered only four choices of response instead of five.<\/p>

On the other hand, the SAT tests concepts differently. Students need to apply their information processing skills\u2014quickly\u2014and reason their way through the exam, rather than relying on answers that \u201clook\u201d right or that they may have memorized. According to College Board President and CEO David Coleman, standardized tests are not only stressful but also \u201cfar too disconnected from the work of our high schools.\u201d<\/a> As a result, the revised SAT focuses on real knowledge\u2014rather than on a student\u2019s mastery of test-taking tricks.<\/p>

The Old and the New<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Here\u2019s a snapshot of other major differences between the old and new SAT (with special thanks to the College Board<\/a>):<\/p>

Feature<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cOld\u201d SAT<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u201cNew\u201d SAT<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Time<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 hours, 45 minutes<\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3 hours (and 50 minutes for the optional essay*)<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Focus<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 General reasoning skills<\/p>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vocabulary\u2014especially obscure \u201cSAT\u201d words, which do not typically appear in \u201creal life\u201d<\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Knowledge and skills that have been proven necessary for college\/career readiness and success<\/p>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vocabulary in extended contexts and an understanding of how words shape meaning and tone<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Essay<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tests writing skill on a topic of the student\u2019s choice<\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tests reading, writing, and analytical skills; students analyze a text provided on the test.<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Scoring<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scale ranges from 600 to 2400.<\/p>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No subscore reporting<\/p><\/td>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scale ranges from 400 to 1600<\/p>

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Subscore reporting for each test<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0<\/td><\/tr>
\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0<\/td>\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

* Educational institutions decide whether or not they\u2019ll require the essay for admission.<\/p>

Gale has responded to the new SAT with changes to the Testing & Education Reference Center<\/em> (TERC)<\/em> available at our library. These changes are all designed to offer the most up-to-date test preparation available for the SAT. And there are even more benefits for our students, library patrons, and general users:<\/p>