The SAT Gets an Update for a Digital World

The SAT is going digital.

It’s part of the College Board’s goal to make sure the SAT is more accessible and less stressful for students and administrators. The new test has also been shortened, taking about two hours instead of three, and the reading assessment has been adjusted for time. Tests will be given on computers provided by schools or the College Board itself.

Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of college readiness assessments at the College BoardThe new format was piloted in November 2021, and so far, results are promising: 80% of students in the pilot said they found the new SAT to be less stressful, and 100% of those administering the test said it was a positive experience. Full roll out of the digital test will happen globally in spring 2023 and in the U.S. by spring 2024.

This change comes at a time when more colleges are making submission of test scores in applications optional, like the University of California who suspended their test requirements until at least fall 2024.

“We realized that so much feedback we get from students, families, and educators on what it’s like to give the SAT, can be addressed by going digital,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of college readiness assessments at the College Board. “Going digital has radically changed a lot of limitation.”

Using physical pencil and paper tests meant logistical headaches in ensuring the security of thousands of SATs distributed across the globe.

“Because we’re digitally deploying the test, we can make each version of the SAT unique to [each student.] Psychometrically equivalent, but different,” said Rodriguez. “That’s a game changer. Once we introduce digital testing, [schools] are going to have so much more flexibility.”