New SAT exam format: What's different in 2023 (2024)

FAQs

New SAT exam format: What's different in 2023? ›

The SAT Exam will be held for two hours instead of three. Instead of four, there will now be only 2 sections — a reading and writing section and a Math section. The reading section will have shorter passages, and students must answer one question per the SAT reading passage.

SAT Changes. Aside from a new digital format – which was taken by more than 300,000 students internationally in 2023, according to the College Board – other adjustments to the SAT include a shortened test, the allowance of graphing calculators throughout the math portion and faster results.

One of the reasons why the new SAT test is an hour shorter is because the exam now consists of two sections instead of three. Previously, the SAT had a Math section, a Reading section, and a Writing section. Now there are only two sections: a Math section and a Reading/Writing section.

Format Matters: While the content difficulty hasn't changed, the shorter test, adaptive structure, and built-in tools create a different test-taking experience that could feel easier or harder depending on individual students.

Each section of the digital SAT format is composed of two equal-length modules—so, Reading & Writing has two (32-minute, 27-question) modules, and Math has two (35-minute, 22-question) modules. A student's performance on the first module determines what kind of second module they get.

One test expert says the new format makes the test easier. A new digital SAT is now being offered for the first time. The test is shorter, adaptive, and tests real-world skills. One test expert says it's easier than past versions but clarifies it's still not an easy test.

A 1200 is an above average score that places you in approximately the 74th percentile of all high school students taking the exam. A score of 1200 makes it possible to apply to the vast majority of schools throughout the nation and be competitive for admission at a sizable number of colleges.

Is An 1100 SAT Score (58th Percentile) Good? A score of 1100 on the SAT puts you at the 58th percentile, meaning you scored higher than 58% all 2 million+ test takers. Earning an 1100 makes you eligible to apply to most colleges and universities as a decent candidate.

Is a 1300 a good SAT score? The average composite SAT score is 1059, and the highest possible score is 1600, putting 1300 above average and competitive. A 1300 SAT score allows you to apply competitively to a large number of schools, making it an objectively good score for most students.

The College Board has said both versions of the SAT have a mix of easy, moderate, and hard questions, and there is significant overlap between the tests. Students can take up to four practice SAT tests through the Bluebook app and get used to the interface before taking the test.

How is the SAT different in 2024? ›

The College Board recently announced the SAT will shift from a paper-and-pencil test to a computer-based exam in 2024. In addition to moving to a digital format, the 2024 SAT will undergo several format changes, including a shorter exam length, adaptive test questions and easier reading passages.

The digital test is shorter because it relies on adaptive testing, said Priscilla Rodriguez, a College Board vice president. That means the test changes based on the students' answers, with the goal of reducing the time students spend answering questions that are either too easy or too hard.

What Exactly Changed? The old SAT was out of 2400 and had three sections out of 800: Math, Critical Reading, and Writing. The new SAT combines the former Critical Reading and Writing sections into a single section called Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. This section has a Reading test and Writing and Language test.

Broken down by section, you can get 8 wrong in Math for a 700, 5 wrong in Writing for a 350, and 8 wrong in Reading for a 350. To earn a 1400 overall, you can still get 21 answers wrong and be just 200 points shy of a perfect 1600!

On the pencil-and-paper SAT, all students with a given test form had the same questions. On the digital SAT, students will receive different questions based on their performance. This variation is because the digital SAT is an adaptive test.

Current figures estimate around 80% of four-year colleges won't require standardized tests for fall 2023 admissions, so the burning question remains: are SAT/ACT scores still important? The shorter answer is: yes. Just because scores are optional, it doesn't mean they aren't still important.

In the release, College Board announced that the optional essay will be discontinued from the SAT following the June 2021 test date, with the exception of school day administrations in states which require the essay for evaluative purposes.

Yes. In 2023, earning a 1200 on the SAT would put your score within the 75% percentile of test takers, meaning you scored higher than at least 75% of everyone who took the SAT that year.

The Impetus Behind the Changes The changes likely occurred because of the College Board's concerns about the future marketability of the SAT. Over 1800 colleges no longer require standardized testing for admission, about 80% of schools, with some states now mandating that all public colleges remove the requirement.