The New SAT is a standardized test required by many US colleges and universities as part of their admission requirements for undergraduate courses. The score a student gets on the SAT is often used to predict a student’s performance in undergraduate studies in college.
The new SAT includes a Reading Test, Writing and Language Test, and a Math Test. The SAT has an optional essay component, which some colleges will require. How is the New SAT different from the earlier SAT?
| Category | Pre-March-2016 SAT | New SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Total Testing Time | 3 hours and 45 minutes | 3 hours (plus 50 minutes for the Essay [optional]) |
| Components | Critical Reading Writing Mathematics Essay Essay | 1. Evidence-Based Reading and Writing -Reading Test -Writing and Language Test 2. Math 3. Essay (optional) |
| Important Features | Emphasis on general reasoning skills Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores) | Focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings that research has identified as most important for college and career readiness and success Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact Rights-only scoring (no penalty for guessing) |
| Essay | Required and given at the beginning of the SAT 25 minutes to write the essay Tests writing skill; students take a position on a presented issue | Optional and given at the end of the SAT; postsecondary institutions determine whether they will require the Essay for admission 50 minutes to write the essay Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills; students produce a written analysis of a provided source text |
| Score Reporting | Scale ranging from 600 to 2400 Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Critical Reading; 200 to 800 for Mathematics; 200 to 800 for Writing Essay results scaled to multiple-choice Writing | Scale ranging from 400 to 1600 Scale ranging from 200 to 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing; 200 to 800 for Math; 2 to 8 on each of three dimensions for Essay Essay results reported separately |
| Subscore Reporting | None | Subscores for every test, providing added insight for students, parents, admission officers, educators, and counselors |
SAT questions focus on skills that matter most for college readiness and success, according to the latest research. Throughout the SAT, you’ll be asked questions grounded in the real world, directly related to work performed in college and career.
The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section includes questions on literature and literary nonfiction, but also features charts, graphs, and passages like the ones students are likely to encounter in science, social science, and other majors and careers. Questions on the Writing and Language Test ask you to do more than correct errors; they ask you to edit, revise, and improve texts from the humanities, history, social science, science, and career contexts.
The Math section features multistep applications to solve problems in science, social science, career scenarios, and other real-life situations. The test sets up a scenario and asks several questions that give you the opportunity to dig in and model it mathematically.
At Top Grader we know that effective test taking is not only about one’s knowledge of key concepts tested in Math or one’s ability to comprehend every detail that one reads through but also about the right strategies for test-taking. Our SAT tutors have spent several years mastering concepts, tricks, and strategies that can help a student solve Math problems faster and answer evidence based reading and writing questions accurately, resulting in a higher score. Tutors are fully trained on the New SAT format.
We encourage students to start with SAT preparation as early as possible, preferably at-least two months before their intended test date to allow sufficient time to practice key concepts, tricks, and strategies essential for a high score on the SAT.
You can take one free trial class for the test of your choice. Sign up today to get started!
If you would like a free trial class before making up your mind, please visit our Free Trial section and fill up the form.
Interactive online courses with targeted feedback taught by highly-rated, score-qualified instructors
100s of worksheets on every
subject to support your learning
Online quiz banks and practice tests for realistic practice with detailed reporting
One-on-one tutoring with a personal coach who will help you get the score you want
© 2016, Top Grader, All rights reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions for Tutors
