Can Standardized Tests Keep Up with the Times?
Noelle Dreisch '23 Staff Writer
On January 25th, College Board made an announcement that the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) will go digital in 2023. The digital SAT compared to the current one is supposedly easier and more relevant. It will still be scored out of 1600, but will be shorter and will take roughly around two hours instead of three. Test takers will have more time for each question with shorter passages in the reading section. For the math section, calculators can be used for all parts of it. In addition, instead of waiting for months to get your scores back, it will take just days to receive them. “We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform. We’re taking full advantage of what delivering a digital assessment makes possible,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, the College Board vice president of College Readiness Assessments(Washington Post). People that are taking the test will still have it hosted at schools or learning centers. However, College Board originally planned to offer a digital test to take at home. Due to the worry of test takers not being able to have three hours of consecutive internet, that plan no longer exists.
Why the sudden change? The change with going digital will allow the test to be more ideal for student admission. Instead of using scantron submissions for the test, it will go straight to CollegeBoard for grading. SAT preparation teacher Dr. Browne expressed, “I think that the changes are more in line with the times. I think they are trying to be more relevant because a lot of schools are no longer requiring the SAT.” Students will have the choice of using their personal laptop or tablet or the school's devices they provide. SAT has been one of the number one standardized tests that a majority of colleges use to choose who they admit into their school. It serves its purpose to assess whether or not applicants are ready for college. Over the years, the SAT has changed from requiring an essay in 25 minutes to no essay at all, allowing calculators on only a few sections to allowing one on all sections, and providing long reading passages to shorter excerpts. College Board suggests that this less intense version of the SAT aligns with digital assessments while still producing reliable data for college admissions.
Why the sudden change? The change with going digital will allow the test to be more ideal for student admission. Instead of using scantron submissions for the test, it will go straight to CollegeBoard for grading. SAT preparation teacher Dr. Browne expressed, “I think that the changes are more in line with the times. I think they are trying to be more relevant because a lot of schools are no longer requiring the SAT.” Students will have the choice of using their personal laptop or tablet or the school's devices they provide. SAT has been one of the number one standardized tests that a majority of colleges use to choose who they admit into their school. It serves its purpose to assess whether or not applicants are ready for college. Over the years, the SAT has changed from requiring an essay in 25 minutes to no essay at all, allowing calculators on only a few sections to allowing one on all sections, and providing long reading passages to shorter excerpts. College Board suggests that this less intense version of the SAT aligns with digital assessments while still producing reliable data for college admissions.