I am not a huge fan of change. I frequent the same local coffee shop as a creature of habit because with structure I find comfort, and with discipline I create growth. But as the old saying goes, “The one constant in life is change.” So, here we go.  

College Board®, the creators of the PSAT®, SAT®, AP®,  CLEP®, ACCUPLACER® (shall I go on?) really put a wrench in my preference to avoid change when they announced the PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT®, two tests I spent years mastering to help our students, would be getting a substantial overhaul in the coming months. Lucky for me, my aversion to change is less than my love of tests (Yes, I said it. I love taking the SAT®. Y’all, please don’t unfriend me).

What’s changing on the SAT®?

The highlights:

·  Administration: The SAT® will be administered digitally – no more paper and pencil.

· Adaptive: The digital SAT® will be adaptive – students will progress to a different module based on their performances in the previous module.

·  Length: The test will be shorter – 2 hours instead of 3 hours.

·  Timing: The new timing allows students more time per question.

·  Reading: The reading passages are shorter and cover a wider variety of topics.

·  Math: Students are permitted to use a calculator for all math questions.

When will these changes take place in the US?

·  October 2023 – The PSAT/NMSQT® will be administered in the new digital format.

·  March 2024 – The SAT® will be administered in the new digital format.

So, what are we doing at Class 101® Cypress to prepare our students for these changes?

We are evaluating when each student should take the test, which is based on many factors. Then we plan out a junior-year prep schedule specific to that student’s goals. The test is shifting, so we too are shifting our test prep strategies and the delivery method of our practice materials.

As I am taking the digital SAT® practice tests released by College Board®, I have found that more is the same than different. So, if you see me in the next few months at my local coffee joint in Cypress, TX, know that I am most likely in the throws of some fun SAT® math questions.

-Kathy Jones

SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board.

PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.