How does Each Section in the Digital SAT Change?

Are you planning to take the Digital SAT soon? You might be wondering what changes have been made to the Reading and Writing and the Math sections. In this post, we'll go over the significant changes to each section and provide some study tips to help you prepare for the updated digital SAT. Let's dive in!

Reading and Writing

• Combined Reading and Writing: The reading and writing sections have now been combined into one single section, streamlining your test-taking experience.
• More Student-Friendly Structure: The structure of the questions in the Reading and Writing section has undergone major changes, with shorter passage lengths and a reduced number of questions, making it more approachable for students.
• Two Modules, 27 Questions Each: The section now consists of two modules with 27 questions each. Out of these, 25 questions count towards your score, and 2 are 'dummy questions' for quality control and testing new formats. These dummy questions won't affect your score.
• 64 Minutes Allotted: The total time for this section is now 64 minutes, averaging about 1 minute and 11 seconds (71 seconds) per question. Shorter passages (ranging from 25 to 150 words) allow for sufficient time to answer all questions.

Key Takeaways for Students:

Shorter passages mean there are fewer details to focus on, and it gives a much wider range of topics on the digital sat, allowing students to access different materials representative of those you will see in your college career. It looks at how well you know the content, and not how fast you can take an exam.

You can slow down and read each passage focusing on one topic, as each passage has one question associated with it. No more scanning for multiple answers in one text!

By understanding these changes and incorporating these study tips into your preparation for the SAT, you'll be well-equipped to tackle the Digital SAT's reading and writing section with confidence.

Math

• Calculator Usage: Gone are the days of separate calculator and non-calculator sections. Now, you can use your calculator throughout the entire math section, reducing stress and minimizing the risk of simple calculation errors.
• Simplified Questions: The new math section features fewer wordy questions, making it focus more on math skills rather than reading comprehension skills. This change allows you to focus on solving math problems without getting caught up in confusing language.
• More Time Per Question: With a total of 44 questions (including two dummy questions) in the math section, you now have about 1 minute and 35 seconds per question. This gives you more breathing room compared to the old paper SAT.

Key takeaways for students:

The math section becomes much more user-friendly. With a graphing calculator function built into the testing platform, each student can answer all questions with a calculator. You will not need to worry about making silly mistakes or basic arithmetic messing up your answers to questions. You can still bring your own calculator too, and just a heads up, don’t forget to double check what you need to bring when heading to the test center.

More time for each question also makes the section less stressful, and you won’t need to worry about working super fast to answer all the questions anymore. This plus the “de-wording” of questions on the test means you won’t need to worry about being stuck on words in a math question, but you can simply focus on solving math questions.

What’s Next?

By understanding the changes made to the Reading and Writing and the Math sections, you can better prepare for the updated digital SAT. Remember to take your time, focus on understanding each passage and math problem, and use your calculator to your advantage. With these study tips in mind, you'll be ready to tackle the digital SAT with confidence. Good luck!