The Redesigned SAT®: What You Need to Know Now

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - In March 2014, the College Board announced sweeping changes to the SAT(®) to focus on the few things that matter most for college and career readiness. Since that time, Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy(®) became available for all students, we launched a new, free SAT daily practice app, and a record number of students took a similarly redesigned version of the PSAT/NMSQT(®).

With just six weeks left until the first administration of the test, we want to ensure you have the key dates, facts, and contact information.

Key Dates:

               Jan. 7                   Students began receiving
                                        electronic PSAT/NMSQT scores


               Jan. 23                  Last administration of the current
                                        SAT


               March 5                  First administration of the new
                                        SAT

Quick Facts

PSAT/NMSQT:

    --  This past October, more than four million students -- a record number --
        took the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
        Qualifying Test) in schools across the country.
    --  Because the PSAT/NMSQT measures the same skills and knowledge as the
        SAT, students who took the test already got to practice for and preview
        the redesigned SAT.
    --  Students are now able to access their PSAT/NMSQT scores online to find
        out:
        --  Information about their college readiness;
        --  Which Advanced Placement (®) (AP(®)) courses are a good match for
            them;
        --  How to link their PSAT/NMSQT scores to Official SAT Practice on Khan
            Academy to receive free, personalized practice recommendations, and
            much more.
    --  Additional details on how to access, understand, and use score reports
        are available here.

Current SAT:

    --  Beginning with the high school class of 1972, more than 53 million
        students have taken the SAT.
    --  Since 2005 when the SAT was last revised, nearly 16 million students
        have taken the test.
    --  The test is accepted by all U.S. colleges.

Redesigned SAT:

    --  The redesigned SAT focuses on the few things that matter most for
        college and career readiness, and it better reflects what students are
        learning in class.
    --  Like the current SAT, it's accepted by all U.S. colleges.
    --  The test will:
        --  Be 3 hours (add 50 minutes with the optional SAT Essay)
        --  Have 2 sections (3 with essay): Evidence-Based Reading and Writing,
            Math
        --  Use a score scale from 400 to 1600, with the essay scored separately
    --  Changes include:
        --  A focus on the areas of math that matter most
        --  A move away from obscure vocabulary words to the use of relevant
            words in context
        --  No penalty for guessing
        --  An optional essay
    --  You can look at the differences between the current SAT and redesigned
        SAT here.
    --  Free, personalized practice tools for the redesigned SAT are available
        at satpractice.org. Unlike traditional high-priced test prep that
        focuses on strategies for taking the test and quick cramming, Official
        SAT Practice on Khan Academy supports and reinforces what students are
        learning in classrooms by helping them focus on the knowledge and skills
        essential for college readiness.
    --  Since June, more than 750,000 users have logged onto the Khan Academy
        SAT practice site, completing more than 16 million practice problems.

SOURCE The College Board