New SAT vs Old SAT Format

As you probably know, as of March 2016, the SAT is in a new format. The New SAT is substantially different from the old version of the exam. The test design has been simplified—there are now five sections instead of ten. While both versions of the exam have an essay section, the essay is now optional. Every component of the SAT, including the essay, has a new format and a shift in the skills it focuses on. In this post, we’ll show changes to the overall exam and individual aspects of the exam in a series of charts. Test Format: New SAT vs. Old SAT Test Component Old SAT New SAT Total test time 3 hours, -16 questions Data analysis and statistics, 6-7 questions Heart of Algebra, 19 questions (linear equations, systems of linear equations, and inequalities) Problem Solving and Data Analysis, 17 questions (ratios, proportions, percentages, units, quantitative data, probabilities) Passport to Advanced Math, 16 questions (equivalent algebraic expressions, quadratic equations, exponential functions, other nonlinear equations and functions) Additional Topics in Math, 6 questions (basic trigonometry, geometry) Reading: Old SAT vs New SAT Section Components Old SAT Reading New SAT Reading Total time 70 minutes 65 minutes Sections 3 1 Grading scale 200-800 200-800 Questions 67 questions total, all multiple-choice Two sections with 2 questions 44 questions total, all multiple-choice Skills covered Correcting errors in sentences, 18 questions Improving the writing style of sentences, 25 questions Improving the writing style of paragraphs, 6 questions Improving the writing style of passages, 24 questions Correcting errors in passages, 20 questions Essay Format: New vs Old SAT At an overview, you can see that the new version of the exam is certainly simpler and more â€Å"user-friendly.†Still, this does not necessarily mean that the new SAT is easier in every respect. Some basic trigonometry has been added to the Math section and geometry is now being downplayed in favor of other math skills that often require more complex calculations (advanced algebra, probability, etc.). Reading and Writing have eliminated shorter readings in favor of questions based exclusively on longer passages. Although the New SAT essay is optional it’s also much more challenging, requiring test-takers to carefully analyze a written piece rather than independently expressing their own opinions on social issues.All in all, the New SAT is easier in some ways and harder in others. It’s easier because it has fewer sections and more straightforward organization. Most students will also find certain portions of the New SAT a bit harder academically, but these changes can be a blessing in disguise. The New SAT is designed to help college applicants fully prepare for current expectations from universities as higher education itself continues to grow and change. Section Components Old SAT Essay New SAT Essay Total time 25 minutes 50 minutes Essay format Personal opinion Textual analysis Grading scale 2 to 12 points A score range of 2/2/2 to 8/8/8 Skills covered Expressing and supporting personal opinions General academic writing skill Reading comprehension Rhetorical critique General academic writing skill Optional No Yes