The 2022-2023 college application cycle marks a critical shift towards a new normal in the state of college admissions—and answers the question of whether last year’s record-shattering application numbers and admission rates would prove to be a pandemic-related blip or an acceleration of an existing trend.
College Admissions Is More Competitive Than Ever
Applications to the nation’s most sought-after schools continued to reach record-high levels in 2022. As a result, admission rates remained at or near record-lows. This trend was true for all top-ranked schools, including both public and private, small, and large.
Applications are up
According to the Common App, the number of first-year applicants this year rose 6 percent over last year, and the total number of applications rose 9%. The rise in applications was driven in part by a continued increase in the number of applications submitted by each student. While the Common App data indicates that applications per student are up 6% since 2019 (from 5.3 applications to 5.6 applications).
Admission rates are down
When application volumes rise, admission rates naturally decline, so it comes as little surprise that those same top-ranked schools that saw new record-high application volumes also saw new record-low admission rates. In fact, of the 2022 top 20 U.S. News and World Report National Universities, 13 reached new record-low admission rates, 3 tied or came very close to tying their old records, and 4 did not release 2022 admissions data.
Such trends extend beyond the Ivy League to include nearly all highly selective schools. The University of Virginia offers an excellent example. The figure below includes application and admission rate data for more than 30 application cycles. This data is reflective of several trends seen across most highly selective schools: here we see the accelerated application growth spurred by the growth of online applications throughout the 2000s, accompanied by the decline in admission rates that logically follows.
Many wonder whether these record-low rates are merely flukes or a new normal. Examining previous admissions data for individual schools illustrates that these new lows represent an acceleration of existing trends rather than a blip on the radar. It is highly likely that applications to top colleges will continue to climb, with admission rates hovering at or below current record lows.
Applicant Quality Remains Strong
While some hypothesized that applicant quality would be eroded by the proliferation of test optional policies, this prediction did not materialize at selective schools. In fact, even under test optional policies, several schools have posted record-high median test scores, including New York University, Boston College, and Boston University. Colby College, which has been test optional since 2018, set a new record median SAT score of 1500 for the class of 2026. 5% of students admitted to the University of Georgia this year were valedictorians or salutatorians and that number is even higher at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where 12% of the incoming class were ranked first or second at their high schools.
Test Scores Continue to Play an Important Role in College Admissions
Although most colleges have extended their pandemic-era test optional policies at least through 2024, the data show that test scores still matter and a key differentiator in the state of college admissions.
SAT®/ACT® requirements are slowly returning
Although Florida was alone in continuing to require SAT or ACT scores throughout the pandemic, other states have now followed suit and are beginning to resume testing requirements, including both Georgia and Tennessee. Several schools have resumed testing requirements or have begun to explicitly encourage the submission of test scores, including MIT and Georgetown.
Schools implicitly encourage test scores
Many selective schools implicitly encourage test scores through the wording of their test optional policies. For example, Harvard’s policy is as follows: “Given the wide variation in how students prepare for Harvard – as well as the fact that most applicants and admitted students have outstanding academic records – it is difficult for high school grades to differentiate individual applications…SAT and ACT tests are better predictors of Harvard grades than high school grades, but this can vary greatly for any individual.”
Given the extremely low admission rates at these schools and others often targeted by 宝博体育’s highest performing students, the advice 宝博体育 Education has always offered continues to hold true today: If a school says an application component is optional, think of it as required because it is an opportunity to have another positive element in your application. This advice applies just as much to test scores as it does to optional essays, resumes, or interviews.
Submitting test scores boosts admission odds
While the magnitude of the impact of submitting scores varies, all of the schools below show the same overall trend: submitting test scores improves an applicants’ odds of admission, in some cases offering more than double the acceptance rate.
Qualitative Aspects of Applications Play a Significant Role in Admissions Decisions
Particularly at the nation’s most selective schools, the qualitative aspects of a student’s application are heavily weighted. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) finds that 70% of admissions officers identify a student’s character attributes as either “considerably” or “moderately” important in the admissions process.
Selective colleges were much more likely than less selective colleges to rate character attributes as considerably important. After all, highly selective schools have applicant pools made up of high achieving students whose grades and test scores are often similarly impressive. Character traits offer a means of distinguishing among such academically impressive applicants.
Vanderbilt Dean of Admissions Doug Christiansen had this to say of the incoming class of 2026: “They are very academically accomplished in all facets—rigor of curriculum, types of courses they’ve taken, the grades in those courses, their testing. But I am even more impressed by what they’ve done in leadership and extracurricular activities, particularly during COVID-19. There are lots of things in our world today that are not very positive, and this class gives me hope. We have great students coming in; they’re concerned about the world they live in.”
Parental Influence Plays a Greater Role in Students’ College Decisions
Surveys indicate that parents are playing a larger role in students’ college decisions than they have in the past. This may be a result of pandemic-related factors, including the forced proximity of recent years and concerns over schools’ pandemic responses.
Among students surveyed, 48% ranked “parental influence” as one of their top five sources of information on the admissions process, a substantial increase since 2019. Higher-income students, Asian students, and white students reported relying on their parents for guidance at higher rates than other subgroups.
College Costs Remain a Top Concern
Surveys indicate that the cost of college continues to be a concern, and experts indicate that we can expect to see costs continue to rise in coming years. At the same time, gift aid reached an all-time high, and the number of schools implementing “no loan” policies has increased. Cost continues to be a key topic in the state of college admissions.
College costs expected to continue to increase
A college education has never cost more than it does today—but this isn’t just because tuition rates have risen at rates far outpacing inflation for decades. The current economic climate has created a convergence of factors that have led to even higher college costs: record-breaking inflation, rising interest rates on student loans, and the market decline’s effect on investments that were earmarked for college costs.
Tuition discount rates are also on the rise
According to the 2021 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Tuition Discounting Student, average institutional tuition discount rates are at an all-time high. Data from 359 private colleges and universities showed an average discount rate of 54.5% for first-time freshmen in 2021-22.
More colleges go loan-free
Amidst the student debt debate, an increasing number of colleges are adopting loan-free financial aid policies. In total, The Chronicle of Higher Education estimates that approximately 75 schools have no-loan policies for either all students or for students meeting certain income thresholds, including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Stanford.
Schools that meet full financial need regardless of income are primarily private schools, but Ohio State University recently announced a plan to introduce a debt-free degree program. Should this plan come to fruition, Ohio State would be the first public university to offer no loan financial aid packages to all students regardless of income or residency.
2022-2023 State of College Admissions
College Adm, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, ResourcesThe 2022-2023 college application cycle marks a critical shift towards a new normal in the state of college admissions—and answers the question of whether last year’s record-shattering application numbers and admission rates would prove to be a pandemic-related blip or an acceleration of an existing trend.
College Admissions Is More Competitive Than Ever
Applications to the nation’s most sought-after schools continued to reach record-high levels in 2022. As a result, admission rates remained at or near record-lows. This trend was true for all top-ranked schools, including both public and private, small, and large.
Applications are up
According to the Common App, the number of first-year applicants this year rose 6 percent over last year, and the total number of applications rose 9%. The rise in applications was driven in part by a continued increase in the number of applications submitted by each student. While the Common App data indicates that applications per student are up 6% since 2019 (from 5.3 applications to 5.6 applications).
Admission rates are down
When application volumes rise, admission rates naturally decline, so it comes as little surprise that those same top-ranked schools that saw new record-high application volumes also saw new record-low admission rates. In fact, of the 2022 top 20 U.S. News and World Report National Universities, 13 reached new record-low admission rates, 3 tied or came very close to tying their old records, and 4 did not release 2022 admissions data.
Such trends extend beyond the Ivy League to include nearly all highly selective schools. The University of Virginia offers an excellent example. The figure below includes application and admission rate data for more than 30 application cycles. This data is reflective of several trends seen across most highly selective schools: here we see the accelerated application growth spurred by the growth of online applications throughout the 2000s, accompanied by the decline in admission rates that logically follows.
Many wonder whether these record-low rates are merely flukes or a new normal. Examining previous admissions data for individual schools illustrates that these new lows represent an acceleration of existing trends rather than a blip on the radar. It is highly likely that applications to top colleges will continue to climb, with admission rates hovering at or below current record lows.
Applicant Quality Remains Strong
While some hypothesized that applicant quality would be eroded by the proliferation of test optional policies, this prediction did not materialize at selective schools. In fact, even under test optional policies, several schools have posted record-high median test scores, including New York University, Boston College, and Boston University. Colby College, which has been test optional since 2018, set a new record median SAT score of 1500 for the class of 2026. 5% of students admitted to the University of Georgia this year were valedictorians or salutatorians and that number is even higher at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where 12% of the incoming class were ranked first or second at their high schools.
Test Scores Continue to Play an Important Role in College Admissions
Although most colleges have extended their pandemic-era test optional policies at least through 2024, the data show that test scores still matter and a key differentiator in the state of college admissions.
SAT®/ACT® requirements are slowly returning
Although Florida was alone in continuing to require SAT or ACT scores throughout the pandemic, other states have now followed suit and are beginning to resume testing requirements, including both Georgia and Tennessee. Several schools have resumed testing requirements or have begun to explicitly encourage the submission of test scores, including MIT and Georgetown.
Schools implicitly encourage test scores
Many selective schools implicitly encourage test scores through the wording of their test optional policies. For example, Harvard’s policy is as follows: “Given the wide variation in how students prepare for Harvard – as well as the fact that most applicants and admitted students have outstanding academic records – it is difficult for high school grades to differentiate individual applications…SAT and ACT tests are better predictors of Harvard grades than high school grades, but this can vary greatly for any individual.”
Given the extremely low admission rates at these schools and others often targeted by 宝博体育’s highest performing students, the advice 宝博体育 Education has always offered continues to hold true today: If a school says an application component is optional, think of it as required because it is an opportunity to have another positive element in your application. This advice applies just as much to test scores as it does to optional essays, resumes, or interviews.
Submitting test scores boosts admission odds
While the magnitude of the impact of submitting scores varies, all of the schools below show the same overall trend: submitting test scores improves an applicants’ odds of admission, in some cases offering more than double the acceptance rate.
Qualitative Aspects of Applications Play a Significant Role in Admissions Decisions
Particularly at the nation’s most selective schools, the qualitative aspects of a student’s application are heavily weighted. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) finds that 70% of admissions officers identify a student’s character attributes as either “considerably” or “moderately” important in the admissions process.
Selective colleges were much more likely than less selective colleges to rate character attributes as considerably important. After all, highly selective schools have applicant pools made up of high achieving students whose grades and test scores are often similarly impressive. Character traits offer a means of distinguishing among such academically impressive applicants.
Vanderbilt Dean of Admissions Doug Christiansen had this to say of the incoming class of 2026: “They are very academically accomplished in all facets—rigor of curriculum, types of courses they’ve taken, the grades in those courses, their testing. But I am even more impressed by what they’ve done in leadership and extracurricular activities, particularly during COVID-19. There are lots of things in our world today that are not very positive, and this class gives me hope. We have great students coming in; they’re concerned about the world they live in.”
Parental Influence Plays a Greater Role in Students’ College Decisions
Surveys indicate that parents are playing a larger role in students’ college decisions than they have in the past. This may be a result of pandemic-related factors, including the forced proximity of recent years and concerns over schools’ pandemic responses.
Among students surveyed, 48% ranked “parental influence” as one of their top five sources of information on the admissions process, a substantial increase since 2019. Higher-income students, Asian students, and white students reported relying on their parents for guidance at higher rates than other subgroups.
College Costs Remain a Top Concern
Surveys indicate that the cost of college continues to be a concern, and experts indicate that we can expect to see costs continue to rise in coming years. At the same time, gift aid reached an all-time high, and the number of schools implementing “no loan” policies has increased. Cost continues to be a key topic in the state of college admissions.
College costs expected to continue to increase
A college education has never cost more than it does today—but this isn’t just because tuition rates have risen at rates far outpacing inflation for decades. The current economic climate has created a convergence of factors that have led to even higher college costs: record-breaking inflation, rising interest rates on student loans, and the market decline’s effect on investments that were earmarked for college costs.
Tuition discount rates are also on the rise
According to the 2021 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Tuition Discounting Student, average institutional tuition discount rates are at an all-time high. Data from 359 private colleges and universities showed an average discount rate of 54.5% for first-time freshmen in 2021-22.
More colleges go loan-free
Amidst the student debt debate, an increasing number of colleges are adopting loan-free financial aid policies. In total, The Chronicle of Higher Education estimates that approximately 75 schools have no-loan policies for either all students or for students meeting certain income thresholds, including Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Stanford.
Schools that meet full financial need regardless of income are primarily private schools, but Ohio State University recently announced a plan to introduce a debt-free degree program. Should this plan come to fruition, Ohio State would be the first public university to offer no loan financial aid packages to all students regardless of income or residency.
New Data Sheds Light on Learning Loss
Resources, School, TEST PREPNew national data from multiple sources further confirms learning loss and the the negative impact of the pandemic on academic performance across ages.
Lowest National Average ACT® Score in 30 Years
According to data recently published by the ACT, the national average composite ACT score for the class of 2022 was 19.8. This is the lowest average score in three decades and the first time the national ACT average has been below 20.0 since 1991.
Similarly, 42% of seniors meet none of the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, up from 38% in 2021. Only 22% of students met all four college readiness benchmarks, down from 25% in 2021. These benchmarks are the minimum ACT scores required for students to have a high probability of success in a first-year college course. The benchmark scores are 18 on English, 22 on Math, 22 on Reading, and 23 on Science.
“This is the fifth consecutive year of declines in average scores, a worrisome trend that began long before the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has persisted,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “The magnitude of the declines this year is particularly alarming, as we see rapidly growing numbers of seniors leaving high school without meeting the college-readiness benchmark in any of the subjects we measure. These declines are not simply a byproduct of the pandemic. They are further evidence of longtime systemic failures that were exacerbated by the pandemic.
National Average SAT® Score Down 10 Points From 2021
According to data from the College Board, the national average SAT score also dropped to 1050, down from 1060 in 2021. This is the lowest average score ever on this version of the SAT exam. 32% of students did not meet either of the SAT’s college readiness benchmarks, with the benchmarks being 480 on the Evidence Based Reading and Writing section and 530 on the Math section. This is also the highest this number has been on this version of the test.
Historic Declines Among 4th and 8th Graders
Learning loss is not only evident in high school students, but younger kids as well. New data published by the Federal government shows historic declines among 4th and 8th grade students in reading and math. Nationally, the average math score for 4th grade students fell five points from 2019, while the score for 8th grade students dropped eight points. In reading, average scores for both grades were down three points.
While both reading and math scores declined, this data recorded the largest-ever decline in math. These declines reflect what has long been suspected: pandemic-related interruptions to learning have negatively impacted student achievement.
According to Peggy Carr, Commissioner for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), “the[se] results show the profound toll on student learning during the pandemic, as the size and scope of the declines are the largest ever in mathematics.”
What Does this Mean for Students?
While these declines in academic performance are grim, they are not unexpected given the setbacks and uncertainty caused by the pandemic. This new data confirms that students across elementary, middle, and high school do not have the same educational foundations as students did pre-pandemic.
Additional tutoring and test prep outside of school hours is now more important than ever. Research out of Brown University indicates that tutoring in small groups of up to three or four students that takes place multiple times a week with a consistent tutor produces learning gains for all students, including those who have fallen behind academically.
宝博体育’s Class of 2022 students, all of whom were impacted by pandemic learning loss in their critical junior year of high school, are a shining example of the benefits of tutoring. Working with a 宝博体育 tutor multiple times a week with at most 2 other students, they reported an average ACT score of 29.2, which is the top 8% of test takers nationwide. 宝博体育 students also reported a very strong average SAT score of 1358, which is in the top 10% of all SAT test takers.
宝博体育 offers tutoring and test prep to help students combat learning loss and keep them on track. Reach out to get started today.
Last Minute College Essays: You Ask, We Answer
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSIn our most recent webinar about last minute college essays, we discussed upcoming college application deadlines and strategies to write a great college essay…in a hurry! We received many questions from parents and students during the live webinar and we wanted to share the answers to a few of our favorites. Take a look!
When is the best time to start writing my college applications essays?
We recommend students start the essay writing process the summer after their junior year. This will give you several months to brainstorm, draft, edit, receive feedback and finalize your essays.
Do all colleges and universities require both the Common App essay and a supplemental essay?
Great question! The answer is no, essay requirements vary by school. The Common App is accepted by over 1,000 schools. You only need to write one essay for the Common App, although you can write and submit different versions to different schools if you choose to. Some schools require supplemental essays, some have optional supplemental essays, and others don’t require any additional essays at all. We recommend researching the essay requirements for all the schools you plan on applying to and determining if there are overlapping or similar supplemental essays topics to make your writing process more efficient.
Do essay prompts remain the same every year?
The Common App essay prompts will typically change every few years, but they will remain the same for 2022-2023. How often supplemental essay prompts change varies by school. Some schools may choose to keep them consistent from year to year, while others may change them up every year. As we said previously, it’s very important to do this research before you start writing your essays.
What do college admissions officers really look for in essays?
Your goal should not be to try to give a comprehensive picture of who you are. Instead, you should give a deep and meaningful look at a few select personal traits. Look for traits that are important to you and that naturally fit together. Find a story that illustrates those particular traits so that you can tie them together into a nice cohesive essay, where your ideas complement one another instead of competing for space. You don’t have to explain everything about who you are, but rather help the admissions officer get to know a little bit of who you are.
How long does it take to write a good essay?
Great question, but there is not one good answer! The number of hours or drafts it takes to write a great essay varies by person. For example, students that are naturally strong writers may get their essay finalized in fewer drafts than a student that needs a few extra rounds of revisions. The key is give yourself enough time to work on your essays without feeling rushed.
Still need help on your college essay? There’s still time to work with one of college admissions counselors and essay experts. Reach out today!
宝博体育 Education Celebrates 25 Years!
MISCELLANEOUS宝博体育 Education is celebrating 25 years of academic success! Since 1997, 宝博体育 has helped high-performing students achieve high test scores, strong GPAs and dream college acceptances.
Our Story
宝博体育 Education was founded 25 years ago in a Harvard University dorm room by David Kim and Jim Narangajavana. On weekends, Jim provided SAT® prep to local high school students. Both Jim and David felt strongly that every student should have a shot at the best schools and opportunities. Working together, they started a tutoring company to help high school students get into their first-choice colleges.
Since 1997, 宝博体育 has grown from that Harvard dorm room to over 135 centers in 15 states and Canada. All 宝博体育 services are now available in person, online, or hybrid.
Our Academic Outcomes
In the last five years, 宝博体育 students have received 25,000+ dream college acceptances and over $180 million in scholarship offers. 91% of 宝博体育 students who applied to a top 100 school were accepted. 40% of 宝博体育 students who applied to an Ivy league school were accepted, compared to the National Ivy acceptance rate of 5%. Additionally, last year, 宝博体育 students scored within the top 10% of SAT® and ACT® scores nationwide.
Ready to get started with the preeminent tutoring and test prep provider nationwide? Reach out to your nearest 宝博体育 center today!
Tutor Appreciation Week 2022
MISCELLANEOUSOctober 3-7, 2022 is Tutor Appreciation Week! 宝博体育 tutors have a passion for learning and believe all students can reach their full potential with personalized guidance and support. Not only are our tutors experts in their subject areas, they truly care about their students’ academic success and future plans. Continue reading to learn more about some of our amazing tutors!
Susanna Heinz
Palo Alto, CA
“Susanna has helped me with English, math, and most importantly my confidence. I’ve never seen someone care for their students as much as Susanna does. She also notices everything; she sees when a student is struggling and knows exactly what to do. Having Susanna as a tutor has truly been one of the best things to happen to my SAT® process.”
Don Benjamin
San Mateo, CA
“Don has been teaching at 宝博体育 San Mateo since 2017 and has rich teaching experience in SAT®, ACT®, AP English, AP® US History and other subjects. Many of his students have been admitted to Ivy League schools and top 30 universities. He has a high reputation among his students, and many students even come here specifically to work with him.”
Tanya Kumar
Maple Lawn, MD
“Tanya teaches both STEM and Humanities subjects and she has a stellar teaching style. We always get great feedback from students and parents about how sessions with Tanya have greatly improved their scores and grades. She goes above and beyond to provide students with extra work and encouragement and always provides detailed feedback and suggestions to families for conferences.”
Nina Teftt
Sterling, VA
“For 10 years, Nina has not only been one of the most dedicated, driven and disciplined tutors here at 宝博体育, but also one of the most caring. 宝博体育 is her home and that’s how she makes her students feel, too. She believes in each and every one of her students and will do everything in her power to help them achieve their academic goals. She not only brings her head to 宝博体育 everyday, but also her heart!”
Spencer Kim
Yorba Linda, CA
“I think Spencer is amazing. He provided really good feedback and gave some great critiques. He was specific enough to both help me understand what I need to fix and give me some ideas on how to continue from there. He’s also a really nice and interesting person to chat with. He’s been really supportive and helpful throughout the college application process.”
Digital SAT®: You Ask, We Answer
SATIn our most recent webinar, we discussed the new digital SAT®, including the timeline, what’s changing, and our recommendations for test prep. We received many questions from parents and students during the live webinar and we wanted to share the answers to a few of our favorites. Take a look!
When will the new digital SAT be introduced?
The new SAT test will be introduced internationally in spring 2023. The first digital PSAT will be offered in the U.S. in fall 2023. The digital SAT will be offered in the U.S. in spring 2024.
Will scoring stay the same?
Yes, the overall scoring scale will still be 400-1600, with each section having a maximum score of 800.
Is there option to write notes on the reading and writing section?
Yes! The platform will have an annotation function to allow for highlighting and taking notes.
Will test prep be made readily available prior to the move to the digital test?
The College Board will release their first practice tests in fall of 2022. At 宝博体育, we will begin offering digital SAT prep in spring 2023, allowing students a full year of test prep before the new digital exam is introduced.
I’m currently a junior and I want to know if I will have to take the digital SAT?
Current juniors, students graduating in 2024, should not have to worry about the switch to the digital SAT. Since most college application deadlines fall somewhere between November and February, seniors typically need to have their test scores finalized by fall of their senior year. That means that current juniors have until fall of 2023 to finalize their test scores and can focus on the current version of the SAT.
When will 宝博体育 have digital SAT test prep available for students?
We will be offering digital SAT test prep starting spring 2023. However, our current SAT prep programs help students master the knowledge and skills needed for success on either the paper or the digital test. This means that if a student is planning on taking the digital SAT in the future, test prep at 宝博体育 can start as early as now!
Want to learn more? Visit our Digital SAT Resource Hub.
Digital SAT® Prep by Grad Year
SATThe SAT® is going digital! The first digital SAT exam will be offered in the U.S. in early 2024. This transition may feel overwhelming for students preparing to take the SAT in the next few years. Who should prepare for the paper and pencil test and who should prepare for the new digital version of the test? 宝博体育 has clear recommendations for digital SAT prep by grad year to help families create the best plan for success.
Class of 2023
Students graduating in 2023 are not affected by the transition to Digital SAT® and should prep for the current test. They will have graduated before the new test is offered. Students should finalize their SAT® score with the current test if they have not already.
Class of 2024
The class of 2024 should not be affected by the transition to the new test and should prep for the current test. 宝博体育 always encourages students to finalize their SAT® score by fall of their junior year, which is December 2022 for the class of 2024. The last opportunity to finalize their score with the existing paper and pencil test is December 2023, which is fall of their senior year.
Class of 2025
The class of 2025 should continue to prep for the paper and pencil exam. As previously mentioned, we recommend students finalize their scores by fall of their junior year, which is December 2023 for these students. If that timing is not possible, these students should start prep for the digital SAT. Digital SAT prep at 宝博体育 will be offered starting spring 2023.
Class of 2026
The class of 2026 and younger should prep for the digital SAT. The first digital SAT test will be offered spring of their sophomore year. Students can begin practicing the concepts, skills and knowledge for the SAT now at 宝博体育. Dedicated Digital SAT classes will be available in early spring.
Ready to get started on SAT test prep today? prepping for the existing test today will help lay the groundwork for the digital test when it’s rolled out. Reach out to your local 宝博体育 Education center today!
Want to learn more? Visit our Digital SAT Resource Hub.
Digital SAT®: Changes to the SAT
SATThe SAT® is going digital in the U.S in 2024. How will the new test be different from the existing pencil and paper exam? Take a look at the Digital SAT changes below.
What’s staying the same?
The goal and intent of the SAT exam
The digital SAT will continue to measure the knowledge and skills students are learning in school and that matter most for college readiness.
Knowledge and skills
The two sections of the digital SAT exam also measure generally similar knowledge and skills the current pencil and paper test, including:
The overall score scale
The SAT will continue to be scored on the same 400-1600 score scale as the current paper and pencil test.
Testing location
The digital SAT will still be administered in a school or in a test center with a proctor present. There will not be an option to take the digital SAT at home.
What’s changing?
Test length and breakdown
Another important Digital SAT change is the length of the new test. The digital SAT is shorter than its paper and pencil predecessors—lasting 2 hours and 14 minutes instead of 3 hours. Test takers have more time to answer each question, meaning that the digital SAT Suite test measures of students’ skills and knowledge, not test-taking speed.
The test is composed of two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. Students have 64 minutes to complete the Reading and Writing section and 70 minutes to complete the Math section.
Each section is composed of two equal-length modules of test questions. Each Reading and Writing module lasts 32 minutes, while each Math module lasts 35 minutes. Each module is separately timed, and students can move backward and forward among questions in a given module before time runs out. When time runs out on the first module of each section, the test delivery platform moves students to the second module. When students complete the Reading and Writing section, they are moved to the Math section after a 10-minute break between the sections. A small number of indistinguishable, unscored items are included in each section to aid with the test development process.
Reading and Writing Digital SAT changes
Math Digital SAT changes
Multistage adaptive testing
Another key Digital SAT change: The digital SAT Suite will utilize a multistage adaptive testing (MST) methodology. Being adaptive means the test can fairly and accurately measure the same things with a shorter test while preserving test reliability.
Each section is divided into two equal-length and separately timed stages, each composed of a module of questions. As illustrated above, students begin each test section by answering the set of questions in the first module. This module contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions that allows students to demonstrate their achievement before moving on to the second module. The questions in this second module are broadly targeted to the test taker’s achievement level based on their performance in the first module. Questions are either (on average) higher difficulty or lower difficulty than questions in the first module. This means that the test “adapts” to present questions that are more appropriate to a student’s performance level.
Score reporting
Students and educators will receive scores in days, rather than in weeks with the current exam.
Key Benefits of the New Digital SAT
Easier to take
The digital test itself is roughly an hour shorter. Students can take the digital tests on a wide range of devices, including their own laptops, iPads, school-owned desktops and laptops, and school-managed Chromebooks. Initial data collected by the College Board from pilot participants strongly support the claim that the digital SAT Suite tests are easier to take. For example, 88% of surveyed test takers reported an excellent or good experience taking a digital SAT test.
Easier to administer
The new digital SAT will also be easier to give. Gone are the days of shipping, securing, unpacking, distributing, collecting, and repacking test materials. The tests themselves have fewer separately timed sections and exam timing is handled by the test delivery platform itself, not the proctor. The College Board has also designed the digital SAT test delivery platform to be tolerant of momentary interruptions in connectivity without losing students’ work or time.
More secure
The switch to digital has eliminated the paper handling that not only places burdens on test administrators but also creates security risks. Also, each student is administered a highly comparable but unique version of the test, which greatly eliminates students copying from their test-taking neighbors or scouring the internet for leaked tests.
More relevant
With the digital tests, the number and variety of contexts included have been greatly increased. This means that there are many more opportunities for the tests to represent the diversity of people, experiences, and interests in the United States and around the world. This greatly increases the chances that students will encounter passages that they find meaningful and personally interesting.
Ready to get started on SAT prep? Reach out to your nearest 宝博体育 center today!
Want to learn more about Digital SAT changes? Visit our Digital SAT Resource Hub.
New Digital SAT® Test Overview
Resources, SAT, Test PrepAs we shared previously, the SAT® exam is going digital in the U.S. in 2024. The goal of this fully digital and adaptive new SAT test is to provide a more convenient testing experience for students and families. We’ve pulled together a digital SAT test overview provided by the College Board. Take a look!
Digital SAT Test Overview and Specifications
Reading and Writing Section
Math Section
Format
Two-stage adaptive test design: Performance on Module 1 determines the difficulty of Module 2 and the overall max score
One Reading and Writing section administered in two separately timed modules
One Math section administered in two separately timed modules
Total number of questions
54 questions
44 questions
Total time allotted
70 minutes
Time per question
≈95 seconds
Time per module
1st module: 32 minutes
2nd module: 32 minutes
1st module: 35 minutes
2nd module: 35 minutes
Question types
Four-option multiple-choice
Four-option multiple-choice (≈75%) and student-produced response (≈25%)
Passage and word problem subjects
Literature, history/social studies, humanities, science
Science, social science, real-world topics
Scores reported
Reading and Writing and Math section scores out of 800
Total score out of 1600
Reading and Writing Section Overview
The Reading and Writing section of the new digital SAT Suite will measure students’ knowledge of literacy needed for college. This section will focus on key elements of reading and comprehension, rhetoric, and language.
Questions on the Reading and Writing section of the new digital SAT will represent one of four content domains:
Math Section Overview
The Math section of the digital SAT is designed to measure knowledge and skills in math that are critical for college readiness. Students will answer multiple-choice and student-produced response questions that measure the math concepts, skills, and practices that are essential for entry-level postsecondary work.
Questions on the Math section will represent one of four content domains:
Scoring Overview
The new digital SAT test will yield three scores: two section scores and one total score. The two section scores, one for Reading and Writing and the one for Math, are based on the student’s performance on each section. The total score is the sum of the two section scores. Subscores and cross-test scores will no longer be reported.
Current seniors, juniors and sophomores should still be focusing on prepping for the existing paper and pencil SAT. Ready to gets started on test prep? Reach out to your local 宝博体育 Education today!
Want to learn more? Visit our Digital SAT Resource Hub.