SAT Spotlight- Current Vs. Redesigned SAT

By Huntington Learning Center

Published:
May 8, 2015

SAT Spotlight

Current Vs. Redesigned SAT

The College Board will roll out a totally redesigned SAT in spring 2016. What exactly is changing? Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

	Current SAT	Redesigned SAT
Total Testing Time	3 hours and 45 minutes	3 hours without essay 3 hours 50 minutes with essay (optional)
Components	Critical Reading Writing Mathematics Essay (required) Evidence-Based Reading and Writing	Reading Test Writing and Language Test Math (calculator and No calculator) Essay (optional)
Section Length *Reading* *Writing* *Essay* *Math* *Total*	67 questions 49 questions 1 question 54 questions 171 questions	52 questions 44 questions 1 question 57 questions 154 questions with Essay
Important Features	Emphasis on general reasoning skills Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)	Emphasis on reasoning. Clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills and understandings most important for college and career readiness Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone and impact Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)
Essay	Required and given at the beginning of the SAT 25 minutes Tests writing skills; students take a position on a presented issue Optional and given at the end of the SAT (colleges determine whether they will require the essay) 50 minutes Tests reading, analysis and writing skills; students produce a written analysis of a provided source text
Score Reporting	Scale range: 600 to 2400 200 to 800 for Critical Reading 200 to 800 for Mathematics 200 to 800 for Writing Essay results scaled to multiple-choice Writing Scale range: 400 to 1600	200 to 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 200 to 800 for Math 2 to 8 on each of three traits for Essay Essay results reported separately
Subscore Reporting	None	Subscores for every test, providing insight for students, parents, admission officers, educators, and counselors

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