The New SAT. We're ON IT.
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The New SAT. We're ON IT.
The SAT has undergone its biggest change in 30 years. The New SAT made its debut in March 2016 and impacts students in the class of 2019 or younger. Our awesome research team has been closely monitoring the changes to make sure counselors, parents, and students get the inside scoop. And we have specific tips for the class of 2019.
Writting and Language Test
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When you take the Writing and Language Test, you’ll do three things that people do all the time when they write and edit:
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Read.
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Find mistakes and weaknesses.
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Fix them.
The good news: You do these things every time you proofread your own schoolwork or workshop essays with a friend.
It’s the practical skills you use to spot and correct problems—the stuff you’ve been learning in high school and the stuff you’ll need to succeed in college—that the test measures.
Reading
The Reading Test focuses on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education: the stuff you’ve been learning in high school, the stuff you’ll need to succeed in college. It’s about how you take in, think about, and use information. And guess what? You’ve been doing that for years.
It’s not about how well you memorize facts and definitions, so you won’t need to use flashcards or insider tricks or spend all night cramming.
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All Reading Test questions are multiple choice and based on passages.
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Some passages are paired with other passages.
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Informational graphics, such as tables, graphs, and charts, accompany some passages—but no math is required.
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Prior topic-specific knowledge is never tested.
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The Reading Test is part of the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section.
Major Features
Sections
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Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
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No more sentence completions; focus on multiple-meaning words
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Passages will draw from significant historical or scientific documents – may include informational graphics, such as charts
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The reading passages will include complex structure and vocabulary
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Passage-based grammar – including punctuation
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Math
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Application-based, multi-step questions
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Higher-level math, including trigonometry
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One set of “extended-thinking” grid-in questions (worth 4 points);
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Core math competencies (translating math into English and English into math)
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A deep understanding of the theories behind mathematical principles, such as building equations
Math Test
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Instead of testing you on every math topic there is, the new SAT asks you to use the math that you’ll rely on most in all sorts of situations. Questions on the Math Test are designed to mirror the problem solving and modeling you’ll do in:
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College math, science, and social science courses
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The jobs that you hold
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Your personal life
For instance, to answer some questions you’ll need to use several steps—because in the real world a single calculation is rarely enough to get the job done.
SAT Essay
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The SAT Essay is a lot like a typical college writing assignment in which you’re asked to analyze a text. Take the SAT with Essay and show colleges that you’re ready to come to campus and write.
What You’ll Do
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Read a passage.
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Explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience.
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Support your explanation with evidence from the passage.