The Scholastic Assessment Test or SAT is a standardised test that is widely accepted by universities globally and is used as a common base code. It measures the academic skills and knowledge of students and consists of 3 areas of study: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. It is a standardised test that is used as a common data point by colleges to judge your readiness for college. You can appear for the test in the months of March, May, June, August, October, and December. It is a 3-hour long test, and the highest possible score is 1600.
Being a globally recognised test, the SAT score is accepted by colleges worldwide in countries like the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and India, those which come under the alliance with the College Board.
What is SAT Digital?
The SAT test will be taken in the digital format from now on. You can take the exam from your own laptop or tablet or on a computer provided by your school. This is done while keeping the test security and convenience of the students in mind. In this format, even if your computer crashes or you lose connection, your progress will be recorded.
A look at what’s new in the SAT from 2024 and how it will help students planning to join US universities.
- The Digital SAT 2024 will be easier to take, easier to administer and more relevant, according to the College Board.
- It is expected that more students will take the SAT next year after the Board ran a pilot in November 2021 which showed that it is less stressful for 80% of students.
- The move to deliver it online would also give an impetus to the Biden administration’s plans to bring back international students to US universities.
More students across the globe, including Indians, are likely to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in 2024, which will be conducted online, as announced by the College Board recently. With most students and institutions adjusting to learning and assessment in the digital mode post pandemic, the Digital SAT 2024 will be another step in that direction.
This is also aimed at minimising the delivery costs involved in a high-level standardised test. It will also see some changes after 2016 which test takers need to prepare for. The digital version is likely to be less stressful for test takers, doing away with any logistical or other challenges involved in the offline test.
The Board conducted a pilot version of the online SAT globally in November 2021. The results showed that it is less stressful for 80% of students and also received a positive response from 100% of educators, meaning it is easier to administer. According to Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of College Readiness Assessments at College Board, “There is a full advantage in delivering an assessment online… it is easier to take, easier to administer and more relevant.”
The online SAT will be available for American students in 2024. This indicates that the US universities are focusing on getting more international students early. The move to deliver it online would also give an impetus to the Biden administration’s plans to bring back international students to US universities.
Asian students are among the largest takers for the SAT. As per data from the Board, around 223,451 Asian students took the SAT in 2020 with 24% of them scoring between 1400 and 1600, 32% between 1200 and 1390, and 285 between 1000 and 1190. The SAT is also popular among Indian students aspiring to study in the US.