If you took the SAT® last year and are hoping to take it again soon, you may discover that the test you take starting in the 2014-2015 school year is very different than your previous attempts, but don’t worry! The SAT® is being redesigned to make it a more effective and accurate reflection of what college and the “real world” will be like. This means that there will be both major and minor changes you should know about.

The biggest concern that students have is, “how long is the new SAT®?” But, a close second is, “will I still get penalized for wrong answers?” We will answer those questions, and more, in this article. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about the SAT®’s new format, and gain information on how to get a great score.

Differences Between the Current SAT® and New SAT®

The table below will outline some of the biggest changes on the 2016 SAT® test as compared to the current SAT®. It’s especially important to note that the scoring system is very different this time around. If you took the SAT® in the fall of 2015 and got a 1600, even if you do better on the retest, you will most likely get a lower score on the new exam. But don’t panic! This doesn’t mean you did worse. It can actually mean you did better! Keeping reading to find out why this is!

SAT® Test Structure

Now that you understand the differences between the two tests, the first thing you should know about the 2016 SAT® is it has a new and improved content structure. This means that your pacing and endurance strategies will have to be different than the old SAT®, because the sections are set up differently.

Let’s look at it like this: 

A quick note before we move on: you’ll notice that the new SAT®’s format is pretty similar to that of the ACT®. This means that instead of throwing short sections of mixed up content as you like 25 minutes of math here, 35 minutes of writing there, the SAT® is now giving you longer periods of time to work on a single subject. This will aid your pacing and endurance. Find out how below!

Now Let’s Dive Further Into Each of the New Sections and See How Different the New SAT® Really is.

If you don’t write the optional essay (which you really should do, since it is scored separately, it can’t technically hurt your composite scores – but more on that later), the new SAT® is actually 45 minutes shorter than the old one. Let’s take a quick look at the content that makes up that time.

SAT® Math

If you, or maybe even an older sibling, have taken the old SAT®, you probably remember that there were three different math sections that contain a total of 54 questions. The old SAT® covers topics such as arithmetic, Algebra I, Geometry, and a little bit of Algebra II. You may also remember that you were allowed to use a calculator on all math sections.

The redesigned SAT®, however, is quite different. Many of the questions will be application-based and have multiple steps. This means that the 2016 math sections require more critical thinking and reasoning (just like the real world!), as well as higher-level math, such as trigonometry. Not only will need to know how to apply formulas to real-life situations, you will also need to understand the theories behind certain mathematic principles.

Two new things for 2016 that are very different: There is one grid-in question that is worth 4 points. Grid-in questions are exactly as they sound: there are no answer choices to guide your process, so you must produce your own answer and bubble it in on your answer sheet. The second new feature is that there will be an entire section of math that you are not allowed to use your calculator on. But don’t let that stress too much,as the questions are mostly logic-based. Just be sure to know your multiplication tables!

Here’s a quick example:

If { a }^{ 2 }+14a=51a2+14a=51 and $a>0$, what is the value of $a+7$?

No need to panic! Since A > 0, start running through numbers that add up to 51 when squared and added to 14 times the original number.

Your process might look like this:

2X2=4 and 14X2=28…Nope, that’s going to be big enough. Okay, let me try 3.

3X3=9 and 14X3=42. 42 + 9 = 51! Boom! So the answer to A+7 is 10!

Make sure you stay calm and keep thinking. It’s also helpful to jot some things down as you go, because while the new SAT® gives you a little more time per section and more multiple-choice minutes, if you keep starting from the beginning when something goes wrong, you’ll eat it all up.

Some other key topics you’ll need to understand for the new SAT® include:

1. Ratios and percentages

2. Linear equations

3. Complex equation manipulation

Will the 2016 Math section be harder?

No, not really. Just make sure you prepare for the new format and focus on what’s going to be tested. Just remember that the current test focuses on computational skills, while the 2016 SAT® will focus more on real-world problem solving.

SAT® Reading and Writing

The old SAT® had sections that cover your Critical Reading and Writing Skills. The Critical Reading section had a variety of questions such as sentence completion, which tests your vocabulary and multiple-choice questions based on both long and short passages, which you have to read within a certain time limit. The Writing Skills section consisted of an essay, sentence correction questions, and multiple-choice paragraph reorganization. Each section was divided into multiple parts and sprinkled throughout the test in approximately 30-minute increments. This made the test seem longer and harder, because your brain was always jumping around between subjects.

The new SAT®, however, is very different! As we mentioned, this tests are now all compartmentalized by subject. So you can focus your brain into “reading mode” and get to work. While the timing is only a little bit short on the new SAT®, it feels longer because for most students, it’s easier to focus on one thing at a time.

What will the questions on the New SAT® be like?

First, there will be no sentence completion questions, meaning you won’t really have to study those notoriously difficult SAT® vocabulary words. Instead, you will have to understand the meanings of words in context. For example, “custom” can mean specially made like “a custom fitted gown” or a particular way of doing this as in “it is our custom to hug three times upon meeting.” Your job would be to read the surrounding sentences for clues, and then pick the answer that best describes how it works in that context.

The 2016 test will focus on evidence-based reading, meaning you have to interpret passages based on US and World Literature, History, and Science. You may be see graphs, charts, and images in the reading and writing sections. If you’ve taken the ACT®, you might recognize those kinds of questions from the Science section.

For example, you might be shown something similar to the following chart:

Image Source: The College Board

And be asked to interpret the data on it. No big deal, right?

The SAT® Writing Section will also have quite a few straightforward questions that require you to check the grammar and punctuation of passages.

All in all, the new SAT® focuses on understanding words, sentences, and grammar in context, as opposed to testing your rote memorization skills.

The SAT® Essay

Now here is a pretty big change! The new SAT® Essay creates the biggest time change between the two tests. The old test comes with a required, 25-minute timed essay question required you to respond to a short prompt about social, moral, or political issues. You had to create your own unique point of view and sustain your argument by providing supporting evidence, such as personal experiences and outside quotes.

The 2016 SAT®, however, does not require you to write an essay. The essay will be redesigned to be entirely optional, with a score that is separate from the rest of the test. If you choose to write an essay, it’s important to know that you will have 50 minutes to read a passage (600-700 words) and write an essay that analyzes the author’s persuasion techniques. You will need a deep understanding of how authors build their arguments and be able to write an insightful essay based on the passage.

While adding 50 minutes to the end of an already long test might seem like too much work, it’s really not. Even when it is used wisely, the time will fly by. It might be encouraging for you to hear that the passages featured so far have been engaging. Also, while the College Board might consider the new essay optional, many colleges do not. It’s always a better idea to have taken the essay and not need it, then need it and not have taken it –especially if you are taking the test as a junior and are still undecided about the kinds of colleges you want to attend.

SAT® Scores

Now that we’ve gone over the changes in timing and content of individual sections, let’s take a look at the new and improved scoring system. You’ll probably be excited to know that there will be absolutely no deductions for wrong answers. Gone are the days of being arbitrarily strategic about guessing. You can feel completely free to make educated guesses without fear of losing points!

You may also recall that the current SAT® has a composite scoring range of 600-2400. The individual Critical Reading, Math, and Writing sections are scored on a 200-800 scale. However, the 2016 SAT® will be very different. First, the scale will be from 400-1600. The maximum score you can get on each section of the new SAT®, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics, will be 800 each. When you take the 2016 SAT® test, you will receive these scores:

You should not be too concerned about the changes to the 2016 SAT®. Remember that the test creators at the College Board have redesigned the test to benefit you, and not to make it harder.

A Quick Review:

·   A new version of the SAT® made its debut in March 2016

·   The time varies: If you complete the optional essay, the test is exactly 4 hours long, including breaks.

·   If you don’t write the essay, the test is approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes long, including breaks.

With this knowledge of the new SAT®, you will be ready to prepare for the next time you take the test, or for the first time you take the test! Never again will you wonder, “how long is the SAT®?” because now you know.

What Are The Next Steps?

It’s time to get to work!

Looking for SAT® practice?

Kickstart your SAT® prep with Albert. Start your AP® exam prep today.