The SAT is an important reference for U.S. college admissions and scholarship offerings. In 2013, over 1.6 million high school graduates took this exam. In recent years, the number of domestic candidates participating in this exam has also shown a rapid upward trend. Paying attention to its changes may provide insights for candidates and those concerned about examinations in the country.
Five Changes in the New SAT
The changes in the new SAT mainly reflect five aspects:
1. The exam is designed as "2+1". There are two mandatory sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Mathematics, plus an optional 50-minute essay. The essay score is reported separately and does not count towards the total score.
2. The total score has changed from 2400 to 1600. The exam duration has been reduced from 225 minutes to approximately 180 minutes (excluding the optional 50-minute essay).
3. Both paper-and-pencil and computer-based testing options will be available.
4. There will be no penalty for incorrect answers. Previously, unanswered questions did not count, while incorrect answers resulted in a deduction of points.
5. The use of calculators will be reduced. Previously, candidates could use calculators in the mathematics section. In the new SAT, certain types of questions in the mathematics section will still allow the use of calculators, but some types will no longer permit their use.
Three Lessons from the Reform
I believe that the SAT reform has three key lessons worth noting:
1. Strengthening the Practicality of the Exam
The new SAT significantly enhances the practicality of the exam, focusing on content that is most likely to be used in candidates' college studies and subsequent vocational training.
The exam will reduce the pressure of "memorizing vocabulary" and will no longer include words that candidates may have never encountered and are unlikely to encounter in the future. Some academic terms that are not part of everyday speech, such as synthesis and egalitarian, will be retained, as they are frequently used in academic and professional contexts. The exam will no longer be entangled with obscure and rare vocabulary, such as punctilious, phlegmatic, and occlusion. The vocabulary question type of "sentence completion" will be eliminated, and vocabulary will be assessed in context.
The scope of the mathematics section will be compressed, focusing on three key areas: problem-solving and data analysis, core algebra, and foundational higher mathematics.
The exam will include readings from classic literature. Each test will contain excerpts from classic American literature, such as the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist Papers, and Letters from Birmingham Jail, including speeches by figures like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.
The exam will cover multiple academic fields, with a broader range of sources, including literature, nonfiction, science, history, and social studies. Candidates will need to analyze data and texts in real contexts, identifying inconsistencies between evidence and conclusions and correcting them.
2. Emphasizing Fairness in Testing
The SAT has long been a subject of controversy, with supporters claiming it provides a measure of academic ability, while opponents argue it serves as a tool to protect elite interests. A significant long-term criticism has been the clear positive correlation between test scores and family income levels.
David Coleman, Chairman of the College Board, stated: "For too long, publishers and tutoring organizations have intimidated parents into believing that only by purchasing their study guides and spending money on their tutoring programs can their children's futures be guaranteed. The College Board can no longer stand by. If we still believe that testing can promote educational equity and efficiency, today we must take action."
It is reported that expensive SAT tutoring courses have led to inequities in higher education, placing children from low-income families at a disadvantage. To eliminate this inequity and allow more students to access college through the SAT, the College Board will partner with Khan Academy, a leader in online education, to provide free SAT preparatory courses online. The courses will be available in Spring 2015 and will include a wealth of previously unreleased SAT practice questions and over 200 video lessons. Candidates can practice for the exam online for free and learn problem-solving with the help of teachers. This will diminish the advantage of children from wealthy families who can afford high tutoring fees, making the SAT not just an assessment but an opportunity for learning and employment.
3. Adapting to the Development of New Technologies
With the advancement of computers and the internet, some jobs have disappeared: typesetting, telegraphy, and decoding... Meanwhile, one industry after another has been disrupted, including telegraphy, postal services, book publishing, music production, mass media, and retail... Computers and the internet have significantly changed the world and are transforming traditional learning and testing methods. The new SAT responds to these technological developments by offering both paper-and-pencil and computer versions, as well as providing online tutoring courses in a "MOOC" format.