Preparing for the New Digital SAT: Top Tips for Success
Prepare effectively for the new digital SAT with these expert tips. Learn how to navigate the digital format, manage your time, and utilize online resources for optimal results.
Are you ready for the new digital SAT? Ensure you're fully prepared with these essential tips and free digital SAT practice resources.
Familiarize Yourself with the Digital Format: Ace the digital interface by practicing with official College Board tests online. Navigate through the various formats of questions, test out built in tools including the Desmos calculator and answer eliminator, and get comfortable with the digital environment.
Employ Test-Taking Strategies: Develop tactics for tackling different question types, such as process of elimination and strategic marking. Practice these strategies during your study sessions and make use of the new built-in tools.
Practice Time Management: As with the paper format, time is of the essence in the digital SAT. Hone your time management skills by practicing pacing during mock tests, ensuring you complete each section within the allocated time. The digital SAT has a great tool which allows you to mark questions to return to later. If you get stuck, you may benefit from returning to the questions in the module later if you have extra time.
Take full Practice Tests: Take at least one to get used to the format and timing. I recommend taking several over the course of a few months as you prepare. You can use your results to focus on your areas of weakness and get additional test prep help if needed.
Simulate Test Conditions: Replicate the actual testing environment during practice tests. Find a quiet space, time yourself strictly, and eliminate distractions.
Make use of FREE Online Digital SAT Prep Resources: The College Board has a new app called Bluebook, which the student will also use to take the official test. Within the app are several free full practice tests and an untimed version to explore. Khan Academy, College Board’s official test prep partner has a lot of free practice material online. Now that the first Digital SATs have been completed, it is recommended that student’s use practice tests 4-6 in the Bluebook app to prepare as they represent the difficulty of the new test more accurately than the previous practice tests. Also, several test prep companies offer free practice tests and strategy sessions (see below).
Prioritize Self-Care: Don't overlook self-care during SAT prep. Ensure you are getting adequate sleep and nourishment to be in your best condition for testing day. If you are feeling overly stressed about the test, talk to someone about possible solutions. And last but not least, don’t hyperfocus on the SAT. You are more than a test score and the right colleges will see that! Many colleges will remain test-optional for the 2024-25 application year so you can still choose not to use your scores at all.
By following these tips and dedicating consistent time and effort to your SAT preparation, you can improve your chances of success on the digital SAT. Good luck!
Free Digital SAT Prep Resources:
Applerouth – Full length tests and strategy sessions - sign up now!
Khan Academy – Self-paced lessons and practice questions
https://www.khanacademy.org/digital-sat
College Board – Download the Bluebook app for practice tests
https://bluebook.app.collegeboard.org/
Strategic Test Prep – Great strategy and informational videos
https://www.youtube.com/@StrategicTestPrep/videos
The new Digital SAT
Big news recently was that the SAT will be moving to 100% digital testing in the future. They will debut it internationally in Spring 2023, for the Fall PSAT both in the US and abroad, and by Spring 2024 it should be digital everywhere.
Big news in the college admissions world recently was that the SAT will be moving to 100% digital testing in the future. They will begin with it internationally in Spring 2023 then continue with the Fall 2023 PSAT both in the US and abroad; by Spring 2024 it will be digital in all locations for both PSAT and SAT.
The test is still required to be taken at a school or official test center. However, the possibility of more test dates and flexibility in test centers scheduling them may make it easier for students to find a test date that fits their schedule and location. For international students, this could make a big difference as their previous test dates and locations were more limited.
Students can bring their own tablets or laptops or they can use those provided at the test site. Graphing calculators will also be built in to the test, so students who feel comfortable using those can leave their own at home. Students will still be provided scratch paper and can use a pen/pencil to work on solutions as needed.
A major difference to be discussed is the difference in the questions students will get. Gone are the days when test centers will be mailed packages of the same test for one test date. Now, students will face different sets of questions based on the accuracy of how they answered previous sections. This will help eliminate the possibility of the hard copy tests being compromised and students copying answers from their neighbors, but the security of the digital versions will also surely be an issue. It will be interesting for us outsiders to see how the tests are scored and scaled when students take different levels of difficulty.
Current 9th graders may not want to take the PSAT 10 in 2023 as it will still be on paper and they would then be taking the digital version of the PSAT/SAT the following Fall 2023. College Board has announced prep materials for the new digital SAT will be available via their Khan Academy Fall 2022. We will see how soon other test prep companies adapt to the changes and offer new prep materials.
With more than 75% of colleges and universities in the US currently test-optional or test-blind, it will be interesting to see how students and colleges adapt to these changes.
Additional Resources
https://newsroom.collegeboard.org/digital-sat-brings-student-friendly-changes-test-experience