Boston Tutoring Services: The Redesigned SAT

The Redesigned SAT: Highlighting Changes Changes to the SAT Current SAT (available through January 2016) New SAT (available March 2016 and after) Scoring and Administration 1/4 penalty for wrong answers Score is out of 2400 800 for Math/800 Reading Comp/800 Writing Only offered in Paper Format No wrong-answer penalty Score is out of 1600 800 Math/800 Reading and Writing/ Optional Essay (scored separately) Offered in Paper and Digital Format Subscores provided which adds additional insight into student performance. Anatomy 3 Critical Reading sections 20-25 minutes each 3 Writing sections 10-25 minutes each Includes 1 Essay test (25 minutes) 3 Math sections 1 Experimental test - 25 min 5 answer choices for multiple-choice questions 1 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test 65-minute Reading section 35-minute Language and Writing section 1 Math test 55-minute section with calculator 25-minute section without calculator 1 Essay test (optional) - 50 minutes 4 answer choices for multiple choice questions Timing 3 hours, 45 minutes 3 hours, 50 minutes (with optional essay) Essay Essay required - 25 minutes to complete and given at the beginning of the test Essay optional and scored separately - 50 minutes Read a piece, analyze and explain how author builds an argument Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills. Given at the end of the test. Math Wide array of topics Emphasis on computational skills Calculators for all sections More focused: Problem-solving and data analysis "The Heart of Algebra" "Passport to Advanced Math" Real-world problem solving accompanied by informational graphics Calculator permitted for 37 questions; not permitted for 20 questions Reading and Writing Critical Reading Sentence Completions Passage-based questions - short and long Writing Multiple-choice questions and Essay Evidence-Based Reading No Sentence Completions U.S. and World Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences Passages Writing and Language Tests "Expression of Ideas" and "Standard English Conventions" - passage topics: Careers, History/Social Studies, Humanities, and Science

The Redesigned SAT: Visual of Changes

Comparison of Key Features - Overarching Content Changes Current SAT Redesigned SAT Emphasis on general reasoning skills Continued emphasis on reasoning alongside a clearer, stronger focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings most important for college and career readiness and success Emphasis on vocabulary, often in limited contexts Greater emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone and impact Complex scoring (a point for a correct answer and a deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores) Rights-only scoring (a point for a correct answer but no deduction for an incorrect answer; blank responses have no impact on scores)

Comparison of Test Length and Timing on four major tests

Insight Scores - The New SAT Score Matrix One total score (out of 1600) Two section scores (each out of 800) One evidence-based reading One Math Four test scores (out of 40) One reading One writing and language One math One essay (optional) Two cross-test scores (out of 40) Analysis in science One analysis in history/social studies Seven sub-scores (out of 15) Expression of ideas Standard English Conventions Words in Context Command of Evidence Heart of Algebra Advanced Mathematics Problem Solving and Data Analysis

SAT Reading Test Content Specifications Time Allotted 65 minutes Passage Word Count 3,250 words total from 4 single passages and 1 pair; 500-750 words per passage or paired set Total Questions 52 questions All questions in this section are multiple Choice (4 options) and passage based. Words in Context (Both Reading and Writing and Language Tests) 10 questions (2 per passage) Command of Evidence (Both Reading and Writing and Language Tests) Analysis in History and Social Studies (Across Math, Reading and Writing and Language Tests) 21 questions (all history/social studies) Analysis in Science 21 questions Passage Contents US and World Literature 1 Passage; 10 questions History/Social Studies 2 Passages or 1 Passage and 1 Pair; 10-11 questions each Science

SAT Reading Test - Distinctive Features with Samples (1/2)

SAT Reading Test - Distinctive Features with Samples (2/2) » y

SAT Writing and Language Test Content Specifications Time Allotted 35 minutes Passage Word Count 1700 words total from 4 passages; 400–450 words per passage Total Questions 44 questions All questions in this section are multiple Choice (4 options) and passage based. Contributions of items to Subscores and Scores Standard English Conventions 20 questions Words in Context 8 questions (2 questions per passage) Command of Evidence Analysis in History/Social Studies 6 questions (all Expression of Ideas questions in history/social studies) Analysis in Science (Across Math, Reading, and Writing and Language Tests) 6 questions (all Expression of Ideas questions in science) Passage Contents Careers 1 Passage; 11 questions History/Social Studies Humanities Science

SAT Writing and Language Test - Distinctive Features with Samples (1/2)

SAT Writing and Language Test - Distinctive Features with Samples (2/2)

SAT Math Test Content Specifications Time Allotted 80 minutes Calculator Portion (38 questions) 55 minutes No-Calculator Portion (20 questions) 25 minutes Total Items 58 questions 100% Multiple Choice 45 questions 78% Student-Produced Response 13 questions 22% Contribution of Items to Subscores Heart of Algebra 19 questions Analyzing and fluently solving equations and systems of equations Creating expressions, equations, and inequalities to represent relationships between quantities and to solve problems systems of equations Rearranging and interpreting formulas Problem Solving and Data Analysis 17 questions Creating and analyzing relationships using ratios, proportions, percentages, and units Describing relationships shown graphically Summarizing qualitative and quantitative data Passport to Advanced Math 16 questions Rewriting expressions using their structure Creating, analyzing, and fluently solving quadratic and higher-order equations

Detailed Redesigned SAT Math Content Breakdown (1/2)

Detailed Redesigned SAT Math Content Breakdown (2/2)

SAT Math Test- Distinctive Features with Samples (1/3)

SAT Math Test- Distinctive Features with Samples (2/3)

SAT Math Test- Distinctive Features with Samples (3/3)

SAT Essay Test Content Specifications Time Allotted 50 minutes Section Description One Passage - based Prompt of 650-750 words. Arguments written for a broad audience and at a high school reading level. Test Complexity High School Reading Level (grades 9–12) 1 Analytical Scoring Reading 1–4 scale Analysis Writing

SAT Essay- Distinctive Features with Samples (1/2)

SAT Essay- Distinctive Features with Samples (2/2) Clear, Powerful, Evaluation Criteria

Quiz 1. What are the main differences between the Essay Section of the old and new SAT? (list at least 3 changes) 2. Will students have more or less time for each question on the New SAT? 3. What are sub-scores? How many are there and what are they testing? 4. How has the role of vocabulary changed on the new SAT? 5. Are there more or less sentence completions on the new SAT? 6. What are the three main areas of focus on the math section of the new SAT? 7. What types of math problems will students see in the ‘Additional Topics in Math’ section? 8. Describe changes to question structure on the new SAT - number of answer choices, deductions for wrong answers. 9. True or false, unlike on the current SAT, the re-designed SAT is offered in digital format. 10. How will the use of calculators change with the new SAT?