By Travis Minor, M.Ed. Travis is the founder of Open Door Education, a trusted resource for expert tutoring and test preparation since 2011. Travis has helped thousands of students navigate the SAT and ACT with clarity and confidence.
Since the transition to the new SAT in March 2024, students and educators have had time to adjust to the test’s digital format. Here’s what we’ve learned so far and how it affects students.
Digital Testing: A Smooth Transition
The shift to digital testing has been less disruptive than expected. Most students have adapted well to the new format, and technical issues have been minimal. Despite the digital change, the SAT still assesses the same core skills, but a few changes require new strategies.
Key Takeaways About the New SAT
- Desmos is a Game-Changer For the first time, students have access to a built-in graphing calculator, Desmos, throughout both Math modules. When used effectively, Desmos can make many problems easier and faster to solve. However, it can also impact practice test results. Some students may underperform initially if they’re unfamiliar with Desmos or don’t use it efficiently. Incorporating it into prep early is essential to improve accuracy and save time.
- Pacing in the Second Module The SAT is now adaptive: the second module adjusts based on performance in the first. While students often have ample time in the first module, the second module is more challenging, and pacing becomes crucial. Some questions are very short, while others take longer, so knowing when to speed up, slow down, or move on is important.
- Fewer Questions = More Score Volatility The new SAT has fewer questions, meaning that small mistakes can have a bigger impact on scores. This is especially true for students aiming for high scores—missing just one or two additional questions can significantly affect their results.
- Limited Score Reports The digital score reports, including those for the PSAT, provide minimal breakdowns. Without detailed feedback, students may struggle to pinpoint areas for improvement. As a result, additional assessment tools may be necessary to guide focused prep.
Trends in Testing: What This Means for Students
Beyond the format changes, we’ve observed new trends in testing behavior and score patterns:
- Lower Initial Scores, Larger Gaps to Target Many students are starting with lower diagnostic scores, likely due to the Desmos learning curve and the test’s new format. Additionally, some lingering gaps in content knowledge from the COVID-19 pandemic may contribute. Historically, students tend to achieve their best scores in the summer or fall of their senior year, and this trend continues with the new SAT.
- Increased Score Volatility and Retesting Because each question now holds more weight, small mistakes can lead to greater score fluctuations between test dates. This has encouraged more students to retake the SAT in hopes of improving their scores.
- Strategic Retesting Given the increased score volatility, most students should plan to take the SAT 2-3 times to capture their best score. Families should plan strategically to avoid overtesting while maximizing opportunities for success.
How to Plan Ahead
For parents and advisors, the key takeaway is to start early and plan for multiple test dates. Here’s how to prepare:
- Take a Diagnostic Test: Register for a free diagnostic test with Open Door Education to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Contact Campus Bound to help you coordinate.
- Learn Desmos Early: Incorporate Desmos into preparation to improve pacing and accuracy in the Math sections.
- Maintain Pacing in the Second Module: Understand when to speed up and when to slow down, especially for the more challenging second module.
- Strategic Testing Timeline: Focus on the prime testing window from March through October for the best results.
At Open Door Education, we help students build confidence and improve their SAT scores. Whether deciding between the SAT or ACT or preparing for a final test, we’re here to help you develop a strategic plan.