It's a big week in the college admission testing landscape. The redesigned SAT will make its official debut this Saturday, March 5. There will certainly be some surprises for test takers—we're here to help avoid the unexpected.
An entirely new exam format
No surprise here. Since the College Board announced the redesigned SAT, test prep experts have been digging into what the new content and formatting will look like. ArborBridge's blog series, Tests Uncovered, dives into the redesigned exam section-by-section. We recommend checking out our posts for a solid review of question types and practice problems.
A possible experimental section
According to a recent article in The Washington Post, some students may see an additional multiple-choice section when they sit for the new exam: an experimental section. This was announced quietly by the College Board, so we aren't sure exactly what to expect as far as content and question type, or even for sure where this experimental section will appear in the test. What we do know is that this section will be 20 minutes long, students with testing accommodations will not have this section, and that only students who opted NOT to take the essay will have it as part of the test. We also believe it will come at the end of the exam.
The questions on this section will not count towards a student's SAT scores. It exists for the College Board to gather data on the new test—ultimately it is supposed to be for the benefit of students taking the SAT in the future.
What does this mean for you?
If you opted out of the essay section, your test may or may not include a fifth multiple-choice section. Again, it is not certain that your test will feature this experimental section but for a test of this magnitude it's best to be prepared for anything.
Half-empty test rooms
Because of the uncertainty of the new exam, not many students have registered to sit for this Saturday's test date. Additionally, the College Board notified all testers who are not taking this Saturday's exam for college admissions (AKA, non-students) that their spots have been moved to the May exam date. That means tutors, test prep professionals, counselors, teachers, etc. will not be joining you in the test room.
Score delays
Instead of receiving your scores 2.5 weeks after the exam date (the usual protocol), expect to receive them in May—May 10 to be exact.
Why the delay? The College Board wants to compare the scores from students taking this weekend's SAT to those students taking the May exam. Furthermore, don't be surprised if you don't receive your scores on May 10. With all the recent delays (remember the PSAT score reports?) from the College Board amidst preparation for the redesigned SAT, it is probably safe to assume that the first administration of the new test might be a little rocky.
Be on the lookout for glitches
It is a brand new exam, after all. Everyone—students and proctors alike—will be experiencing a new SAT for the first time on Saturday. There may be some confusion and delays due to new procedures. If this occurs, take a deep breath and do your best to follow any instructions given.
If, at the end of the exam, you feel something may have been off during the exam (e.g. the proctor giving the wrong instructions), call the College Board at 1 (866) 630-9305 or email testcenter@info.collegeboard.org with your complaint. Be sure to contact them before the Wednesday after the exam date. The College Board will investigate to ensure you had a fair test experience.
Taking the state-mandated SAT in Connecticut or New Hampshire?
Students taking the school-administered SAT at a public school in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and a small handful of public schools in New York City on Wednesday, March 2 will not complete the essay section or the experimental section.
