Digital SAT: What You Need to Know

The SAT has officially gone digital and with it come some major changes. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Digital SAT?

The College Board administers the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) which is largely used as an academic measuring tool for U.S. college admissions. In an effort to accommodate students since the COVID-19 pandemic, they have released a new, digital version of the SAT that is taken on a computer, tablet, or school device.   

Why is the SAT going digital?

One way the College Board intends on accommodating students is by making it more equitable for underrepresented communities. According to Priscilla Rodriguez, Vice President of college-readiness assessments at the College Board, “the digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant.” 

What can we expect?

1. Starting this spring 2023, all international students will have access to the digital SAT. The digital switch will happen domestically in two waves: 2023 for PSAT and 2024 for SAT.
2. The scale will remain at 1,600.
3. Students will still be taking the SAT at a testing center (with a proctor) but will have the additional opportunity to use their own device. For those who do not have access to a computer, the College Board can loan students a computer or laptop.
4. If you lose internet access, your time will pause and your work will be saved.
5. The exam has been reduced to two hours instead of three and there will be more time per question.
6. SAT Reading will have shorter passages and only one question each that will reflect a wider range of topics.
7. SAT Math will have a digital calculator onscreen for each question. 
8. You will be able to view your scores within a few days of taking the exam and colleges you chose to send your scores to will receive them about ten days after you. With the quicker turnaround time, students will have more flexibility when they choose to take the exam. 
9. After taking the exam, the Digital SAT will provide you with information on local resources and a diverse set of educational pathways in addition to scholarships and College Board National Recognition Programs.
10. While the College Board is implementing all these changes, the Digital SAT is projected to have the same level of difficulty.

Key Takeaways

• The SAT will be going digital.
• The main changes: 2 hours long, more time per question, onscreen calculator for each math question, shorter passages and one question per passage, quicker score reporting and viewing, and more flexibility on the device you can use. 
• The parts that will stay the same: 1,600 scale, administered by a proctor, information on scholarships and College Board National Recognition Programs