Starting in the Spring of 2024 the SAT will be delivered digitally. Check out what you need to know and how you can prepare students for this transition.

The SAT is going digital. Starting in the Spring of 2024 students will begin taking the SAT in a digital format delivered through tablets or laptops. This shift in delivery is coupled with several other changes designed to make the SAT simpler, easier to navigate, and faster at generating results. Outlined below are key takeaways as it relates to testing logistics, formatting, and resources.

 Logistics 

The Digital SAT will require students to complete the assessment on either a tablet or laptop device. These devices are allowed to be the student’s personal device or a device provided by the school. If a student does not have access to a device, College Board will provide a device that can be used on testing day. Testing will be administered in a school or at a test center with a proctor present- NOT at home.

The Digital SAT is also being designed to withstand a variety of technical issues, and testing will be able to continue even if the device loses internet connection or needs to be restarted after losing power. Similarly, a digital format allows students to each be given unique versions of the test to encourage testing security and integrity. With the added security , schools, districts, and states will also have more flexibility in when to test with the digital format.

Additionally, students will still have access to practice resources in Khan Academy and full length practice tests on the digital application Bluebook.

Students and educators will receive scores two weeks from test day.

Formatting 

The digital nature of the SAT will not be the only change coming. The Digital SAT is being reformatted to encourage simplicity and allow for easier navigation. The SAT will take two hours instead of three, and feature shorter reading passages with ONE question tied to each passage. Students will also be allowed to use a calculator for the entire duration of the Math Section, and graphing calculators will be included in the testing app. The digital format will also have a timer feature, question tracker, and formula page all easily accessible during testing.

While the test will be reformated it is important to note that the Scoring of the SAT will remain on the 1600 scale.

Test Specifications 

Resources 

A distinct advantage of delivering the SAT digitally lies in the quick turnaround of test scores. College Board has anticipated students will have access to their scores two weeks from test day.  Students will also be connected to “information of two-year colleges, careers, and workforce training programs” directly through the digital score report.

Students can continue to find resources to prepare for the SAT by going to the Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy. Additionally, students will still have access to full-length practice tests on the digital application Bluebook that will allow them to prepare for the new look and feel of the digital exam.

I hope this post has shed some light on the changes presented by the Digital SAT. If you are interested in learning more, the links below will take you directly to the College Board’s website where you can review the Digital SAT announcement, resources, and FAQ page.

• The Digital SAT Suite of Assessments
• Digital SAT Suite: Resources
• Digital SAT Suite: Frequently Asked Questions