SLAS TIMES 34
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The Digital SAT Switch :
Masterclass or Disasterclass ?
By Hee Chul ( Henry ) Kim
The SAT . Probably one of the most important assessment tests for all students ( if not the most important test ), and now it ’ s changed . Massively .
CollegeBoard , the company that administers the SAT , announced that the test would undergo a major transition from old-school pen-and-paper to full-online , which already was put in full flow globally in Spring 2024 .
According to an official statement from the non-profit organization themselves , the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as the main driver in the switch ; if education programs undergo changes online , why not the SAT ?
Monumental Changes in Testing .
With this monumental change , CollegeBoard decided to scrap the original 4-section test for a “ multistate adaptive design ” -- a test divided into sections that change according to your previous performance . The organization commented that such a design is better due to its convenience : they don ’ t need consistant internet , could jump around questions , and are faster !
Specifically , the test is divided into two sections : “ Reading and Writing ” alongside “ Math ,” with each section worth 800 points ( for a total out of1600 ). Each section
↑ The revamped formatting for the DSAT , comprised of two modules per section .
Source : https :// satsuite . collegeboard . org / sat / scores / understanding-scores / how-scores-are-calculated ; background removed via https :// www . pixelcut . ai / t / background-remover
has two modules : the first is always “ Module 1 ” and the second is either “ Module 2 : Easy ” or “ Module 2 : Hard ” depending on your previous performance . If you enter the easy version , then potentially your score is “ capped ” or limited to around 600 per section .
Complicated stuff , I completely agree . But that ’ s not it – not even scratching the surface when we talk about grading , the part all students are obsessed about .
Each module contains around 20-25 questions but also 2 “ guinea pig ” experimental questions known as “ pretest questions ” -- and those are completely not graded . Problem is , you don ’ t know which ones are “ pretest questions ” -- so it ’ s pure luck .
Also , the scoring system isn ’ t a bunch of simple multiplication , division , and addition – instead , it is a complex system called the “ Item Response Theory ” ( IRT ) that factors in a bunch of stuff ( namely : “ difficulty ,” “ discrimination ,” and “ guessing ”) in a complex formula – it ’ s probably better to not explain this due to its complicated nature .
Additionally , as a cherry on top , the question format completely changes – questions are divided into “ domains ” and “ skills ” -- and from firsthand experience , that ’ s not it .
← The scoring curve and the “ capping ” of Module 2 : Easy scores .
Source : https :// satsuite . collegeboard . org / sat / scores / understanding-scores / how-scores-are-calculated ; background removed via https :// www . pixelcut . ai / t / background-remover