Study Abroad Exams | Expert Tips

Introduction

The College Board administers the SAT, a well-renowned standardized test for college admission, and it is required for students who intend to pursue undergraduate studies abroad. The Scholastic Assessment Test is abbreviated as SAT. The SAT was initially a pencil-and-paper test, but the College Board recently discontinued it in favor of the Digital SAT Exam.

Why Digital SAT Exam?

• The digital SAT Test has two basic goals: to expand student accessibility and to keep the exam relevant in a rapidly changing digital context.
• The digital SAT has a number of important features that enable it to achieve these goals. The duration of the exam will be decreased, and reading passages and questions will be more concise.
• Furthermore, test takers will have greater access to digital resources in general. These changes are meant to increase students' test-taking efficiency and comfort.
• All SAT sections will have better content and formats that will assess the skills kids need to succeed in college and the profession.
• The digital SAT is designed to better prepare students for their future endeavors by aligning with their digital learning experiences.
• The digital SAT also provides kids with more tailored college and career advice through their official score report.
• In addition to information on four-year universities, students will receive resources to help them connect with area two-year colleges and workforce training programs.
• They will also discover how their exam results may connect to job opportunities.
• These enhancements to the score report will help The College Board's aim of assisting students in making well-informed decisions about their future.

Do the Digital SAT Changes Affect You?

Digital version does not affect all current high school students.

• All students graduating from high school in 2023 will take the existing paper-and-pencil form of the SAT, whether testing in the United States or worldwide. The first Digital SAT administrations in spring 2023 (international) and spring 2024 (US) do not apply to students graduating this year.

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• If you graduate from high school in 2024, you can take either the paper-and-pencil SAT or the Digital SAT, depending on where you take the test. Those graduating in 2024 who test in the United States will take the current paper-and-pencil version. Those graduating in 2024 who are testing globally, on the other hand, have had the choice between the two versions. If you are testing internationally and will not take the SAT until spring 2023, you chose the Digital SAT over the final international administration of the paper-and-pencil SAT in 2022.
• The class of 2025 will also have flexibility in testing in the United States throughout their junior year, as they will be able to take the paper-and-pencil SAT in 2023 and/or the Digital SAT in spring 2024.* All overseas students in the class of 2025 will take the Digital SAT, which will be administered for the first time in other countries in the spring of 2023 (their sophomore year).
• A high school senior in the United States graduating in 2026 might technically take the paper-and-pencil SAT in the spring of their sophomore year. However, taking the Digital SAT during their junior year after completing more relevant coursework and study is usually preferable.
• If you graduate from high school in or after 2027, you will be forced to take the Digital SAT.

Major Highlights about Digital SAT

1. How does the computer adaptivity work in Digital SAT?

In a nutshell, each student will receive an SAT that is tailored to their own performance. The better students perform in the first segment, the more difficult the questions in the second section will be—but also the more points each one will be worth. (There is still no penalty for guessing, but you should answer as accurately as possible on the first section to optimize your chances on the second.)

1. Digital SAT Test Consumes Less Time than a Traditional SAT

Preparation exhaustion is real, and we understand how difficult it is to stay concentrated for three hours. While there are other ways to ease stress for SAT, Your wishes have been granted: the updated version of the test will last around two hours. Overall, less time will be required for exam setup and the time-consuming preamble, which is currently performed by an in-person SAT monitor. The redesigned exam will also include shorter reading passages and more direct questions. We provide you with expectational Training Services to Ace your Tests with confidence!

1. Calculator use has now increased, and you are welcome to bring your own.

The "no calculator" section of the exam is being dismissed. Furthermore, all students will have access to a built-in visual calculator (though they are welcome to bring their own).

1. Computers will be provided.

Don't be alarmed if you don't own a computer. On the examination day, you have the option of bringing your own computers or tablets or using those provided by the testing center.

Why is the SAT Going completely Digital in the upcoming years?

The SAT is transitioning to an adaptable digital format for a variety of reasons. Because you (and every other student) will have a unique exam, the digital SAT will be more secure.

The digital SAT's adaptive nature will also help you to obtain a correct score in less time. Another advantage is that you will have more time to respond to each inquiry. Overall, the digital SAT will give schools and families all across the world security and flexibility.

Should You Take the SAT on Paper or Digital?

If you are an International Student and would prefer a test of duration, and delivery of scores faster, you can definitely opt for the Digital SAT. Since it also depends on what academic year you are applying for, you check out various test prep resources on our SAT exam Guide that allows you to download offline! It contains A-to-Z on how to takeoff your Flight to USA with SAT.

Digital SAT makes the optimal choice, in terms of efficiency, time, and utility to attempt the question paper itself, as it provides you with shorter questions, a shorter duration, a calculator & Obtains results quicker than a Traditional SAT assessment.

What is the difference between the old SAT and the digital SAT?

• The SAT will henceforth be administered digitally on a laptop or tablet using the Bluebook application.
•  The exam will span two hours and fourteen minutes and will be divided into two sections: reading and writing and math. Each segment will include two modules that must be completed sequentially.
• Because of the adaptive testing function, each student's exam will be unique.
• To make the exam more user-friendly, the reading sections will be shorter, with only one relevant question in each passage.
• The questions in the reading and math sections will be shorter and more to the point.
• Students will have access to a number of resources during the exam, including a digital countdown clock, the ability to mark questions for subsequent review, a built-in graphing calculator, and a digital mathematical cheat sheet.
• Students may utilize a graphing calculator throughout the Math part.
• Candidates should expect to receive their official score results within a few days of the exam.
• Students can also get in touch with us for free counseling with Global Tree full-length SAT prep tests & SAT math questions to Practice for the test.

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What Are the New features of Digital SAT?

While the format of the SAT will evolve, much about the test will remain unchanged. Students who took the digital SAT were content with the minor adjustments that were made. These students' testimonials indicate a much softer stress level during the exam, a high appreciation for the features of the online test, and a faster test day experience.

Here are 5 significant changes to the SAT are listed below:

1. Digitizing the attempt of the Test

Unlike the previous paper-and pencil exam, the digital SAT will only be administered through tablet or laptop. If you do not have a personal or school-issued device, you will be given one on test day (requests to borrow a College Board device must be submitted prior to test day).

2. Shorter Duration

Another notable feature for the new exam is a shorter test experience. Because of reduced portions and a new section-adaptive exam architecture, the digital SAT will take two hours instead of three.

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3. New format of Section wise questions

• The Digital SAT's Verbal and Math sections will each have two modules. The range of difficulty of the second module (or question set) is determined by your performance in the first.
•  If you perform poorly in the first module, you will face easy questions in the second module. This 'easier' second module consists primarily of easy and medium-difficulty questions, with a few difficult questions and a number of unscored questions intended for test development.
•  With better performance in the first module, you will face more difficult questions in the second module. This 'harder' module has largely medium-difficulty and difficult problems, as well as a few easier and unscored ones. And as per the level of difficulty, the individual score of each question also increases. Sounds fair, doesn't it?

4. Provision of calculator and Shorter Passage questions

You will be able to use a calculator throughout the whole math part on the digital SAT. You have the option of bringing your own approved calculator or using the onscreen graphing calculator incorporated into the testing software.

5. Faster Score Results delivered

The digital SAT will have shorter reading passages that are easier to read and analyze. Each reading section will include only one question.

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What features are still the Same in the Digital SAT?

1. The Curriculum

The digital SAT will continue to gauge career and college preparedness by testing the same critical knowledge and skills that you've been acquiring in school.

2. The Test Centers

You will be able to take the digital SAT in a school or test facility, where an examiner will be present. It is not possible to take the digital SAT at home.

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3. The Scoring Scale

The digital SAT will continue to use the same 1600-point scale as the paper-and-pencil SAT. This is significant since it will allow you to track your improvement over time. A score of 1120 on the digital SAT equals a score of 1120 on the paper version.

4. Accommodations on the Digital SAT

The College Board will continue to assist students who get SAT accommodations.

How to Prepare for the Digital SAT to study in USA?

• In Fall, the College Board will distribute official SAT practice test resources, including full-length digital practice examinations.
• There are certain things you may do to prepare while you wait for the digital practice test items.
• The digital SAT will continue to examine arithmetic, algebra, and geometry ideas, so keep those skills sharp and work on memorizing popular formulas.
• Remember that the more you read, the better you read when preparing for the verbal section.
• Improve your reading comprehension skills by reading a variety of periodicals on a daily basis, ideally for at least 15 minutes.
• This is also an excellent time to review your grammatical abilities, such as punctuation and usage norms.

• As you wait for the digital practice test items to be released, develop a study plan and work to set a realistic score goal based on your target schools.
• Keep in mind that the digital SAT will not be administered in the U.S. until spring of 2024, so you do have time to prepare to take the paper-and-pencil version of the SAT before it is no longer offered.
• We will update our prep materials, including books, tutoring, self-paced, and live online courses to prepare for the new digital SAT and PSAT, So keep an eye out for the latest SAT guide from Global Tree.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Digital SAT to Study in USA

• Is Digital SAT better than SAT?

The SAT Digital test will be more secure, and if a test form is compromised, scores for the entire group of students may be cancelled. In a given year, students can take the Digital SAT seven times.

• Is SAT easy for Indian Students?

While the SAT may be difficult for some students, there are numerous tools available to assist them in their preparation, including official SAT practice materials, test prep books, online courses, and tutoring programs.

• Do all universities accept Digital SAT?

Yes, colleges and scholarship programs can receive digital SAT results. These scores will be used in the same way as present SAT scores.

• Is digital SAT in India?

If a student plans to study overseas, the Digital SAT exam is a popular exam to take in India. With this score, a student can simply begin his or her adventure of studying any undergraduate subject at universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

• Is 1400 a good SAT score for Indian Students?

Anywhere between 1200 and 1400 is acceptable for a mid-level university. A score of 1000 - 1200 is also acceptable for students planning to attend a community college. 1400 will allow you to apply to universities like Harvard, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania, but it will not make you a competitive contender.

• Is the digital SAT scored differently?

While the SAT's content and skills will stay unchanged, scores will be calculated slightly differently than in the past. This is due to the new adaptive testing paradigm that will be used in the digital SAT. However, the total score will remain the same.

• Is Digital SAT cheaper?

The SAT registration price is still $60. Students who qualify for fee waivers will continue to enjoy all of their benefits.

• Does digital SAT have negative Markings?

Candidates lost marks for each incorrect answer in the previous form, but there is no negative grading in the new SAT digital exam pattern 2023. As a result, you should try to answer as many questions as possible. There will be no penalty for incorrectly marked answers or guessing answers.

• Is digital SAT taken from home?

Students still cannot take exams at home; they must do so in a testing facility. The test will be given by a proctor at the testing location. The College Board National Recognition Programs and awards will continue to be accessible to students taking the SAT Suite.

• How much does digital SAT cost in India?

Indian students must pay a $60 registration fee for the SAT exam in addition to a $49 regional fee.

• Can you skip questions on the digital SAT?

Yes, during the given time for each section of the digital SAT, test takers will be able to skip questions and come back to them later. This function is comparable to the SAT's paper version, which allows test takers to skip questions and return to them later if there is still time in the section.

• How many attempts are there for SAT?

There are normally just seven test dates offered throughout the year, however students are free to take the SAT as often as they like. At the end of their junior year and the start of their senior year, the majority of students take the exam twice.