Expert tips to prepare for the digital SAT
1.9 million students took the SAT last year
(InvestigateTV) — The College Board recently launched a new, digital Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) that requires students to use a laptop or tablet to take the test.
Dr. Shaan Patel, the founder and CEO of Prep Expert, an online company that focuses on SAT and ACT online courses to help students improve their test scores, walked us through some of the changes.
“There’s a brand-new format, brand new question types. There’s a new adaptive testing structure. So, it’s a lot different than the previous paper-based SAT,” Dr. Patel said. “And it’s really important that parents and students get familiar with this new exam because it is such a big change from what most parents and students are used to.”
Dr. Patel said in order for students to prepare effectively for the digital SAT, he recommends looking up high quality practice questions.
“I would recommend going directly to the College Board. So, that’s the company that makes the SAT,” he advised. “They offer something called the Bluebook application, so that Bluebook app can be downloaded for free. It comes preloaded with hundreds of practice digital SAT questions that will get your student familiar with the particular question types, new format and testing structure for the digital version of the exam.”
But Dr. Patel said it’s not enough to just do practice questions. He said in order to maximize a student’s score it’s also helpful to take a prep course, where they learn to apply high quality strategies and test taking techniques.
For parents worried about a child who doesn’t test well online, Dr. Patel said this new test is nearly two hours shorter than the old test.
He also said there are only 98 questions, instead of the 150 to 200 on the traditional exam.
BestColleges has a list of free resources for SAT preparation.
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