New SAT : Exam to be redesigned from 2016

Changes

Current SAT 
(till January 2016)

New SAT 
(from March 2016 and after)

Scoring

- 1/4^th penalty for wrong answers

- Score out of 2400

• 800 for Math
• 800 for Reading Comprehension
• 800 for Writing

- No penalty

- Score out of 1600

• 800 for Math
• 800 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

- Sub-scores and insight scores available

- Optional Essay to be scored separately

Composition

- 3 Critical Reading sections

• 20-25 minutes each

- 3 Math sections

• 20-25 minutes each

- 3 Writing sections

• 10-25 minutes each
• Includes 1 Essay test (25 minutes)

- 1 Experimental test

- 5 answer choices for multiple choice questions

- 1 Evidence-Based Reading and Writing test

• 65-minute Reading section
• 35-minute Language and Writing section

- 1 Math test

• 55-minute section with calculator
• 25-minute section without calculator

- 1 Essay test (optional) - 50 minutes

-  4 answer choices for multiple choice questions

Timing

- Total 3 hours 45 minutes

- Total 3 hours; 3 hours 50 minutes with essay ( optional)

Administration

- Only available in print format

- Focused on broad range of content and skills

- Available in print and digital formats

- A greater focus on in-depth analysis of content and evidence

Essay

- Essay is required

- Students have 25 minutes to draft the essay

- Quality, reasoning and accuracy of data not tested

- Score combined with Writing section

- Essay is optional

- Students have 50 minutes to analyze a word document and draft the essay

- Tests analysis, reading, and writing skills

- Factual accuracy is important

- Scored separately

Math

- Focus on wide array of topics

- More emphasis on computational skills

- Calculators allowed for all sections

- Multiple choice and grid-in questions

- Concentrated focus on:

• Problem-solving and data analysis
• ‘The Heart of Algebra’
• ‘Passport to Advanced Math’

- Real-world problem solving accompanied by informational graphics

- Calculator allowed for 37 questions; not allowed for 20 questions

- Multiple choice and grid-in questions; 1 item set grid-in question

Reading and Writing

- Critical Reading

• Sentence Completion
• Passage based questions
• Passage based questions from short (100-150 words) and long (400-850 words) passages

- Writing

• Combined score of writing multiple choice questions and Essay

- Evidence Based Reading

• No Sentence Completion
• Tests understanding of passages from US and world Literature, History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500-750 words)

- Writing and Language

• Tests ‘Expression of Ideas’ and ‘Standard English Conventions’ through passages related to Careers, History/Social Studies, Humanities and Science
• All questions from extended prose (400-450 words)