SAT & ACT Essentials
Ryan DeGuzman, Pre College Programs Manager
Agenda
Why Admissions Tests
Matter
SAT Test Changes
Changes to the
ACT / SAT / PSAT
Examples & Implications
Why Admissions Tests
Matter
Why Admissions Tests Matter
Access to Merit-Based Aid / Scholarships
90% of colleges offer
merit based aid
Merit-based aid depends on two
factors: SAT/ACT scores and
high school grades.
iii. 2008 NACAC Discussion Paper, Financial Aid and Admission: Tuition Discounting, Merit Aid and Need-aware Admission.
Why Admissions Tests Matter
Nearly 90% of colleges placed considerable or
moderate importance on test scores*
Even beyond the admissions
process, your SAT/ACT score is a
predictor of how well you will do in
school and how likely you are to
graduate.
The Essentials
Test Change Timeline
ACT:
Enhanced
Scoring +
Writing
Test
PSAT:
New Test
Launches
SAT:
New Test
Launches
SAT:
2nd to
Last
Current
Test
Sept2015
Oct2015
SAT Test Changes
Dec2015
SAT:
Last
Current
Test
Jan2016
Mar2016
Updated ACT Overview
Category
Features
Scoring
• No major changes to 1-36 scoring
• Addition of STEM Cross Test Scores /
English Language Arts Cross Test
Scores
Math
More probability & statistics
Reading
New paired passages
SAT Test Changes
Updated ACT Overview
Category
Essay
SAT Test Changes
Features
 40 minutes
 Now requires analysis of 3 different
perspectives
 More scores provided; criteria for
evaluation
 Ideas and analysis
 Development and support
 Organization
 Language use
New SAT Overview
Category
Features
 Scored on a scale of 1600
Scoring
Timing
 800 points for Math
 800 points for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
 No wrong-answer penalty
 Optional Essay scored separately
 Four answer choices vs. five
 3 hours + 50-minute optional essay
SAT Test Changes
New SAT Overview
Category
Features
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Test
 65-minute Reading section
 35-minute Language and Writing section
Math Test
Structure
 55-minute section with calculator
 25-minute section with no calculator
 Includes grid-ins and multiple choice questions
Essay


Optional
50-minutes long
SAT Test Changes
New SAT Overview
Category
Features
 Three areas of concentrated focus:
 Problem solving and data analysis
 “The Heart of Algebra”
 “Passport to Advanced Math”
Math
 Real-world problem solving with informational
graphics
 Calculator permitted for 37 questions; not
permitted for 20 questions
 Test includes multiple choice and grid-in
questions including item sets
SAT Test Changes
Question
On Real
World
Scenarios
(item sets)
Question
On Data
Analysis
Current SAT
SAT Test Changes
Trig
New SAT
ACT
Trig
Geometry
Data Analysis/Problem Solving
Algebra
Geometry
Data Analysis/Problem Solving
Algebra
Number & Operations
Geometry
Data Analysis/Problem Solving
Algebra
Math Skills Tested
New SAT Overview
Category
Features
 Reading and Writing combined into new
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section
EvidenceBased
Reading
and
Writing
 Reading details:
 No sentence completions
 Passage topics include US and World Literature,
History/Social Studies, and Sciences (500 - 750 words)
 Writing and Language details:
 Tests “Expression of Ideas” and “Standard English
Conventions” through passages relating to Careers,
History/Social Studies, Humanities, and Science
 Focus on extended prose (400 - 500 words)
SAT Test Changes
EvidenceBased
Reading
Comp.
Example of Vocabulary
Testing on New SAT
New SAT Overview
Category
Essay
Features
 Essay is optional
 Students have 50 minutes to analyze a 650to 750-word document and draft an essay
 Tests reading, analysis, and writing skills
 Requires students to analyze a source
document and explain how the author builds
an argument
SAT Test Changes
Current SAT
SAT Test Changes
New SAT
ACT
Evidence-based
Words in Context
Reading Comprehension
Evidence-based
Words in Context
Reading Comprehension
SAT Words
Words in Context
Reading Comprehension
Reading Skills Tested
Current SAT
SAT Test Changes
New SAT
Rhetorical Skills
Grammar/Usage/Mechanics
Rhetorical Skills
Grammar/Usage/Mechanics
Essay
Rhetorical Skills
Grammar/Usage/Mechanics
Writing Skills Tested
ACT
Scoring Details
Composite (Total) Score
 Sum of the two Area Scores
 Range of 400 - 1600
Math
Area Score
Range of 200 - 800
SAT Test Changes
Evidence-Based
Reading + Writing
Area Score
Range of 200 - 800
Cross-Test Scores
Score Range
10-40
Number of Scores
2
Definition
 2 Cross-Test Scores:
1.
2.

SAT Test Changes
Analysis in History/Social Sciences
Analysis in Science
Scores will reflect how students
perform on specific questions across
Math and Evidence-Based Reading
and Writing that are tied to
History/Social Studies and Science
New PSAT/NMSQT Overview
Category
Timing
Features
2 hours, 45 minutes
Structure
Aligned with the New SAT, and
almost the same length
No Essay
Scoring
 No wrong-answer penalty
 Now scored on a scale of 1520
 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing
 Math
SAT Test Changes
PSAT & New SAT Scoring
SAT: 400-1600
PSAT/NMSQT: 320-1520
300
600
900
1200
Composite Score Range
SAT Test Changes
1500
New SAT and ACT: 5 Key Differences
ACT?
New
SAT?
What’s the
Difference?
SAT Test Changes
1. The New SAT has a greater focus on
History & Social Studies passages
2. Both focus on Algebra, but the New
SAT has a greater emphasis on Data
Analysis & Problem Solving
3. The ACT requires more Science
reading
4. The New SAT has a No Calculator
Math section
5. The New SAT Math section has grid-in
questions and Item Sets
The Essentials
The SAT is more widely accepted than the ACT
Myth!
The ACT is easier than the SAT
Myth!
You should only take the ACT if you are good at science
Myth!
The SAT is changing in March 2016
Fact
The Class of 2017 will have the option to take the Current
and New versions of the SAT
Fact
The New SAT is easier than the Current SAT
Myth!
The New SAT & College Admissions
 First New SAT administration
 21 days + up to 4 weeks for scores to
be available
 Concordance tables
 Released in December for the PSAT
and May for the SAT
 New and Old SAT scores
 Schools will accept both scores for a
3-year transition period
SAT Test Changes
Test Paths
Student Profile
Potential Test Path
 Early Decision College
Applicants
 APs and Subject Tests
 Current SAT or ACT
 Regular Decision
 New SAT
 Great Test Taker
 Current SAT or New SAT or
ACT
 Obvious strengths with one test
 Current SAT or New SAT or
ACT
SAT Test Changes
Questions?
Ryan DeGuzman
ryan.deguzman@kaplan.com
Visit www.kaptest.com/satchange for additional
information, free practice tests, and more!
SAT Test Changes
Questions?
Ryan DeGuzman
ryan.deguzman@kaplan.com
Visit www.kaptest.com/satchange for additional
information, free practice tests, and more!
SAT Test Changes