Lesson #31:
The New SAT
• understand the changes in the SAT
• practice new SAT test items
• understand SAT essay scoring guidelines
• learn timed writing strategies
• review effective persuasive writing techniques
Why Is the SAT
Changing?
• To better reflect today’s classroom practices
• To make the test more closely related to the
skills students will need to succeed in college
• To reinforce the importance of writing skills
• To help colleges make better admissions
and placement decisions
SAT Changes
An Overview
Verbal
• Name will be changed to critical
reading
• Analogies will be eliminated
• Short paragraph reading passages
will be added to existing long reading
passages
Writing
• Multiple-choice grammar
and usage questions
• Student-written essay
Math
• Algebra II
Time Specifications
Current SAT
New SAT
3 hours
3 hours 35 minutes
Critical
Reading
75 minutes
Two 30-minute
sections and one 15minute section
70 minutes
Two 25-minute sections and
one 20-minute section
Math
75 minutes
Two 30-minute
sections and one 15minute section
70 minutes
Two 25-minute sections and
one 20-minute section
Writing
60 minutes
One 35-minute multiple-choice
section & one 25-minute essay
Content and Question Types
Current SAT
Sentence Completion
(lesson #18)
Critical Critical Reading
Reading (lesson #19)
Analogies
New SAT
Sentence Completion
(order of difficulty)
Critical Reading: Short &
long reading passages
(chronological order)
Content and Question Types
Current SAT
Math
New SAT
Multiple-choice items,
student-produced
responses & quantitative
comparisons measuring:
Multiple-choice items &
student-produced
responses measuring:
Number and Operations;
Algebra I & Functions;
Geometry; Statistics,
Probability & Data Analysis
Number and Operations;
Algebra I, II & Functions;
Geometry; Statistics,
Probability & Data
Analysis
(lessons #15 & #16)
Content and Question Types
Current SAT
No Test Currently.
Writing
New SAT
Multiple-choice:
Improving sentences &
paragraphs and
identifying errors
Student-Written Essay:
Effectively
communicate a
viewpoint, defining and
supporting a position
Verbal Section–
Renamed Critical Reading
• Measures knowledge of genre, cause and effect,
rhetorical devices, comparative arguments, and
the ability to recognize relationships among parts
of a text.
• Types of questions: information retrieval,
inference, main idea, and function
Verbal Section–
Renamed Critical Reading
• Long and short reading passages
are taken from different fields:
• Natural sciences
• Humanities
• Social science
• Literary fiction
The Critical Reading Section
Example of new short paragraph reading items
Dinosaurs have such a powerful grip on the
public consciousness that it is easy to
forget just how recently scientists have
become aware of them. A two-year-old
Line 5 child today may be able to rattle off three
dinosaur names, but in 1824 there was
only one known dinosaur. Period. The word
“dinosaur” didn’t even exist until 1841.
Indeed, in those early years, the world was
baffled by the discovery of these absurdly
enormous creatures.
1. The reference to the “two-year-old child” (line 4)
primarily serves to
(A) challenge a popular assumption
(B) highlight the extent of the change
(C) suggest that a perspective is simplistic
(D) introduce a controversial idea
(E) question a contemporary preoccupation
Correct Answer: B
2. The statement “Period” (line 6) primarily serves
to emphasize the
(A) authoritative nature of the finding
(B) lack of flexibility in a popular theory
(C) stubborn nature of a group of researchers
(D) limited knowledge about a subject
(E) refusal of the public to accept new
discoveries
Correct Answer: D
Writing Section
• Multiple-choice
• 3 types of multiple-choice
writing questions
• Identifying Sentence
Errors (20% no error)
• Improving Sentences
• Improving Paragraphs
Examples of Multiple-Choice Writing Items
Identifying Sentence Errors:
It is likely that the opening of the convention center,
previously set for July 1, would be postponed because of
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
the bricklayers’ strike.
No error.
(E)
Correct Answer: C
Examples of Multiple-Choice Writing Items
Improving sentences:
Although several groups were absolutely opposed to the
outside support given the revolutionary government,
other groups were as equal in their adamant approval of
that support.
(A) were as equal in their adamant approval of
(B) held equally adamant approval of
(C) were equally adamant in approving
(D) had approved equally adamantly
(E) held approval equally adamant of
Correct Answer: C
Examples of Multiple-Choice Writing Items
Improving paragraphs:
(1) At one point in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, the evil
archaeologist Belloq shows the heroic Indiana Jones a cheap
watch. (2) If the watch were to be buried in the desert for a
thousand years and then dug up, Belloq says, it would be
considered priceless. (3) I often think of the scene whenever I
consider the record album–collecting phenomenon, it being one
of the more remarkable aspects of popular culture in the United
States. (4) Collecting record albums gives us a chance to make
a low-cost investment that might pay dividends in the future.
[Excerpt from longer 3 paragraph passage]
Examples of Multiple-Choice Writing Items
Improving paragraphs:
In the context of the first paragraph, which revision is
most needed in sentence 3?
(A) Insert “As a matter of fact” at the beginning.
(B) Omit the words “it being.”
(C) Omit the word “scene.”
(D) Change the comma to a semicolon.
(E) Change “think” to “thought” and “consider” to
“considered.”
Correct Answer: B
SAT Writing Section
• Short essay (25 minutes-30% of Writing Section)
• Students will be given a prompt to respond
to.
• Students must first think critically about the
issue presented in the essay assignment and
then define and support their position, using
reasoning and evidence based on their own
experiences, readings, or observations.
• The essay will be similar to the type of ondemand writing that is typically done in
college.
Example Essay Prompt
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following
quotations and the assignment below.
1.While secrecy can be destructive, some of it is
indispensable in human lives.
Some control over secrecy and openness is needed in
order to protect identity.
Such control may be needed to guard privacy, intimacy,
and friendship.
Adapted from Sissela Bok, “The Need for Secrecy”
2.Secrecy and a free, democratic government, President
Harry Truman once said,
don’t mix. An open exchange of information is vital to the
kind of informed
citizenry essential to healthy democracy.
Editorial, “Overzealous Secrecy Threatens Democracy”
.
Example Essay Prompt
Assignment:
Do people need to keep secrets or is secrecy
harmful?
Plan and write an essay in which you develop
your point of view on this issue. Support your
position with reasoning and examples taken
from your reading, studies, experience, or
observations.
How Will the
Essays Be Scored?
• Essays will be scored by two
readers using a holistic scale.
• Readers will look for and reward
what is done well rather than what
is done badly or omitted.
• Readers will ignore the quality of
handwriting and not judge an
essay by its length.
How Will the
Essays Be Scored?
• Grammar will not be an overriding
factor in determining an essay score.
• Readers will neither reward nor punish
formulaic approaches
• Readers will understand that the
essay is a first draft.
Timed Writing Strategies
• Does your essay answer the question?
• Agree; agree, with exceptions;
disagree; disagree with exceptions
• Restate the prompt and state your
thesis
Timed Writing Strategies
• Is your essay well organized? (lessons
12 & 13)
• 4 to 5 paragraph essay
• 1 body paragraph for each example
• Use transitions
Timed Writing Strategies
• Does your essay use specific
examples to support your thesis?
• Is your essay free of grammatical
mistakes?
Pacing Your Essay
• You have 25 minutes.
• Write down start and stop time; 5 min.
after start time; 5 min. before stop
time (1:00; 1:25; 1:05; 1:20)
Pacing Your Essay
• 1st five minutes: read, mark up
prompt, brainstorm examples
• Write for 15 minutes.
• Proofread and edit for 5 minutes.
Review of Persuasive Techniques
• Objective examples
from history, current
events, and literature
work best.
• Use relevant and
representative
evidence.
Review of Persuasive Techniques
• Avoid being overly
sentimental.
• Avoid extremes.
• Avoid fallacies.
• Review lesson #26.
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 6
An essay in this category is outstanding, demonstrating
clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few
minor errors. A typical essay
•effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on
the topic and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking,
using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other
evidence to support its position
•is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating
clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas
New SAT Scoring
Guide
Score of 6
•exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied,
accurate, and apt vocabulary
•demonstrates meaningful variety in sentence structure
•is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and
mechanics
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 5
An essay in this category is effective, demonstrating
reasonably consistent mastery, although it will have
occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay
•effectively develops a point of view on the topic and
demonstrates strong critical thinking, generally using
appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to
support its position
•is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence
and progression of ideas
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 5
•exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate
vocabulary
•demonstrates variety in sentence structure
•is generally free of most errors in grammar, usage, and
mechanics
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 4
An essay in this category is competent, demonstrating
adequate mastery, although it will have lapses in
quality. A typical essay
•develops a point of view on the topic and
demonstrates competent critical thinking, using
adequate examples, reasons, and other evidence to
support its position
•is generally organized and focused, demonstrating
some coherence and progression of ideas
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 4
•exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of
language, using generally appropriate vocabulary
•demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
•has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 3
An essay in this category is inadequate, but demonstrates
developing mastery, and is marked by ONE OR MORE of
the following weaknesses:
• develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating
some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or
use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to
support its position
• is limited in its organization or focus, or may
demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression
of ideas
Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero.
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 3
• displays developing facility in the use of language, but
sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word
choice
• lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence
structure
• contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage,
and mechanics
Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero.
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 2
An essay in this category is seriously limited,
demonstrating little mastery, and is flawed by ONE OR
MORE of
the following weaknesses:
• develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or
seriously limited, demonstrating weak critical thinking,
providing inappropriate or insufficient examples,
reasons, or other evidence to support its position
• is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates
serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas
Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero.
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 2
• displays very little facility in the use of language, using
very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice
• demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure
• contains errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics so
serious that meaning is somewhat obscured
Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero.
New SAT Scoring Guide
Score of 1
An essay in this category is fundamentally lacking,
demonstrating very little or no mastery, and is severely
flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses:
• develops no viable point of view on the topic, or
provides little or no evidence to support its position
• is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or
incoherent essay
• displays fundamental errors in vocabulary
• demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure
• contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or
mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning
Essays not written on the essay assignment will receive a score of zero.
What prep materials are available?
• The PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin, the
free booklet that includes a full-length
practice test.
• Ask your counselor about
Scorewrite™: A Guide to the New SAT
Essay.
• The new version of Taking the SAT, the
free booklet that includes a full-length
practice test.
What prep materials are available?
• Real SATs, the successor to 10 Real
SATs.
• Taking the SAT II: Subject Tests is
available at no cost and includes
examples of multiple-choice questions
that are similar to those that will be on
the new SAT writing section.
• The online SAT Learning Center® at
www.collegeboard.com will include new
SAT sample questions.