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SAT exam & exam prep overview: Difference between revisions
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{{New SAT test disclaimer}} | |||
'''SAT Exam Prep''' | '''SAT Exam Prep''' | ||
* [[category:SAT | * Index of SAT Prep pages:[[:category:SAT exam prep]] | ||
* [[category:SAT Verbal]] | * Index of SAT Verbal prep pages: [[:category:SAT verbal]] | ||
* [[category:SAT Reading]] | * Links to Verbal section pages: | ||
** [[SAT Reading section techniques, strategies & approaches]] | |||
** [[SAT Reading section historical timeline & themes]] | |||
** [[SAT Writing section techniques, strategies & approaches]] | |||
** [[SAT Verbal sections terms & vocabulary|SAT Verbal section vocabulary]] | |||
*** contains useful words to know for textual comprehension, questions, and possible answers | |||
[[category:SAT exam prep]] | |||
[[category:SAT verbal]] | |||
[[category:SAT Reading]] | |||
[[category:SAT Writing]] | |||
[[category:SAT Math]] | |||
== SAT | == SAT exam overview == | ||
* SAT | * The SAT exam is owned by the College Board (CB) | ||
** we will use "CB" here, although the College Board does not refer to itself by the abbreviation) | ** we will use "CB" here, although the College Board does not refer to itself by the abbreviation) | ||
* SAT tests are developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) | * SAT | ||
** SAT accounts for 25% of ETS functions | ** it is no longer an abbreviation (i.e., "S.A.T.") | ||
*** it originally stood for "Scholastic Assessment Test" | |||
*** in 1993 the CB re-branded the test to "SAT" unto itself and not as an abbreviation (i.e., dropping "Scholastic Assessment Test") | |||
*** since the word "aptitude" means "innate ability", College Board was accused of racism, given different SAT score averages by race | |||
* SAT tests are developed and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) under contract from CB | |||
** SAT accounts for 25% of ETS's functions | |||
** ETS creates also develops and administers TOEFL ("Test of English as a Foreign Language"), GRE (graduate school admissions), and Praxis (for teachers) | ** ETS creates also develops and administers TOEFL ("Test of English as a Foreign Language"), GRE (graduate school admissions), and Praxis (for teachers) | ||
* note that CB and ETS are non-profits but both engage in aggressive business practices | * note that CB and ETS are non-profits but both engage in aggressive business practices | ||
== | == SAT & standardized college aptitude tests history == | ||
* | * achievement or admissions tests were used by 1870 | ||
* "College Entrance Examination Board," was formed in in 1899 by various colleges/ universities | |||
* First "Scholastic Aptitude Test" exam administered in 1926 | |||
* the purpose of the SAT was to create a merit-based college admissions metric independent of student grades, school, and demographic | * the purpose of the SAT was to create a merit-based college admissions metric independent of student grades, school, and demographic | ||
* originally called the "Scholastic Aptitude Test" | * originally called the "Scholastic Aptitude Test" | ||
* subject tests were added in 1937 called "Scholarship Test" | * subject tests were added in 1937 called "Scholarship Test" | ||
* in 1993, the names for the tests were changed: | * in 1993, the names for the tests were changed: | ||
** "Scholastic Aptitude Test" now the "SAT I:Reasoning Test" | ** "Scholastic Aptitude Test" now the "SAT I: Reasoning Test" | ||
** "Scholarship Test" now the "SAT II: Subject Test" | ** "Scholarship Test" now the "SAT II: Subject Test" | ||
** the entire suite of tests was not called "Scholastic Assessment Tests" | ** the entire suite of tests was not called "Scholastic Assessment Tests" | ||
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* "SAT I" was dropped in 2004 | * "SAT I" was dropped in 2004 | ||
* the "Reasoning Test" was dropped in 2016 | * the "Reasoning Test" was dropped in 2016 | ||
* see | * SAT digital test will launch | ||
** https://www.erikthered.com/tutor/sat-act-history.html | ** International SAT: Spring 2023 | ||
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/03/27/sat-changes-name-but-it-wont-score-1600-with-critics/c8bf8809-2c0f-4582-9911-9e5f74ed4c6d/ | ** U.S. PSAT: Fall 2023 | ||
** U.S. SAT: Spring 2024 | |||
** see https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital/s | |||
* sources: | |||
**https://www.erikthered.com/tutor/sat-act-history.html | |||
** [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/03/27/sat-changes-name-but-it-wont-score-1600-with-critics/c8bf8809-2c0f-4582-9911-9e5f74ed4c6d/ SAT Changes Name But It Won't Score 1600 With Critics (Washington Post)] | |||
== SAT exam format changes == | |||
=== 2016 changes === | === 2016 format changes === | ||
* in 2014, College Board announced fundamental changes in the SAT test | * in 2014, College Board announced fundamental changes in the SAT test | ||
** CB claimed it was because the test had "become disconnected from the work of our high schools.” | ** CB claimed it was because the test had "become disconnected from the work of our high schools.” | ||
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** CB partnered with Khan Academy in order to offer free preparation instruction and practice | ** CB partnered with Khan Academy in order to offer free preparation instruction and practice | ||
=== | === 2021 change: essay & subject tests dropped === | ||
* the College Board dropped the essay (after the June, 2021 test, although it will be offered in some states as per state rules | * the College Board dropped the essay (after the June, 2021 test, although it will be offered in some states as per state rules | ||
* also dropped Subject Tests | * also dropped Subject Tests | ||
** the official reason for these changes was because of changes in college admissions requirements due to the COVID crisis | ** the official reason for these changes was because of changes in college admissions requirements due to the COVID crisis | ||
** anecdotally, we can assume it was due to severe drop in revenue as result of the crisis | ** anecdotally, we can assume it was due to severe drop in revenue as result of the crisis | ||
=== 2023-24 change: shortened digital exam === | |||
* College Board announced in February of 2022 | |||
** the SAT and related exams will be administered digitally starting with the International SAT test in 2023 | |||
** the test will still be administered at a school or testing site | |||
** test will be taken on a laptop provided by CB at testing site | |||
* Format changes | |||
** 2 hour exam (approx) | |||
** Reading section passages to be shortened and with a single question per each | |||
*** likely a short paragraph as was in prior SAT formats | |||
** Calculators will be allowed on all math questions | |||
** the test will still score on 1600 point scale | |||
* CB stated purpose | |||
** CB says scores and college reports will be quicker | |||
* Likely purpose: cost savings | |||
** the digital format will save money for CB | |||
** the shorter exam will be easer | |||
** attempt to maintain relevancy for SAT | |||
*** especially while many colleges (such as Univ. California system) are not requiring or even considering SAT scores | |||
** to complete with ACT | |||
** CB still struggles with racial deviations in average scores | |||
* Rollout: | |||
** Spring 2023 the International SAT will be administered by computer | |||
** Fall 2023 the PSAT will be administered by computer | |||
** Spring 2024 the US SAT will be administered by computer | |||
* see | |||
** https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital | |||
=== Preparation & Practice Options === | === Preparation & Practice Options === | ||
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** started in 1981, now owned by ST Unitas, a Korean Ed-tech company | ** started in 1981, now owned by ST Unitas, a Korean Ed-tech company | ||
== SAT | == SAT exam college application requirements == | ||
* the University of California system stopped considering SAT and ACT tests for admissions | |||
* many other colleges and universities also dropped the requirement but continue to consider it | |||
* in March 2022, MIT announced that it would continue to require SAT/ ACT for admissions | |||
** [https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/we-are-reinstating-our-sat-act-requirement-for-future-admissions-cycles/ We are reinstating our SAT/ACT requirement for future admissions cycles | MIT Admissions] | |||
== SAT exam prep strategies == | |||
* "practice" = replication of performance or game-day sitution | * "practice" = replication of performance or game-day sitution | ||
** therefore, "SAT practice" is NOT online | ** therefore, "SAT practice" is NOT online | ||
** online "practice" is "enrichment" not "practice" | ** online "practice" is "enrichment" not "practice" | ||
=== SAT | === SAT enrichment === | ||
* enrichment means enhancement, getting better | * enrichment means enhancement, getting better | ||
* there are many enrichment sites and manuals | * there are many enrichment sites and manuals | ||
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** therefore, SAT prep that is not sit-down, online, with official practice or released actual tests, using pencil, clock, and bubble sheet IS NOT PRACTICE | ** therefore, SAT prep that is not sit-down, online, with official practice or released actual tests, using pencil, clock, and bubble sheet IS NOT PRACTICE | ||
=== SAT | === SAT practice === | ||
* practice is mimicking test-day situation | * practice is mimicking test-day situation | ||
** research shows that replication via practice of actual exam situation yields higher actual exam results | ** research shows that replication via practice of actual exam situation yields higher actual exam results | ||
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*** can be divided by section, but not less than a section | *** can be divided by section, but not less than a section | ||
=== Benefits of SAT | === Benefits of SAT practice === | ||
* familiarity with the types of passages and questions | * familiarity with the types of passages and questions | ||
* developing elimination strategies | * developing elimination strategies | ||