The Digital SAT: What to Expect
In 2024, the SAT went fully digital in the U.S. The test got shorter, it became adaptive, and it is now taken entirely on a laptop or tablet. What does that mean for students preparing for it today? We'll break it down for you here.
Table of Contents
1. When did the SAT go digital?
2. Why did the SAT change?
3. What stayed the same?
4. What changed?
5. New digital SAT: Final thoughts
When Did the SAT Go Digital?
The first students to take the digital SAT were international students, who started testing on the new version in March of 2023. The PSAT/NMSQT followed with its digital debut in the fall of 2023.
In March of 2024, the SAT went digital in the U.S. as well, completing the switch for the entire SAT Suite of Assessments, including the PSAT and SAT. The class of 2025 was the first graduating class to take the digital SAT on a normal junior-year timeline, and today the SAT is digital everywhere, on weekends and school days alike. (A paper version is only available as an approved accommodation.)
Why Did the SAT Change?
So why the change? In short, COVID accelerated the need for digital testing. The cancellation of test dates in 2020 and the move to online learning influenced College Board's decision to make the switch. Going digital allows for more flexibility with when and where students can test, which provides more opportunities for students in rural and low-income areas.
Schools that offer the test on an SAT School Day (which has proven to be an important resource for students who otherwise would not test) now have much more flexibility on when to offer testing, giving more students the chance to test and, in turn, get into college.
The biggest point to focus on is that the SAT is still, essentially, the same test. Its purpose is still to measure college readiness; the format is just different. It still tests the basic skills you should have developed in high school, like algebra, grammar and reading comprehension, to determine how you compare to other students and how ready you are for college. We'll go over the new format in a bit, but first let's go over what stayed the same.
What Stayed the Same?
Some key parts of the SAT, including the format (digital vs. paper-based) and length, changed. But some really big parts of the test stayed the same. Let's take a look:
1. Scoring Scale
The SAT's scoring scale has changed a few times over the years, but the move to digital did not come with a new scoring scale. Scores are still out of 1600, with each of the two sections scored from 200 to 800, which allows educators to keep comparing scores from past years to current years in order to track progress over time.
College Board designed the digital SAT so that its scores mean the same thing as scores on the old paper test. A 1200 is a 1200, and colleges treat them the same way.
2. Testing Location
Don't get too excited. You can't take the SAT from the comfort of your bedroom bean bag -- that could open all kinds of doors for cheaters. Instead, the SAT is still taken at a test center or at school, with a proctor present.
Just like on the paper version, proctors are there to discourage cheating and keep everyone on task, especially when many students are using their own devices for such an important test. Proctors and controlled environments ensure everyone has the same testing experience and no unfair advantages are present. Test day looks a lot like it always has, other than the actual medium of the test. At least you won't have to track down a number 2 pencil!
3. Full-length Practice Tests
College Board still offers free, official full-length practice tests, and Khan Academy still offers free official SAT practice. Both understand the importance of study resources, especially with a format that is new to many students and parents.
The official practice tests are in Bluebook, College Board's testing app, so they look and work exactly like the real thing. Older paper practice material can still help with content, but it's worth taking the Bluebook tests so you know exactly what to expect on test day. The best way to practice is to get better at the actual concepts tested, and those concepts did not change. Know the concept, ace the question, whether it's old school with paper and pencil, or on your mom's tablet, or a school owned laptop.
4. Scholarship Opportunities
Scores on the digital SAT still qualify you for scholarships. The entire SAT Suite of Assessments is digital, and the PSAT/NMSQT, which made the switch in the fall of 2023, is still the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, one of the best-known academic honors a high school student can earn. The scores are still representative of where you stand among your peers academically, and therefore still qualify you for an array of scholarships if your scores are good enough.
5. Accommodations
If you qualify, accommodations are still available on the digital SAT. Accommodations are awarded to students with disabilities, whether it be dyslexia, ADHD or a wheelchair, as an attempt to even the playing field. This could mean you get extra time to test, help translating questions, a separate testing room, or really whatever else College Board deems a fair equalizer.
In the past, one of the accommodations offered to qualified students was a digital version of the SAT, which everyone now has the luxury of experiencing. Now it works the other way around: students who need it can be approved for a paper and pencil version. Accommodations are usually granted based on school and medical records. To find out if you're eligible for accommodations on the SAT, contact your school counselor for a list of proper documentation to send to College Board for approval.
Hopefully now you're feeling less uneasy about the digital format, as it really is the same test, just with a few tweaks here and there. Let's talk about what did change.
What Changed?
While much of the test is familiar, there are a few really big changes with the digital SAT. Let's take a look:
1. Format
This is the big one, the most dramatic change. Students take the test in Bluebook, College Board's testing app, on a laptop or tablet. Bluebook runs on Windows and Mac computers, iPads and school-managed Chromebooks. On an SAT School Day, your school usually provides the device. For a weekend test, you can bring your own, and if you don't have one, you can borrow one from College Board by requesting it when you register (at least 30 days before test day). Don't worry, your lack of iPad won't disqualify you from taking the SAT. If you think about it, the entire world has been transitioning to digital versions of things for years, so it isn't really a surprise College Board jumped on that train.
The digital SAT is also adaptive. Each section is split into two modules. The first module has a mix of easy, medium and hard questions, and how you do on it determines whether your second module is harder or easier. That lets the test zero in on your level with fewer questions. It also means students in the same room see different sets of questions, which makes answer sharing much harder. On the paper test, a security problem could get an entire room's scores canceled. Great news for students who studied hard and prepared, bad news for cheaters.
You're probably wondering: How can they ensure people don't cheat if they're using their personal devices? It's so easy to open a tab and google a question for a quick answer, right? Bluebook locks down your device so you can't use other apps or browsers while you're testing. And there are still proctors in the room to ensure good, honest academic fun.
College Board has really thought of everything with the app you'll take the test on. You need an internet connection to start and submit the test, but if your connection drops during testing, you can keep going. If your device's battery dies, you can plug it in, restart and pick up where you left off. Either way, your work is saved and you don't lose testing time.
It's best to ensure that doesn't happen and bring a charger, though. You wouldn't have brought a green crayon to the paper SAT, so make sure your device is charged, updated and ready to go come test day. Worst case scenario, staff at every test center are trained to troubleshoot tech issues on test day.
2. Time Limits
This is also a big one. The digital SAT is about an hour shorter than the old paper test: 2 hours and 14 minutes of testing time, plus a 10-minute break. The Reading and Writing section has 54 questions split into two 32-minute modules, and the Math section has 44 questions split into two 35-minute modules. A countdown clock is built into the app, so you can easily track how you're managing your time. Gone are the days of the proctor interrupting the silence or writing how much time you have left on a chalkboard as you test.
The test can be shorter largely because the reading passages are much shorter. Instead of long passages with 10 or 11 questions each, every Reading and Writing question comes with its own short passage, usually just a paragraph. On average, you also get a little more time per question than on the paper test: about 71 seconds per Reading and Writing question and about 95 seconds per Math question. Long passages were one of the most difficult parts of the old test for many students, so this change is good news for slower readers everywhere!
3. Calculators
Some more excellent news: a calculator is allowed on the entire Math section of the digital SAT. The old no-calculator section is gone. Bluebook has a Desmos graphing calculator built in, or you're still welcome to bring your own approved calculator if you prefer the old-fashioned clickety clack of your TI-84's buttons.
4. Score Delivery
A huge advantage to digital tests is the elimination of manual packaging and shipping of answer sheets, meaning your scores get to you faster. For weekend tests, scores usually post about two weeks after test day (College Board's official window is two to four weeks), compared with several weeks for the old paper test. The sooner you have your scores, the sooner you can get on with your life. This can help you decide whether you should retake the test, try for the ACT instead, or help decide which colleges to apply to. The whole point of transitioning the SAT to digital is to improve efficiency for the student and College Board.
5. After-Test Resources
Digital score reports link students to relevant resources. This could be trade schools, community colleges, universities, or possible career paths. Your score report also breaks down how you did in each skill area, which is helpful for planning a retake or choosing the best next step for you on your journey.
The New Digital SAT: Final Thoughts
Change is scary, sure, but this one was predictable. The world of education is evolving into more of a digital space, and it makes sense for the SAT to follow.
While COVID certainly influenced the decision, the digital format is intended to open doors for more students and make the SAT more accessible to those who want to take it. It is also designed to provide a more efficient test taking and grading process to accurately measure a student’s college readiness.