The College Board announced plans yesterday to change the SAT. These changes, which include a modification of the vocabulary tested, an optional essay, more predictable reading comprehension subject matter, no deductions for incorrect answers and the return of the 1600 score scale, are not terribly dramatic. Essentially, the SAT will look more like the ACT but still not include the Science section.
So what do these changes mean? Well, these alterations, and the College Board’s dramatic announcements of “change,” are reminiscent of 2005, when the College Board last revamped the test and ultimately produced a product that was not deemed successful. Final conclusions can’t be drawn until the new tests are actually administered in March 2016. And it is likely that colleges will accept “old” and “new” SAT scores for a few years, grandfathering in the changes.
But ultimately, these adjustments are the College Board’s attempt to compete with the ACT, which has become increasingly popular since the 2005 SAT changes. The College Board wants to win back its “lion’s share” of the standardized test market. Will this new marketing campaign work? Only time will tell… but at Brewington SAT Prep we are looking forward to seeing the (slightly) new product!