What are the differences between the COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS? New SAT

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1 What are the differences between the COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS? The current is broken up into content areas: Reading, Writing, and Math. It is known for its focus on vocabulary (almost of the reading section), multiple passage types, and reasoning-based math (up to Algebra II). Additionally, the essay is factored into the writing score. QUICK LOOK New The redesigned will return to the 1600 scale; Reading and Writing will combine for one section score. The Math will focus more on the content students are learning during their junior year. Also, the Essay will be optional and not factored into the Reading/Writing score. The is made up of sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, plus an optional Essay. The section lengths range from 5 minutes (Reading and Science) to 60 minutes (Math). The content of the Math, Science, and English is similar to what junior students are learning in school. SCORING New 2 section scores: Reading, Math, and Writing section scores: Reading/Writing and Math section scores: English, Math, Reading, and Science each total each total 1-6 each 1-6 total Timing Test duration 2h 55m h 5m Only the old still carries the wrong answer penalty. hours New Number of Sections

2 MATH New Both the and the New have student-producedresponse questions. New Formulas The New includes more formulas to reference. The does not allow formulas for reference. The and allow calculators for all Math sections. The New has one NO CALCULATOR section and one that allows a calculator. Range of Math Geometry Algebra Arithmetic New Advanced Algebra Interpretation of Data Some Geometry & Arithmetic Some Trigonometry Geometry Algebra Arithmetic Trigonometry

3 READING New sentence completion 8 passage-based New 52 0 passage-based passage-based questions questions 5s 6s 75s Vocabulary What percent of questions test vocabulary? 2 6% 17% 8% New Number of Passages SHORT New LONG comparison 1 comparison LONG No Do the Reading sections have Graphs and Charts? New Yes, relating to two passages Types of Passages Only on the Science section New 2 comparison LONG 2 comparison Passages come from a variety of sources from the last 200 years. There is no pattern in the types of passages used. 1 prose 1 social science/history 2 sciences 1 great global conversation Contains a mix of contemporary and historical writing. 1 prose 1 social science 1 humanities* 1 natural science All contemporary writing. * This tends to be the comparison passage

4 ENGLISH/WRITING New Do the English sections have Graphs and Charts? New 25 sentence improvement 18 error identification paragraph + improvement 6 9 (passage-based questions) passages 11 questions each (passage-based questions) 5 passages 15 questions each 75 No Yes, relating to two passages Vocabulary What percent of questions test vocabulary? Only on the Science section New 6s Important GRAMMAR topics New Sentence parallelism Relationship between words (subject/verb, pronoun/antecedent) Punctuation Words in context Sentence Structure Punctuation Sentence Structure s 8s 1 5% 7% % New GRAMMAR VS. RHETORICAL SKILLS 5% 55%* 8 51% 9%* 2 *The difference between the 9% Rhetorical Skills on the and 55% on the feels even greater in practice, as the questions on the require a fuller understanding of the passage.

5 ESSAY Is it Mandatory? New YES NO NO Timing New 25m 50m 0m SCORING section score 0-12 total New 1 section scores: Reading, Analysis, and Writing section scores: Ideas/Analysis, Development/Support, Organization, and Language Use/Convention 2-8 each 2-12 each 1-6 scaled total The Essay affects the overall score only on the old. The other two tests consider it an additional score. Can the student use a Personal Opinion? Prompt New A short quote and related question A short passage which the student must analyze No, the student must only explain the opinion given Yes, but the student must address the three perspectives Pages alotted for the Essay New A contemporary issue with three different opinions 2