Is the Digital SAT Easier? New Format & Adaptive Testing

With multiple speculations on the introduction of the newer SAT version, the test takers are curious about the unknown. The College Board, the conductor of all the SAT versions, has stated that the digital SAT is student- and educator-friendly. For every candidate going to take the digital SAT for the first time, insights into the format of the test and critical information are going to help a lot. 

With The College Board offering insight into the type of question paper and the present article covering related information, the readers will be able to answer the question themselves, ‘Is the digital SAT easier?’

What is the New Digital SAT Format?

For candidates wondering, ‘Is the digital SAT easier than the paper SAT?’, you are requested to begin understanding the new digital SAT format. The test is expected to comprise two sections: the Reading and Writing Section and the Math Section.  

Reading and Writing Section 

• Format: Two-stage adaptive test design with two separately timed modules 
• Number of questions: Each module comprises 27 questions segregated into 25 operational and 2 pretest questions. Hence, a total 54 number of questions. 
• Time duration: Each module has to be answered within 32 minutes. Hence, digital SAT timing for the reading and writing section is a total of 64 minutes. 
• Question type: Each question will accompany four options where one will be correct. They may contain pictures and graphs as per the requirement. The questions will be independent. 
• Stimulus topics: Literature, science, history/social studies, and humanities

Math Section 

• Format: Two-stage adaptive test design with two separately timed modules 
• Number of questions: Each module comprises 22 questions segregated into 20 operational and 2 pretest questions. Hence, a total 44 number of questions. 
• Time duration: Each module has to be answered within 35 minutes. Hence, digital SAT timing for the math section is a total of 70 minutes. 
• Question type: 75% of the questions will accompany four options where one will be correct. The remaining 25% of questions will be Student-Produced Response (SPR) type. They may contain pictures and graphs as per the requirement. The questions will be independent. 
• Stimulus topics: Science, social science, and real-world topics  

What is Multistage Adaptive Testing in Digital SAT?

The question ‘Is the digital SAT easier than the paper SAT?’ has arisen due to the inclusion of multistage adaptive testing. Let’s uncover how the two are related. The adaptive testing method is an age-old method that has been in use for 40 years. It encourages fair testing of shorter duration with adaptation to the student level. In the multistage adaptive testing, there are two modules used to test the candidates. 

Module 1

Taken mandatorily before module 2, module 1 comprises questions of all the levels. The students will face questions deemed easy, medium, and difficult. 

Module 2

Taken in sequential order, module 2 has a selected level of questions based on the candidate’s performance in the first module. This is the actual representation of test adaptation according to the student’s performance level. The questions here are either higher or lower difficulty level compared to the questions in the first module. 

How Does the Adaptive Testing Model Benefit the Students?

The common question arising among the students, ‘Is the digital SAT easier?’ must have been answered by now with the information about module 2. Answering the similar question ‘Is the digital SAT easier than the paper SAT?’ more directly, it does have certain indirect benefits that make the test student-friendly. Here are those: 

• The test will be engaging as questions are adapted to one’s level. 
• The adaptive modeling retains the precision and reliability of longer tests despite a lower duration. 
• This model in digital SAT allows navigation across the questions, unlike other similar models. 
• The higher engagement removes fatigue and non-willingness to take the test on the inability to solve the question.
• Questions are better adapted to student’s abilities and knowledge level 
• Using unfair means is not possible due to the random order of questions indicating true judgment of candidates ability and increased trustworthiness of the score 

Digital SAT Vs Paper SAT 

The Digital SAT Vs Paper SAT encompasses multiple differences at varying parameters. Here is a comparative table of the two: 

Parameter	Digital SAT	Paper SAT
Mode of test	To be taken on a laptop, desktop, or tablet	Was taken through pen and paper
Total Questions	98	154
Testing method	Adaptive testing	Common order of questions for all
Timing	Digital SAT timing will be 2 hours and 14 minutes	The timing used to be 3 hours
Calculator	Cna use both on-screen and off-screen calculator	Only the offscreen calculator was accessible
Question length	Shorter reading passages with only one associated question	Longer paragraphs with multiple parts of one question
Results	Duration is shortened to a few days	Results were announced within a few weeks

What is Similar in Digital SAT and Paper SAT?

While there are multiple changes in the SAT exam, as tabulated above, there are different aspects to remain constant as well. They are enlisted as follows: 

• Scores: The scoring range will be between 400 and 1600
• Relation with assessments: The SAT and PSAT-related assessments will be linked through a vertical score scale 
• Syllabus: The two sections will evaluate the knowledge and skills as tested in offline SAT
• Security: The values of SAT to restrict the usage of unfair means is the same 
• Academic alignment: The digital SAT suites will still be aligned to state academic standards. 

Conclusion 

The answer to the question ‘Is the digital SAT easier?’ must be clear by now. To sum up the information, the ease of the digital SAT depends on one’s preparation. While there are certain advantages available through the adaptive testing model, such as higher engagement and lower fatigue, preparation and practice are still the keys to acing the exam. The importance of practice should also not be undermined for digital SAT. 

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