The Current & New SAT
How the Changes Affect You
Today’s Agenda

Introduction – Susan Kim, C2 Vice President

College Admissions

Current vs. New SAT

Understanding Test Scores

C2 Education
Three Focal Points
• GPA/Strength of coursework
• Standardized Test Scores
• Extracurricular Activities
• PSAT (9th, 10th, 11th)
• SAT I
• or ACT with Writing Section
• SAT II (subject tests)
• AP Exams
4
New SAT Test in Spring 2016
Who Does This Affect?
Current 11th
graders
Current 10th
graders
Current 9th
graders
You will be taking
the current SAT
Current SAT until
Fall of Junior year
Current SAT until
Fall of Sophomore
Starting Spring of
your Junior year,
NEW SAT
NEW SAT in
Junior & Senior
Year
NEW SAT
New PSAT
New PSAT
New PSAT
Current PSAT
Current 8th
graders
The Current SAT
Total Time:
3 hours & 45 minutes
The New SAT
Total Time:
3 hours
Total Time with Essay:
3 hours & 50 minutes
Current SAT
Focus
Structure
New SAT
Focus on general reasoning
Focus on reasoning plus on
knowledge, skills, and understanding
Mathematics (3-4 sections)
Math (2 sections)
Critical Reading (3-4)
Evidence-Based Reading & Writing
Writing
•Multiple Choice (2 sections)
•Essay
•Reading Test
•Writing & Language Test
Essay
Timing
Total 3 hours & 45 minutes
Total 3 hours (plus 50 min essay)
Scoring
Total: 600 - 2400
Total: 400 - 1600
Questions
Mathematics:
200-800
Math
200-800
Critical Reading:
200-800
Reading & Writing
200-800
Writing
200-800
Essay score stands by itself
5 answer choices
Incorrect answers penalized
4 answer choices
No penalty for wrong answers
8
Components of the Test
Current SAT
Math
Reading
New SAT
Emphasis on problem solving
Emphasis on real-world problem
solving & application of knowledge
and skills
Calculator permitted
No calculator for part of the test
Up to Algebra II
Up to Pre-Calculus
Random mix of fiction & nonfictions passages
College-level passages in U.S. &
world literature, science, history
Emphasis on comprehension &
analysis of passages
Emphasis on comprehension,
analysis & evidence based on
passages and informational
graphics
Components of the Test
Writing
Essay

Current SAT
New SAT
Isolated mix of grammar, usage,
and mechanics questions
Passages with accompanying
grammar, usage, mechanics, and
“expression of ideas” questions
Essay score together
Scored separately from essay
Required, first section
Optional, last section
Construct an argument
Analyze a passage’s argument
NEW SAT is aligned to the spirit of the Common Core.
The Common Core State Standards are a set of learning standards that have
been adopted by most states. These standards will help to ensure that
students from different states master the same skills in each grade level.
Understanding Test Report
The Current SAT
Scaled/Composite Score
Current SAT
Reading Test
Define your Reading level
- Question Difficulty
Level 1 to 5
Emphasis on comprehension
& analysis of passages
- Build critical reading skills
- Focus on your problem area
Current SAT
Math Test
Define your Math level
- Level 1 to 5
Emphasis on Word Problems!
Algebra I & II, Geometry
- Review weak areas
The Current SAT
Writing Test
Isolated mix of grammar, usage,
and mechanics questions
*Essay score is integrated into
Writing score (200-800)
*Additional subscores reported for
the essay (range from 2 to 12)
The New SAT
Insight Scores
Heart of Algebra – Application
(Creating/Building)
•
•
The student needs
to demonstrate
“procedural skill”
by analyzing &
creating linear
equations and
inequalities.
Does the student
know how to
“speak” math?
Heart of Algebra – Fluency
(Solving)


The student needs to
analyze and fluently
solve equations and
systems of equations
using multiple
techniques.
Does the student
know how to “do” the
math?
Passport to Advanced Math –
Procedural (Creating)


The student is required to
demonstrate an
understanding of the
structure of expressions and
the ability to analyze,
manipulate/rewrite these
expressions.
Does the student know how
to “speak” math?
Passport to Advanced Math –
Skill/Fluency (Solving)


The student needs to analyze
and solve expressions, including
quadratic and higher-order
equations in one variable and
understand the graphs of
quadratic and higher-order
functions.
Does the student know how to
“do” the math?
So What Does This Mean?

Math will be more challenging!
–

Your Problem Solving Skills will need to be
stronger
–
–

Fewer topics but you’ll need more in-depth knowledge!
There will be multiple ways to solve a problem, but you’ll
need to decide the “optimal” path to solving a problem
Mental Math will be required for No-Calculator sections
Word Problems, word problems, word problems!
–
With a focus on “Real World” scenarios, you’ll be seeing far
more graphs, charts, and word problems!
Reading Test: Information & Ideas


These questions focus on the
informational content of text.
The student needs to use
“close reading” (aka active
reading) to determine
(directly or indirectly stated)
meaning, central ideas, and
themes of the passage.
Reading Test: Summarizing


These questions focus on the
student’s ability to identify a
reasonable summary of a text
or of key information and ideas
in text.
The student needs to identify
summaries of the text,
relationships between parts of
the text (e.g.: cause-effect or
comparison), and determine
meaning of words or phrases
based on the context.
Reading Test: Rhetoric


These questions focus on the
rhetorical analysis of text.
The student needs to analyze
the passage’s word choice and
text structure, along with
analyzing the author’s point of
view, purpose, and argument
(how the author builds,
structures, and supports the
argument).
Reading Test: Synthesis


These questions focus on
synthesizing multiple sources
of information.
The student will need to
“synthesize” (which means to
combine ideas – usually from
different sources) ideas from
either a “paired passage” set
or from a “passage plus
informational graphic” set (i.e.
charts, graphs, or tables).
So What Does This Mean?

Reading will be harder!
–

No such thing as “Skimming”!
–

When was the last time you read a speech from a U.S. Senator or
Supreme Court Justice?
“Close Reading Skills” require lots of practice & long-term
development
“Reading” isn’t enough
– deeper interpretation matters!
–
Do you carefully read the charts found in your textbook for
subjects like history & science? What about those pesky charts
used in newspaper articles?
Writing Test: Expression of Ideas Development


These questions focus on
revising text in relation to
rhetorical purpose.
While reading, the student
needs to ask him/herself
questions like…
–
–
–
–
–
How is the author designing his
argument?
What is being proposed?
What is used to support it?
Are the details focused towards
the argument?
Is there any quantitative
information to support the
argument?
Writing Test: Expression of Ideas
– Organization


These questions focus on revision
of text to improve the logic and
cohesion of text at the sentence,
paragraph, and whole-text levels.
While reading, the student needs
to ask him/herself questions like…
–
–
–
–
How is the author organizing the
passage?
Is the passage, as a whole,
organized in a logical order?
Are the paragraphs organized in a
logical order?
Do the paragraphs flow smoothly
from one to the other?
Writing Test: Expression of Ideas
– Effective Language Use


These questions focus on
revision of text to improve the
use of language to accomplish
particular rhetorical purposes.
While reading, the student
needs to ask him/herself
questions like…
–
–
How is the author using phrasing
and word choice to accurately,
clearly, and concisely state the
intended message?
How does the wording and
sentence structure affect the style
and tone of the passage?
Writing Test: Standard English
Conventions – Sentence Structure

These questions
focus on editing text
to correct problems
in sentence
formation and
inappropriate shifts
in construction
within and between
sentences.
Standard English Conventions –
Conventions of Usage

These
questions focus
on editing text
to ensure
conformity to
the conventions
of standard
written English
usage.
Standard of English Conventions –
Conventions of Punctuation

These questions focus
on editing text to
ensure conformity to
the conventions of
standard written
English punctuation.
So What Does This Mean?

Writing will be harder!
–
–

You’ll need multiple skills
–

You have only 35 minutes for 4 passages (44 total questions)
You’ll need to read passages, revise word usage, grammar, &
sentence structure – much like revising a research paper!
Strong vocabulary, command of evidence, using charts & graphs,
Essay is scored separately & won’t help your writing
score!
–
You need strong rhetoric & composition skills
Essay- Writing



Focus and Organization
– Does the essay have a
clear point? Is the essay
organized?
Written Expression
– Does the essay
demonstrate effective
use of word choice,
sentence structure, and
tone?
Conventions
– Does the essay have
grammar errors?
So What Does This Mean?

The essay will be more challenging and complex!
–

You’ll need multiple skills
–
–
–

You need to engage with a passage rather than rely on generic
responses
You’ll need to use CLOSE READING skills
You’ll need to use ANALYSIS skills (argumentation, style, diction,
literary devices)
You’ll need to use WRITING skills
It’s not truly “optional”
–
The best colleges will require it!
Start Studying Now!

Take a Practice Test & Create a Study Plan!

PREPARING EARLY is no longer optional
for the New SAT!

C2 wrote the book on the New, harder SAT.
Questions?