The New SAT What Does It Mean for Students

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The New SAT What Does It Mean for Students?
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The New SAT Focuses on College Success Skills

• Critical Reading
• Mathematics
• Writing
• The SAT tests students reasoning based on
  knowledge and skills developed through their
  course work.
• It measures their ability to analyze and solve
  problems by applying what they have learned in
  school.

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Time Frame

• October 2004 New PSAT/NMSQT
• March 2005 New SAT

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Time FrameClass of 2006 will take new SAT

• Class of 2005current seniors
• Current SAT as seniors in fall 2004
• New SAT as seniors in March 2005 (if necessary)
• Class of 2006current juniors
• New PSAT/NMSQT as juniors in fall 2004
• New SAT as juniors in March 2005 and later
• New SAT as seniors

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Has the SAT Ever Changed Before?

• Yes, the SAT has changed several times since it
  was first administered in 1926.
• The SAT evolves to meet the changing needs of
  students, teachers, and colleges.
• The most recent changes were made in 1994.
  (Adding writing to the SAT was recommended but
  not possible in 1994 due to inadequate technology
  and lack of large number of readers needed.)

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Why Is the SAT Changing?

• To better reflect todays classroom practices and
  curriculum by replacing analogies with short
  reading passages and quantitative comparisons
  with more math problems, some including content
  from third-year college-preparatory math
• To reinforce the importance of writing skills
• To help colleges make better admissions and
  placement decisions

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Will the New SAT Be Harder?

• No, the new SAT will be designed so that a
  student who could score a 500 on the math section
  (for example) of the current SAT could score a
  500 on the math section of the new test.
• 97 of college-bound students complete 3 years of
  math so the test will more closely measure the
  math they are already studying.
• Extensive field trials confirmed that students
  are taking more upper level math, which is why
  the overall difficulty of the test is not
  affected.
• While the test is longer, field trials also
  confirmed that the increased length of the test
  has no impact on the students scores.

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The Changes to the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT

• Verbal
• Name will be changed to critical reading.
• Analogies will be eliminated.
• Short reading passages will replace analogies and
  will measure the kind of reasoning formerly
  measured by analogies.

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The Changes to the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQTAnalogie
s will be ELIMINATED

• CLAYPOTTER
• (A) stonesculptor
• (B) machinesmechanic
• (C) hemstailor
• (D) bricksarchitect
• (E) chalkteacher
• Correct answer A

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Revised SAT Verbal SectionRenamed Critical
ReadingExample of passage-based analogical
reasoning items

• The relationship between the spectroscope and a
  stars chemical composition (lines 3738) is
  most like the relationship between
• (A)    a periscope and a submarine
• (B)    a microscope and a cellular structure
• (C)    a generator and an electrical charge
• (D)    a test tube and an experiment
• Correct answer B

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The Changes to the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT

• Math
• Quantitative comparisons will be eliminated.
• The content is being expanded to reflect the
  mathematics that college-bound students
  typically learn during their first three yearsof
  high school.
• The reasoning aspects of the test together with
  the expanded content will more effectively
  assess the mathematics necessary for student
  success in college.
• Math content on the PSAT/NMSQT will also be
  enhanced, but it will not include Algebra II
  because most students will not be familiar with
  that level of math.

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The Changes to the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQTQuantita
tive comparisons will be ELIMINATED

• The Roadside Diner cuts its cakes into 12
  servings each.
• The number of these cakes B. 6needed to make
  78 servings
• (A) The quantity in column A is greater.
• (B) The quantity in column B is greater.
• (C) The two quantities are equal.
• (D) The relationship cannot be determined from
  the information given.
• Correct answer A

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The Changes to the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT

• Writing
• Multiple-choice grammar and usage questions
• Will measure the students understanding of how
  to use language in a clear, consistent manner,
  how to revise and edit, and how to recognize an
  error in a sentence.
• Student-written essay (SAT only)
• Will measure the students use of language
  logical presentation of ideas, development of a
  point of view, and clarity of expression under
  timed conditions.
• Essay practice tool provided AT NO COST to all
  schools administering the PSAT/NMSQT.

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The Changes to the SAT and the PSAT/NMSQT

• Skills Feedback
• The PSAT/NMSQT provides individualized feedback
  to students through its Score Report Plus.
• The College Board is developing a similar tool
  for the SAT.

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SkillsFeedbackScore Report Plus
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PSAT/NMSQTScore Report Plus

• Tells students how their scores compare to those
  of other sophomores or juniors
• Tells students what SAT score ranges they can
  expect
• Includes a question-by-question breakdown
• Helps students identify strengths and weaknesses
  and provides tips on how to improve specific
  skills

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PSAT/NMSQT Score Report PlusNew in 2004

• Students will use their Score Report Plus code to
  access free enhancements online at
  www.collegeboard.com/psatextra
• Complete explanations for all answers, including
  why some answers were wrong.
• Full explanations of answers for additional
  higher-level math practice SAT questions on the
  back of the PSAT/NMSQT score report.
• Entire SAT essay scoring guide, plus actual
  sample essay papers at every score point for the
  practice essay on the back of the PSAT/NMSQT
  score report.

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Skills FeedbackScore Report Plus

• Improve Your SkillsExamples
• Being precise and clear
• How to improve Learn to recognize sentence
  elements that are ambiguous and confusing. In
  your writing, choose words carefully and connect
  them for clear meaning. See questions 4, 6, 8.
• Understanding geometry and coordinate geometry
• How to improve Review geometry units in your
  textbook involving perimeter, area, volume,
  circumference, angles, lines, and slope.
  Familiarize yourself with the formulas given at
  the beginning of math sections of the set. See
  questions 7, 13, 19.

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Time SpecificationsPSAT/NMSQT
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Time SpecificationsSAT
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Test Content and Question Types
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Test Scores
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A Closer Look at the Changesto the SAT

• Critical Reading
• Mathematics
• Writing

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Revised SAT Verbal SectionRenamed Critical
ReadingStrengthens alignment with classroom
practices

• Measures knowledge of genre, cause and effect,
  rhetorical devices, comparative arguments, and
  the ability to recognize relationships among
  parts of a text.
• Long and short reading passages are taken from
  different fields
• Natural sciences
• Humanities
• Social science
• Literary fiction
• Short reading passages, which replace analogies,
  will measure the kind of reasoning formerly
  measured by the analogy section.

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The Critical Reading SectionExample of new short
paragraph reading items

• Dinosaurs have such a powerful grip on the
  public consciousness that it is easy to forget
  just howrecently scientists have become aware of
  them. A two-year-old child today may be able to
  rattle offthree dinosaur names, but in 1824
  there was onlyone known dinosaur. Period. The
  word dinosaurdidnt even exist until 1841.
  Indeed, in those earlyyears, the world was
  baffled by the discovery ofthese absurdly
  enormous creatures.

Line 5
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The Critical Reading SectionExample of new short
paragraph reading items

• The reference to the two-year-old child (line
  4) primarily serves to
• (A) challenge a popular assumption
• (B) highlight the extent of the change
• (C) suggest that a perspective is simplistic
• (D) introduce a controversial idea
• (E) question a contemporary preoccupation
• Correct answer B
• The statement Period (line 6) primarily serves
  to emphasize the
• (A) authoritative nature of the finding
• (B) lack of flexibility in a popular theory
• (C) stubborn nature of a group of researchers
• (D) limited knowledge about a subject
• (E) refusal of the public to accept new
  discoveries
• Correct answer D

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Math Section Measures problem-solving skills

• Emphasis on math reasoning SAT math measures the
  ability to apply math content to real-life
  problems.
• SAT is unique in having some grid-in questions
  requiring student-produced responsesas
  recommended by NCTM (National Council of Teachers
  of Mathematics).
• Approximately 1520 of math questions on thenew
  SAT and 15 of math questions on the new
  PSAT/NMSQT will either cover new topics or
  willcover existing topics in greater depth.

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Most Four-Year Colleges Require 3 Years of Math
for Admission

• 70 of all high school students finish Algebra II
• 97 of college-bound students complete 3 years
  of math and 69 complete 4 ormore years of math
• 92 of minority college-bound students complete
  3 years of math

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Calculator Policy

• A scientific or graphing calculator will be
  recommended for the new tests.
• Though every question can still be answered
  without a calculator, calculators are definitely
  encouraged.
• Previously, a basic 4-function calculator was
  recommended, but now scientific is the base level
  recommendation.
• Students should bring a calculator with which
  they are comfortable and familiar.

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The Enhanced Math Section

• Expanded Number and Operations topics will
  include
• Sequences involving exponential growth
• Sets (union, intersection, elements)
• Expanded Data Analysis, Statistics, and
  Probabilitytopics will include
• Data interpretation, scatterplots, and matrices
• Geometric probability

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The Enhanced Math Section

• Expanded Algebra topics will include
• Absolute value
• Rational equations and inequalities
• Radical equations
• Integer and rational exponents
• Direct and inverse variation
• Function notation
• Concepts of domain and range
• Functions as models
• Linear functionsequations and graphs
• Quadratic functionsequations and graphs

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The Enhanced Math Section

• Expanded Geometry and Measurementtopics will
  include
• Geometric notation for length, segments, lines,
  rays, and congruence
• Problems in which trigonometry may be used as an
  alternative method of solution
• Properties of tangent lines
• Coordinate geometry
• Qualitative behavior of graphs and functions
• Transformations and their effect on graphs of
  functions

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The Enhanced Math SectionExamples of enhanced
math content
1 2

• If x-3 64, what is the value of x ?
• (A)
• (B)
• (C) 4
• (D) 8
• (E) 16
• Correct Answer B

1 4
1 2
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The Enhanced Math SectionExamples of enhanced
math content
Note Figure not drawn to scale

• In the figure above, if line k has a slope of
  -1,what is the y-intercept of k?
• (A) 6
• (B) 7
• (C) 8
• (D) 9
• (E) 10
• Correct Answer B

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New SAT Writing SectionAdditional measure of an
important college success skill

• Multiple-choice Items
• 3 types of multiple-choice writing questions
• Identifying Sentence Errors
• Improving Sentences
• Improving Paragraphs

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New SAT Writing SectionExamples of
Multiple-Choice Writing Items

• Identifying Sentence Errors
• It is likely that the opening of the convention
  center,previously set for July 1, would be
  postponed because of
• (A) (B) (C) (D)
• the bricklayers strike. No error.
• (E)
• Correct Answer C

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New SAT Writing SectionExamples of
Multiple-Choice Writing Items

• Improving sentences
• Although several groups were absolutely opposed
  to the outside support given the revolutionary
  government, other groups were as equal in their
  adamant approval of that support.
• (A) were as equal in their adamant approval of
• (B) held equally adamant approval of
• (C) were equally adamant in approving
• (D) had approved equally adamantly
• (E) held approval equally adamant of
• Correct Answer C

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New SAT Writing SectionExamples of
Multiple-Choice Writing Items

• Improving paragraphs
• (1) At one point in the movie Raiders of the Lost
  Ark, the evil archaeologist Belloq shows the
  heroic Indiana Jones a cheap watch. (2) If the
  watch were to be buried in the desert for a
  thousand years and then dug up, Belloq says, it
  would be considered priceless. (3) I often think
  of the scene whenever I consider the record
  albumcollecting phenomenon, it being one of the
  more remarkable aspects of popular culture in the
  United States. (4) Collecting record albums gives
  us a chance to make a low-cost investment that
  might pay dividends in the future.
• Excerpt from longer three-paragraph passage

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New SAT Writing SectionExamples of
Multiple-Choice Writing Items

• Improving paragraphs
• In the context of the first paragraph, which
  revision is most needed in sentence 3?
• (A) Insert As a matter of fact at the
  beginning.
• (B) Omit the words it being.
• (C) Omit the word scene.
• (D) Change the comma to a semicolon.
• (E) Change think to thought and consider to
  considered.
• Correct Answer B

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New SAT Writing SectionAdditional measure of an
important college success skill.Encourages
writing in schools.

• Essay
• Students will read a short excerpt, or two
  quotations, and respond to a prompt that frames
  an issue.
• Student must first think critically about the
  issue presented in the essay assignment and then
  define and support their point of view, using
  reasoning and evidence based on their own
  experience, readings, or observations.
• The essay will be similar to the type of
  on-demand writing that is typically done in
  college

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Essay Prompt

• Think carefully about the issue presented in the
  following quotations and the assignment below.
• While secrecy can be destructive, some of it is
  indispensable in human lives. Some control over
  secrecy and openness is needed in order to
  protect identity. Such control may be needed to
  guard privacy, intimacy, and friendship.
• Adapted from Sissela Bok, The Need for Secrecy
• Secrecy and a free, democratic government,
  President Harry Truman once said, dont mix. An
  open exchange of information is vital to the kind
  of informed citizenry essential to healthy
  democracy.
• Editorial, Overzealous Secrecy Threatens
  Democracy
• Assignment Do people need to keep secrets or is
  secrecy harmful?Plan and write an essay in which
  you develop your point of view on this issue.
  Support your position with reasoning and examples
  taken from your reading, studies, experience, or
  observations.

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Essay Prompt

• The essay will not be coachable since students
  must respond directly to the assigned topic.
• Essays not written on the assigned topic will
  receive a subscore of zero for the essay portion
  of the writing section.

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How Will the Essays Be Scored?

• Readers will
• understand that the essay is a first draft
• read quickly to gain an impression of the whole
  essay relative to the holistic Scoring Guide and
  the sample range-finder essays
• read the entire essay before scoring and then
  score immediately
• read supportively, looking for and rewarding what
  is done well rather than what is done badly or
  omitted
• not judge an essay by its length or the quality
  of handwriting
• understand that grammar is not an overriding
  factor in determining an essay score and
• consider spelling only when errors are so
  persistent that they interfere with meaning.

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New SAT Scoring Guide
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New SAT Scoring Guide
Essays not written on the essay assignment will
receive a score of zero.
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Scoring Procedures for the Essay

• Procedures will be similar to those for the
  current SAT Subject Test in Writing.
• Essays will be scored by trained high school
  English teachers and college professors with
  experience teaching writing.
• Each essay will be scored independently by two
  readers according to the holistic Scoring Guide
  in conjunction with sample essays selected for
  training.
• Essays will be scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by
  each reader (total score of 2 to 12).
• Essays will be scanned and distributed to readers
  via the Web.
• Scoring and reader supervision will take place
  online.

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Essays Will Be ScoredFairly and Accurately

• If the two readers scores differ by more than
  one point, the essay will be read by a third
  reader.
• Based on the College Boards experience in
  scoring the SAT Subject Test in Writing, the
  rigorous reader training and qualification
  process, and continuous monitoring of readers as
  they score, the College Board expects that less
  than 8 percent of all essays will call for a
  third reader.

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Colleges Requiring aStandardized Writing Test

• Colleges that accept the SAT will continue to do
  so, and all will receive the writing score.
• Many colleges have announced that they will
  require or recommend that students taking any
  college admissions exam must submit a writing
  score (including an essay) beginning with those
  entering college in the fall of 2006.

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Additional Research on the New SAT Survey of
Admissions Directors

• A recent College Board sampling of 774 four-year
  colleges indicates that 59 percent of the
  institutions sampled will use the writing score
  for admissions and another 31 percent are still
  considering its use.
• The colleges varied by admissions selectivity
  and size, and represented a good cross-section
  of higher education institutions.

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Additional Research on the New SAT Survey of
Admissions Directors

• The findings
• 74 percent of respondents say they will use the
  new SAT writing score in admissions decisions.
• 68 percent of respondents plan to download and
  print applicants essays.
• 35 percent of these respondents said they would
  read all essays, and 19 percent said they would
  read most essays.
• 32 percent of respondents will use the essay for
  course placement.

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Additional Research on the New SAT Survey of
Admissions Directors

• The reasons most often cited by those respondents
  saying that they plan to read applicants essays
  were
• To provide additional information about a
  candidates writing skills
• To compare and verify an application essay
• To use as an additional placement essay

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Additional Information about the SAT Subject Tests

• January 2005 The SAT Subject Text in Writing
  will be administered for the last time.
• All other SAT Subject Tests will continue,
  including Math I and Math II.

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How Students Can Prepare

• Students should
• Challenge themselves throughout high school by
  taking rigorous courses, including at least 3
  years of math
• Read and write as much as possibleboth in and
  outside of school
• Familiarize themselves with the SAT so they know
  what to expect on test day
• Familiarize themselves with the different types
  of questions on the SAT, the directions for each
  type of question, and how the test is scored.
• Take the new PSAT/NMSQT in October 2004the new
  PSAT/NMSQT will be the best preparation for the
  new SAT

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ScoreWrite A Guide to theNew SAT Essay

• How ScoreWrite works
• Students write essays on topic included in
  ScoreWrite under the same test conditions and
  time limit as the new SAT essay.
• Teachers learn to read and score these essays
  using the same techniques and scoring guide that
  will be used by scorers of the new SAT essay.
• First version mailed to all schoolsin
  JanuaryFebruary 2004.
• New version mailed every August to all
  participating PSAT/NMSQT schools.
• Added feature of the new version will bea matrix
  showing students how to get a projected SAT
  writing score range by combining their PSAT/NMSQT
  score with their ScoreWrite essay score.

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How Students Can Prepare

• Availability of Sample Questions
• The PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin, the free booklet
  that includes a full-length practice test, will
  be available early fall 2004.
• The 2004 PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus will be
  sent to schools in December 2004 and will include
  explanations for every question (available online
  to any student who takes the PSAT/NMSQT in 2004).
  
• The 2004 PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus mailing
  will include advanced math sample questions.
• The new SAT Preparation Booklet, (the successor
  to Taking the SAT), the free booklet that
  includes a full-length practice test, will be
  available in fall 2004.

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How Students Can Prepare

• Availability of Sample Questions
• The Official SAT Study Guide For the New SAT ,
  will be available in fall 2004.
• The Official SAT Online Course, the successor to
  One-on-One with the SAT, will be available in
  fall 2004.
• The online SAT Learning Center at
  www.collegeboard.com will include new SAT sample
  questions beginning in fall 2004.

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www.collegeboard.com
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www.collegeboard.com