If you still have nightmares about breaking your No. 2 pencil or filling in the wrong bubble on the SAT test form, you may sleep better after hearing recent news.
The standardized test, which once played a massive role in college admissions, is undergoing a digital transformation, per WSJ.
Along with the digital format, the new version of the test — which will go live internationally in March 2023 and in the US in March 2024 — has several changes to make it more tolerable:
While this is undoubtedly good news for future students, it raises the question: Why the change?
College Board, the parent company behind the SAT, has faced a slew of challenges in recent years, including:
These developments led to a ~27% drop in the fees collected for College Board’s services and programs in 2020. And it’s likely to get worse — 76%+ of 4-year colleges won’t require entrance exams this year.
Students from wealthy households are still flaunting their scores, with 53% submitting the test this year compared to 39% from lower-income households.
So if the SAT still haunts your dreams, rest assured future generations won’t have to feel your pain — unless they want to.