Now that many schools are test optional, you may wonder if the SAT is still worth taking.
We say yes, see why down below.
Use Your Scores to Your Advantage
Taking the SAT is strong evidence that you're ready for college and have what colleges are looking for. You can choose to only send your best scores to colleges, and many schools will send you offers automatically.
The PSAT/NMSQT Prepared You for This
If you took the PSAT/NMSQT you're already familiar with and prepared for the SAT. Historically, students who took the PSAT/NMSQT score higher on the SAT.
Qualify for Financial Aid & Scholarships
Your SAT score can qualify you for scholarships, get you financial aid offers, and even exempt you from certain classes.
The Benefits of the New Digital SAT
Shorter than before
The Digital SAT is nearly an hour shorter than the traditional paper SAT. If you find yourself having difficulties sitting still or concentrating for long periods the digital SAT is a great alternative.
Digital: 2 hours & 14 minutes vs Paper: ~3 hours
More time per question
Despite the digital version taking less time, you actually get more time to answer each question. The digital version has 98 questions, which gives you about 90 seconds per question. The paper version has 154 questions, which gives you about 70 seconds per question.
Don’t need a calculator
With the digital SAT, a graphing calculator is built into the exam, giving all students access to the same resources. Also unlike the paper version, you can use the calculator on the entirety of the math section.
Shorter reading passages
The paper version of the SAT typically has much longer reading passages, and has multiple questions pertaining to one passage. In contrast, the digital SAT has shorter, typically one paragraph passages, and only has one question per reading.
Why Should I Practice for the SAT?
It goes without saying that practicing for the SAT will obviously help you achieve a higher test score. Research shows that students who took practice tests had a stronger performance on their SAT. Data from College Board shows completing 1 full-length practice test can lead to an improvement of 25 points on average, and completing 2 or 3 can help you improve further, by 45 or 60 points respectively. Preparing for the SAT can also help you with your day to say school work. Since the material covered on the SAT is related to core subjects, studying for the test will also help you in your classes, and even in college.
When Should I Start Studying?
Most people recommend to start studying for your test 2-3 months before your test date. While this is a good starting point, you should use past scores or your PSAT score to structure your studying schedule. If you are struggling with a lot of subjects, or struggling a lot with a few subjects, you may need more time to feel adequately prepared.
When Should I Take the Test?
The SAT is offered to everyone seven times ever year, usually on a Saturday, with the dates being the same for both U.S. and international students. Many schools in the U.S. also have designated days during the school week for students to take both the PSAT and SAT. This occurs in October, March, and April, and is a good option for those who have transportation issues, or scheduling conflicts with the Saturday dates. College Board recommends taking the test at least twice, once in the spring of your junior year, and again that fall before application deadlines.
If you are not satisfied with your PSAT scores, or want to get a head start, we recommend taking the SAT even earlier, sometime in your sophomore year. This will give you plenty of time to study and improve your score. With all that being said, the best time to take the SAT is when you feel properly prepared, and are confident you can make it on time. Don’t put off taking the test if you are worried about getting a bad score. If you start early there will be plenty of time to study and retake the test. You can even choose which scores to send to colleges, so a bad score won’t affect your admission chances.