The SATs are a staple of most students’ high school experience — whether you graduated in 2010 or 2023. The 2023-24 school year marks a new type of SAT test which his having impacts all over the testing world.

In the past, the SAT college board test has been three hours long; however, this year they will only be two hours and 15 minutes. 

College Board released an article  where they said, “with input from educators and students, we are adapting to ensure we continue to meet their evolving needs.”

In response to the input, reading passages will be smaller on the digital test. Moreover, there will be calculators for the entire math test.

The test also adapts to students’ answers — if students struggle with questions in the first section, the next section will have easier answers. On the other hand, if a student is performing well, the questions may become more challenging.

Some students have shared mixed emotions about the change.

Ander Khan (‘24) said, “I prefer paper because that’s what I’m used to.”

Alanna Smith (‘24) said, “ I feel like if I took it on the IPad or computers then there would be a bit more distractions just because you have access to other things.”

Other students do not seem to mind either way. Shayd Fuller said she would prefer it on paper but does not mind if it is online.

Efficiency appears to be the major reason for most of these changes.

In addition to the test being shorter, it is also less money to take the test online, along with the fact that all tests, from here on out, are online, according to Dean of Students and Testing Coordinator Lindsay Chastain.  

“College board runs the SAT and AP. They are the ones that decide the format and how it would look. They’ve been working with the digital format for a while — it just causes less issues, less paper, and it’s cheaper,” said Ms. Chastain. 

These changes were all made with the students and staff in mind to make these tests more convenient and manageable, according to College Board.