Changes in SAT to take effect in the spring of 2016

In an announcement today, the College Board stated that due to its college admission exams lacking focus on principal academic skills, compulsory essays will be eliminated. In addition to the elimination of the essays, the penalty for guessing incorrectly will removed.

Criticizing both the SAT and the ACT, David Coleman, president of the College Board, stated that both the exams “have become disconnected from the work of our high schools.”

According to the New York Times, Coleman also revealed a plan to launch new programs to help aid low-income students. Students who meet the criteria will now be given fee waivers that will allow for them to apply to four colleges at no cost. Prior to the launch of the new exam, College Board will also offer free online practice problems from past tests, as well as instructional videos guiding students on how to solve them.

Other changes expected to be made are the challenging vocabulary words that will be replaced by words that are more familiar in college courses. The math problems will focus mostly on linear equations, functions and proportional thinking. In addition, calculators will no longer be permitted on certain math sections.

The new SAT exam will be made available on both paper and computer. The scoring will return to the previous 1600 point scale, with the top scores being 800 on the math section and “Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.” The voluntary essay is set to have a separate score.

The changes are set to officially go into effect in the spring of 2016.

– Antionette Latrese (@_ALatrese)