The Scholastic Assessment Test is administered by the College Board which is a non-profit organization that develops and administers standardized tests and curricula used by K-12 and post-secondary education institutions to promote college-readiness and part of the admissions process.
The Digital SAT structure
| Component | Time allotted (minutes) | Number of questions/Tasks |
| Reading and Writing | 64 (two 32-minute modules) | 54 |
| Math | 70 (two 35-minute modules) | 44 |
| Total | 134 (2 hours and 14 minutes) | 98 |
The following is an Overview of the Digital SAT:
The Digital SAT Format has 2 Sections
- Section 1- Reading and Writing, and Language
- Section 2-Math
- Time Duration of the Test is – 2 hours and 14 minutes
- Scoring –The Digital SAT is scored on a 400-1600 scale.
The Reading and Writing section has a total of 54 questions.
It is divided into two modules as follows:
- Module 1: 27 passages- 25-150 words length.
Each passage includes 1 question (about 71 seconds per question to answer )
- Module 2: 27 passages 25-150 words length.
- Each passage includes 1 question (about 71 seconds per question to answer )
Total time allotted is 64 minutes for the Reading and Writing Section
Questions and Answers format:
• Multiple choice questions offer four possible choices from which students must select the answer for the Reading and Writing module.
• On all questions, there’s no penalty for guessing: if the test taker is not sure of the answer, it’s better to guess than leave the response blank.
The Math section has a total of 70 questions.
It is divided into two modules as follows:
- Module 1: 22 Questions
- Module 2: 22 Questions.
- The Math section is organized entirely by order of difficulty. Approximately 75% of the Math questions will be multiple choice. The other 25% will be student-produced response questions. These questions require you to enter your answer in a box.
- Multiple choice questions offer four possible choices from which students must select the answer.
- Student-produced response questions require students to produce their own answer, which they enter the provided field.
Total time allotted is 35 minutes to complete each module.
What isAdaptive Difficulty in Digital SAT:
Adaptive difficulty (depends on performance in Module 1)
- The digital SAT follows a 2-module adaptive design for each section (reading/writing or math). The test is tailored to match the student’s skill level.
- The responses to the first module containing a combination of easy and difficult questions determine the difficulty level of the second module.
- There are only two possible second modules for a particular section – an easy and a hard module. The easy second module contains questions that are on average easier, and the hard module contains more difficult questions. The test score is higher if the student performs well on the hard module.
- Students who do well on the first module will receive the hard second module, and the student who does not perform well in the first module will receive the easy second module.
- It is also worth noting that the questions are randomized such that each student will receive different questions, but the difficulty level of the questions will match the modules 1 and 2 as presented.
The digital SAT (“SAT”) is taken at a test site on a Testing Device.
- It is administered on Bluebook – the College Board digital testing application (“Exam App”)
The Testing Devices are
- Windows laptop or tablet, Mac laptop, or iPad.
- You can also use a Chromebook if it is a School-Managed Testing Device
NOTE-You cannot take the Digital SAT on a mobile phone.
How to download the Blue book
The digital SAT is offered only through the Bluebook. Students will not be able to take the exam without it. Therefore, it is important to download the app and learn how to use it taking the exam.
The Bluebook includes practice resources and other handy tools that test takers use while taking the exam.
The Bluebook app can be downloaded from the College Board’s website. The website will direct you on how to download the app.
What is the Bluebook. The Bluebook includes features to familiarise the test takers with the real test. It includes
- an annotation tool that allows to highlight and underline important parts of the question
- a line reader tool to help focus on smaller sections of text
- an answer option eliminator to remind you which choices you’ve already ruled out
- and a flag to mark questions for review that you want to revisit later.
Using these tools during a practice test will enable the test takers to use them effectively on test day rather than discovering them for the first time.
The test takers are advised to take at least one official practice test in the Bluebook App at the start of the preparation to get the most out of the practice test as follows:
- Identifying the strategies that work best. Should the questions be read first before the passages on the Reading and Writing section, or vice versa? Flagging a question if you can’t answer it in the first 30 seconds and come back to it later, or does that throw off your timing? These strategies are valid and helpful to some test takers, but not for all. Therefore, only the test takers can decide which one works best for them by taking practice tests, trying different options and figuring out the strategies ahead of time.
- Paying attention to the pacing. Both sections on the SAT—(1) Reading and Writing and (2) Math—have two modules. Each module on the test has the same number of questions, but the mix of questions in the second module will be either slightly more difficult or slightly less difficult than the questions in the first module. Therefore, taking a practice test can prepare one for this change in timing.
- Replicating the testing conditions. The test takers may try sitting at a table or desk in a quiet room with nil distractions. This will enable to focus more on the practice test to get a better idea of the real test scenario.
- The use of practice scores. Once the practice test is completed, the test takers may go to My Practice to view their scores.
The two ways the practice scores can help one to improve:
- Practice Specific Questions: From the My Practice dashboard or the Score Details page, a button is seen for Practice Specific Questions. Based on the performance in the practice test, helps the test takers to review any skills for improvement. The associated domains for each question can also be seen for further review in the Student Question Bank.
- Review: Click the Score Details and then the Review next to the given answer to read through the question-and-answer explanation. Keep track of the questions you missed and Pay attention to the question type, question content and the skills involved. The Student Question Bank includes additional practice questions covering the skill for enhancement.
Content of the Digital SAT- Reading and Writing
The Reading and Writing section has 4 domains which represent content areas that are measured on the Digital SAT. Mastering these content areas is essential for successfully cracking the test.
The 4 Content domains:
| Content Domain | Question distribution |
| 1.Craft and Structure | 13–15 questions |
| 2.Information and Ideas | 12-14 questions |
| 3.Standard English Conventions | 11-15 questions |
| 4.Expression of ideas | 8-12 questions |
Domain Description with skills tested
| Domain description | Skill/Knowledge Testing points | |
Craft and Structure | Measures comprehension vocabulary analysis synthesisevaluate texts rhetorically make connections between topically related texts | Words in context Text Structure and Purpose Cross-Text Connections |
| Domain description | Skill/Knowledge Testing points | |
Information of ideas | Measures comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills knowledge and the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, and integrate information and ideas from texts and informational graphics (tables, bar graphs, and line graphs | Central Ideas and Details; Command of Evidence (Textual, Quantitative); Inferences |
| Domain description | Skill/Knowledge Testing points | |
Standard English Conventions | Measures the ability to edit texts sentence structure, usage, punctuation | Boundaries; Form, Structure, and Sense |
| Domain description | Skill/Knowledge Testing points | |
Expression of ideas | Measures the ability to revise texts to improve the effectiveness of written expression and to meet specific rhetorical goals | Rhetorical SynthesisTransitions |
Question Types of the Digital SAT Reading and Writing
| Craft and Structure | Information and ideas | Standard English Conventions | Expression of ideas |
| 1.Words in Context | 1.Central ideas and Details | 1.Boundaries | 1.Rhetorical Synthesis |
| 2.Text Structure and Purpose | 2.Textual evidence | 2.Form, structure, and sense | 2.Transitions |
| 3.Cross Text Connections | 3.Quantitaive Evidence | ||
| 4.Inference |
Content of the Digital SAT- Math
The Math section of the digital SAT is designed to test students on the math topics most important for college and career success. Those topics can be split into the following four categories:
Math Domains and Skills
| Domain | Description | Specific Skills Tested |
| Algebra | Measures the ability to analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities as well as analyze and fluently solve equations and systems of equations using multiple techniques. | Linear equations in one variableLinear functionsLinear equations in two variablesSystems of two linear equations in two variablesLinear inequalities in one or two variables |
| Math Advanced | Measures skills and knowledge central for progression to more advanced math courses, including demonstrating an understanding of absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical, and other nonlinear equations. | Nonlinear functionsNonlinear equations in one variableSystems of equations in two variablesEquivalent expressions |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis | Measures the ability to apply quantitative reasoning about ratios, rates, and proportional relationships; understand and apply unit rate; and analyze and interpret one- and two-variable data. | Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and unitsPercentagesOne-variable data: Distributions and measures of center and spreadTwo-variable data: Models and scatterplotsProbability and conditional probabilityInference from sample statistics and margin of errorEvaluating statistical claims: Observational studies and experiments |
| Geometry and Trigonometry | Measures the ability to solve problems that focus on area and volume formulas; lines, angles, and triangles; right triangles and trigonometry; and circles. | Area and volumeLines, angles, and trianglesRight triangles and trigonometryCircles |
