By Gianna Akter ’25
A huge contrast from the previous SATs that students took was the recent implementation of the digital SAT format. This means the testing time is only two hours compared to the four-hour length in previous years. Some students find this digital version more convenient, while others find the newer questions more difficult to comprehend than previous ones on the SATs or PSATs.
Most participants noted numerous bonuses to the new digital SAT, such as the shorter length compared to tests in previous years and the adaptiveness of the test to specific student needs. However, most students also acknowledged that the SAT has certain patterns and test techniques that are not taught in school, still making the assessment difficult in general – one thing they can all agree on is that everyone’s experience with the SAT is different and sometimes reflective of what their post-secondary plans might be. These four students (Vanessa Nguyen ‘25, Saturn Cooper ‘25, Savannah Harrold ‘25 and Quinlan Gray ‘25) all took the administered digital PSAT in the fall and the digital SAT in the spring.
“I think it [SAT] should be optional for most colleges,” explains Quinlan Gray ‘25. “For schools like Harvard and Yale, I think it makes sense, but for more general colleges, I think the SAT should be optional because some students just aren’t good at taking tests.”
One pattern that emerged frequently in discussion was regarding the test-optional status most colleges have for the SAT. All of the participants agreed that while it makes sense for some colleges such as Yale or Brown to require the SAT, for other less-competitive colleges, it’s unnecessary. Based on the nature of the SAT this year, this raises the following questions and responses:
Some people found the digital format easier, but others found the format harder. What bonuses or drawbacks did you find?
Vanessa Nguyen ‘25: I liked the digital SAT better because it is shorter and keeps you focused more. With the paper one, I was just brain-dead by the end. With the questions on the digital one, I felt like it was easier. It wasn’t like we had a whole lot of questions on one passage – each question was by itself on one passage.
Quinlan Gray ‘25: It was easier to stay focused on the digital one. When it’s on paper it’s so much more boring and makes you feel more tired. When it’s online, it’s more engaging in a way, and since it’s shorter, you’re awake more than you would be when doing the paper version.
Savannah Harrold ‘25: I liked the paper version better. I feel like I do better when I have to write things down and I like filling in the bubbles. I feel like I am tired of taking it either way.
Saturn Cooper ‘25: I think the digital copy was better because it was shorter, and I feel like if you got a question wrong it got easier. The questions ranged in difficulty.
The consensus among these students seems to be that the SAT was generally easier online due to the shorter length and adaptiveness of the test. However, Harrold did remark that being able to physically write information down and bubble in the answers was something that she liked doing on previous PSATs, demonstrating that while most of the students can agree on most subtopics, some opinions slightly contrast one another.
Another pattern in the conversation was if the SAT foretells success in college after high school. This topic also further demonstrates the differing opinions among students regarding the SATs in general. Some students argue that the SATs are an important indicator, while others disagree.
Do you agree that SAT scores are predictive of success in college?
Vanessa Nguyen ‘25: It is a little bit, but so much of what you need for the SAT isn’t what you learn in school. It’s specific tips and tricks that you learn by yourself. While some of it is helpful, the things you learn in school, a lot of it is very specific to the SAT.
Quinlan Gray ‘25: I disagree. Some people might just be bad at taking tests. You can’t judge someone’s knowledge by a test that’s given to everyone. The SAT shouldn’t decide what someone is capable of doing.
Savannah Harrold ‘25: I do well in school and get good grades but when it comes to a standardized test, everything goes out of my head. Not everything is on the SAT, like science and the arts, so I think the ACT is a better option.
Saturn Cooper ‘25: I don’t think it’s very helpful. It depends on what you want to do in college. Some people don’t want to do anything with math in it, so it depends.
As the conversation comes to a close, students also discuss whether or not they would share their scores with colleges. All the students agree that it depends on the score of the specific individual.
If a school is test-optional, will you share your scores?
Vanessa Nguyen ‘25: For selective schools, it would depend. I would look at the school’s SAT range and if my best score fits in that range. If it’s in the range, I would submit it in hopes of having my SAT score as another part of my application that makes me look good to a school.
Quinlan Gray ‘25: I agree, but before I submit it I would retake it because I wasn’t happy with my score.
Savannah Harrold ‘25: I agree, if I’m in the range, I would submit it, but if not, I wouldn’t.
Saturn Cooper ‘25: Probably not.
Generally, participants agreed on what experiences they had during the actual assessment and what their thought processes were like during the exam as well.
While it’s true that the SAT is challenging and even frustrating at times, with many students having different thoughts about the exam, it’s an experience that unites all high school students everywhere.
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