Starting in 2016, the SAT exam will undergo several changes, which will redefine what skills are necessary to be taught to and inculcated by students aiming to get into high-level colleges in the U.S. This article will discuss the changes to be made in the reading/writing section of the exam within the reading comprehension, vocabulary and essay sections.
In recent years, it has been found that many students who scored high on SAT tests were not, in fact, college ready. They lacked some of the fundamental skills in language, grammar, essay writing and math that would enable them to achieve high grades in college courses. According to a 2009 study by Adams, “The disparity between high school and postsecondary expectations for text complexity has left too many students underprepared for the rigors of reading in college and careers. One sign of this problem can be found in recent SAT test data, which indicate that only about half of all test-takers attained a score on the Critical Reading test high enough for them to be considered college ready.” (Adams, 2009, P.28) The revision of the SAT in 2016 will be the cumulative outcome of years of data collection on analytical skills, reading comprehension and essay writing.
What will change:
Putting this into practice, and applying the outcomes of this research, the new SAT literacy sections will be more focused on practical, logical outcomes, and will provide less room for uncertainty, with a closer focus on areas of knowledge presented in year 11 and 12 curriculums.
Currently, the reading/writing sections of the SAT are comprised of essay writing, grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension. The redesigned test will comprise of a reading test and a separate writing and language test with an optional essay focused on the student’s skill in developing a clear and cohesive written analysis of a provided text.
Key changes are that the essay portion is now optional, there are more charts, graphs and other graphics, fewer, yet more useful vocabulary words, and more evidence-based responses. There is much anticipation that this revision will gear more students to be ready for college readings, comprehension and application.
According to the College Board Executive Summary of the revised SAT “The redesigned sat is not mysterious or tricky. It is profoundly transparent. It announces what is assessed and what is worthy of practice. It is designed to offer very clear signals to instruction and to resemble the best of classroom work and work outside of the classroom. The redesigned sat is not random but reliable, measuring durably powerful knowledge and skills needed in all levels of postsecondary education, work, and life. Rather than covering a great number of topics and concepts that most examinees will never see again, students study a deep core that they can draw upon again and again in college and career. “(p41) Therefore, the test will become more practical, and useful, rather than being a vague field of loosely chosen aptitude tests, it will become a tighter, smaller field of knowledge structured with the tenants of what is currently believed to be successful institutional education and business practice.
How this will affect international student test preparation:
On the whole, the SAT is getting more specific and less open ended. This may be a good change for those preparing to take the test in 2016, however, it may also decrease the test scores of international students, due to country-specific education standards and subjects. Within the reading section, passages will be focused on information presented to American high school juniors and seniors. This includes U.S. and world literature, history/social studies, the humanities, science, and career-related topics. International students may struggle because of a lack of U.S. history/social studies covered in their native schools.
For example, one of the higher text complexity test passages exhibited in the College Board Executive Summary of the revised SAT focused on the speech of a congresswoman in the 1970s, about the impeachment of president Nixon. If one was not privy to information about the US constitution, the three branch government in the US, the role of congress and the House of Representatives and the actions of President Nixon that led to this speech, one would have a difficult time answering the questions of this section correctly.
Since the SAT is being redesigned, we will undergo some changes as well to ensure that our students are well-informed on several standard topics common in the US high school history curriculum. While it is uncertain that all SAT tests will contain questions with such complexity, we at 51UStudy will teach these topics to ensure the highest level of preparation for the SAT and life in America.
Works Cited:
Adams, MJ, The Challenge of Advanced Texts: The Interdependence of Reading and Learning, Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, Brown University; 2009.
College Board, The Redesigned SAT: Executive Summary, 2014.
