Navigating the New SAT

Simply put, the SAT was redesigned to more closely align with high-school curricular standards and to provide a more accurate predictor of students’ college readiness. According to the College Board, the problems on the new SAT are designed to measure the knowledge, skills, and understanding that research shows are most important for college and career-readiness.

So, what are the specific changes to the Math test?

Major Content Changes

The redesigned Math test measures students’ mathematical fluency, conceptual understanding, and problem solving ability. Problems includes many real-life applications featuring scenarios drawn from science, social science, and career-related fields. Some problems contain multiple questions related to a single scenario.

Problems are grouped into three main categories: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Mathematics.  

• Heart of Algebra focuses on linear equations and linear systems. Problems in this category require students to create equations that model problem situations, to make connections among various representations of linear relationships, and to solve linear equations, inequalities, and systems.
• Problem Solving and Data Analysis focuses on quantitative reasoning. Problems in this category not only require students to use ratios, proportions, and percentages to solve real-life problems, but also require students to analyze and interpret quantitative data presented in a variety of formats.  
• Passport to Advanced Math focuses on more complex nonlinear expressions, equations, and functions. Problems in this category require students to manipulate expressions and equations, to solve equations, to create equations that model problem situations, and to demonstrate understanding of functions and their graphs.

Additional topics include problems related to geometry, trigonometry, and complex number concepts that are most relevant to college and career readiness.

Key Structural Changes

The new Math test has 58 questions and is divided into two sections: Math Test – No Calculator and Math Test – Calculator. (The current SAT allows calculator use on the entire Math test.)  

• There are 45 multiple choice questions and 13 student-produced response questions.
• The non-calculator section has 20 questions and the calculator section has 38 questions.
• The total time is 25 minutes for the non-calculator section and 55 minutes for the calculator section.

It is important to note that, although calculators are allowed on part of  the test, the new SAT is designed so that every  problem can be solved without a calculator.

Scoring Changes

The score range on the new SAT is 400-1600; the Math Test score range is 200-800. Students will no longer be penalized for guessing. Additionally, the number of answer choices on multiple-choice questions is reduced from 5 to 4, giving students a higher probability of selecting the correct answer.