Starting this weekend, students across the United States will take the SAT on computers and tablets instead of pencils, marking a significant change from the traditional method that has been used for nearly a century since the test’s inception.

It is a familiar territory for today’s generation of digital natives, but some are still getting used to the concept.

“I have always preferred using paper for my work, so initially I wasn’t a fan of the digital version, but it’s not too bad,” shared Rachel Morrow, a third-year student at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham. She appreciates the timer feature that helps her stay on schedule without constantly checking the time.

The introduction of the digital SAT is happening as the organization responsible for it, the College Board, and proponents of standardized tests aim to convince educational institutions and naysayers of its significance in the college admissions process.

The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in the cancellation of an entire SAT testing period and heightened concerns about the potential bias towards students from wealthier backgrounds in these exams. As a result, numerous universities have eliminated their testing requirements and currently, the majority still allow students to choose whether or not to submit their scores.

In recent news, a few prestigious colleges such as Dartmouth and Brown have declared their decision to once again require SAT or ACT scores from applicants. They believe these tests help identify qualified students who may otherwise be overlooked due to attending schools without advanced courses or extracurricular activities, and having limited support from their teachers for letters of recommendation.

Despite not being a requirement for colleges, many students still see benefits in taking the SAT.

According to Morrow, many individuals are choosing to go test-optional. However, if you do decide to submit your scores, you will most likely have a competitive edge.

Her class has been practicing on the digital version of the SAT. The school four years ago took the unusual step of introducing a mandatory SAT prep course for juniors in partnership with CollegeSpring, a nonprofit that provides in-school preparation to help students from low-income backgrounds position themselves better for college.

According to S’Heelia Marks, the SAT holds a significant significance for students who are mostly of Black or Latino descent and often come from families with limited financial resources. She emphasizes the relevance of test preparation in this context.

According to Marks, in the United States, these factors work against you. It’s important to have every possible advantage in order to compete. Colleges will rely on feeder schools they trust and exclude those who are test optional or not from a reputable school, assuming their grades may be inflated. This results in even more excluded individuals than anticipated.

The SAT can also grant scholarships, but achieving a high enough score to be eligible often involves rigorous preparation, which is not always available to low-income individuals in the United States.

The online assessment is 60 minutes shorter but follows the same format for setup and scoring. It consists of two sections, math and reading/writing, each with a maximum score of 800 points. The test adjusts based on the student’s performance, with questions becoming slightly more or less difficult as they progress. Test-takers have the option to use their personal laptops or tablets, but must take the test in a supervised testing site or school setting and cannot access any other programs or applications during the test to prevent cheating.

Switching to technology will not solve the discussion on fairness. Although opponents argue that the SAT and the alternative ACT favor wealthier students, advocates maintain that they are still the most effective means of determining college achievement and can be taken into account alongside socioeconomic conditions, such as a student’s place of residence.

The administrators of the SAT test claim that the inclusion of a sophisticated calculator for use during the exam and offering free full-length practice tests addresses aspects that are within their control. They also state that while the results may indicate disparities in the education system, they are not the cause of them.

Priscilla Rodriguez, head of the college readiness assessments division at the College Board, acknowledges that concerns about disparities in standardized testing are important and worthy of attention. However, she points out that the performance gaps seen on tests like the SAT are reflective of the disparities observed in all standardized assessments administered in the United States, including those given to third graders.

In the 2023 class, approximately 1.9 million students took the SAT at least once, an increase from 1.7 million in 2022, according to the College Board.

Emerson Houser, who is 17 years old, will be taking the exam in Columbus, Ohio this Saturday. She intends to share her scores with the colleges she applies to, even if they do not require them. Based on her online test simulations, it seems that she has a preference for the digital format.

“I didn’t have to complete the multiple-choice answer sheet, so I could solely concentrate on the screen,” she explained. “This simplified the process of reading the instructions and answering the prompts.”

At Holy Family Cristo Rey, Ashley Chávez-Cruz, a junior, said there are features that make the digital test feel familiar, like a highlighting option. But she said it’s harder to mark up problems and passages because you can only make notes in the digital version in a text box off to the side.

However, there is also a less stressful aspect to taking a digitally administered test.

According to her, taking the paper test in a silent room with a ticking clock evokes the feeling of being in an exam, while the digital SAT still feels like an exam but with less anxiety.

Thompson wrote the report from Buffalo, New York. Cheyanne Mumphrey, a journalist for the Associated Press, contributed from Phoenix.

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Source: wral.com