SATisfactory?

Jacob Potts, Staff Writer

A student works diligently to complete a test; the discussion over the new SAT has taken center stage in the BHS Guidance Office.

In past years, it has not been uncommon to see upperclassmen slugging SAT prep books through the hallways.  However, in the spring of 2016, this practice at Barnstable will largely disappear.

That’s right: a completely redesigned SAT test will be released this spring, making most practices for preparing for the exam obsolete.  The test is so different from previous versions that universities’ ability to interpret new scores is “limited,” according to an email sent by BHS guidance counselors this October.  As a result, juniors from the class of 2017 are recommended to take the ACT this spring instead of the SAT, prompting mixed reactions from students.  Colleges accept either test; “there’s really no preference,” said School Counseling Department Head Jennifer Clark.

According to Clark, the new exam is “more closely aligned with the ACT.” That is, the test will evaluate the students’ ability to apply the skills that their education has given them and apply them to the real world.  Analytical skills and the test-takers’ “command of evidence” are emphasized over mere memorization of facts.  Notably, students will no longer be penalized for wrong answers, encouraging test-takers to make educated guesses rather than leave difficult questions blank.

“One of our biggest goals in changing the SAT is to make sure it’s highly relevant to your future success. The new test will be more focused on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education,” says the College Board, the architects of the SAT.  That is, the exam is intended to measure the test-takers’ ability to showcase skills that will be indispensable during college.

The individual sections of the test reflect this effort.  The now-optional essay portion will no longer entail taking a position on a specific issue and supporting an argument. Instead, after reading a passage, students will explain the techniques that the writer used to craft a persuasive argument and support their claim. Similarly, the reading portion contains “evidence-based” questions in which students must analyze and interpret everything from graphs to excerpts from the U.S. Constitution.

The writing and language section remains largely unchanged from prior years; the questions here are aimed at measuring students’ ability to spot errors in writing and fix them: a skill that is highly useful in the postsecondary world.

The math section also measures skills that are applicable in real life.  “Instead of testing you on every math topic there is, the new SAT asks you to use the math that you’ll rely on most in all sorts of situations,” the College Board posted.

The scores from the old SAT are not comparable to those of the new test, says Clark.  “A 1250 on the old test is not equivalent to a 1250 on the new test,” she explained.  This places college admissions staff in a difficult position; they are unable to judge students’ abilities based on a number.  With no prior data to reference, the scores cannot be easily interpreted.

Some students, such as junior Abbie Hatch, are taking the guidance counselors’ recommendation of focusing on the ACT rather than the SAT in stride. “If the guidance counselors don’t recommend [taking the SAT], I trust them and I don’t think it’s necessary,” she explained.  Others, like junior Lianna Mitchell, are more skeptical.  “Colleges may fall in love with the new SAT and prefer it,” Mitchell argued.  “I will still be taking the SAT because I understand the SAT…whereas the ACT is a foreign body.” Junior Griffin Beels has another approach: taking both the current test in December and the redesigned version in the spring. “I’m going to take both SATs, regardless of the recommendation,” he said.

The SAT is offering some resources for prospective test-takers, including a free practice app, videos and more from Khan Academy.  Clark explained that any prep materials made for the older test “won’t help much.”

The ACT, on the other hand, has many existing, “proven” study materials that, according to Clark, have been “vetted and used over and over again.” These include many books and online practice sites.

Students who are strong academically but not adept at test-taking need not be discouraged; according to Clark, over 800 colleges and universities in the nation are “test-optional,” meaning that ACT and SAT scores are not required for acceptance.  Also, colleges tend to give the GPA and transcript of the student more weight than standardized test scores.  BigFuture, a branch of the College Board dedicated to offering resources to college-bound students, states that “colleges care most about the work you’ve done in high school. They look for students who have earned strong grades in challenging courses.”