Testing Shifts Online Amidst Pandemic
SAT test preparation course moves online as school shifts back in-person.
By Ariella Just Milender
SAT test preparation course moves online as school shifts back in-person.
By Ariella Just Milender
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, students have seen many activities, such as classes and club meetings, shifted to an online space. As coronavirus cases have continued to decline, most things have gone back to in-person. However, the CollegeBoard, the company that formulates the SAT, is planning a different approach.
For decades, the SAT has always been on paper and in-person. Comprised of four different sections, this lengthy test has been used for college admissions for years. However, there was a recent shift making the SAT less prominent in the college admissions process, prompting the decision by the CollegeBoard to shift the test to an online format.
On Jan. 25, CollegeBoard formally announced the decision to shift the SAT to an online format with some changes. The goal of these adjustments is to make the SAT much more accessible to students all over the world. The test will now be shorter, shortening it from three hours to about two, and will allow calculators to be used on all parts of the math section, as well as implementing shorter reading passages. Students will also receive their scores much faster, shifting the waiting period from weeks to days.
Rolling out the United States in 2024 and internationally during 2023, the class of 2025 will be the first to take the newly reformatted SAT. Freshman Brooke Dallas is excited to see what the new changes bring to the test.
“I do think that having the test be shorter will be less stressful because it won’t take as long and means there won’t be as much to memorize before the test,” said Dallas.
Along with the digital SAT format, SJUSD has already made a shift to an online format for SAT preparation for juniors through Kaplan Inc. As a fully free program funded by the district, many juniors on campus have found that the SAT Prep course they took for the SAT they took on March 2, was helpful.
“It definitely allowed the prep to be more accessible, especially with it being free,” said Alessia Laudani, 11.
Previously, teachers on campus taught SAT prep during FLEX periods, allowing students to prepare during the school day.
“We had some course materials, as well as an SAT book, and we went through steps like the reading test and the English teachers took care of the reading tests and grammar, and the math teachers did the other side (and) alternated weeks, usually Wednesday FLEXes,” said English teacher Kathleen Quint.
Despite the SAT being used much less for the college admissions process, it has not become completely irrelevant, as scores are used for some scholarships and college course placements.
“Scholarships can require an SAT score, but it’s up to the individual scholarships to make that decision. Also, your SAT scores can help with math and English placement at the UC and CSU level,” said academic counselor Nicole Pearson.
For decades, the SAT has always been on paper and in-person. Comprised of four different sections, this lengthy test has been used for college admissions for years. However, there was a recent shift making the SAT less prominent in the college admissions process, prompting the decision by the CollegeBoard to shift the test to an online format.
On Jan. 25, CollegeBoard formally announced the decision to shift the SAT to an online format with some changes. The goal of these adjustments is to make the SAT much more accessible to students all over the world. The test will now be shorter, shortening it from three hours to about two, and will allow calculators to be used on all parts of the math section, as well as implementing shorter reading passages. Students will also receive their scores much faster, shifting the waiting period from weeks to days.
Rolling out the United States in 2024 and internationally during 2023, the class of 2025 will be the first to take the newly reformatted SAT. Freshman Brooke Dallas is excited to see what the new changes bring to the test.
“I do think that having the test be shorter will be less stressful because it won’t take as long and means there won’t be as much to memorize before the test,” said Dallas.
Along with the digital SAT format, SJUSD has already made a shift to an online format for SAT preparation for juniors through Kaplan Inc. As a fully free program funded by the district, many juniors on campus have found that the SAT Prep course they took for the SAT they took on March 2, was helpful.
“It definitely allowed the prep to be more accessible, especially with it being free,” said Alessia Laudani, 11.
Previously, teachers on campus taught SAT prep during FLEX periods, allowing students to prepare during the school day.
“We had some course materials, as well as an SAT book, and we went through steps like the reading test and the English teachers took care of the reading tests and grammar, and the math teachers did the other side (and) alternated weeks, usually Wednesday FLEXes,” said English teacher Kathleen Quint.
Despite the SAT being used much less for the college admissions process, it has not become completely irrelevant, as scores are used for some scholarships and college course placements.
“Scholarships can require an SAT score, but it’s up to the individual scholarships to make that decision. Also, your SAT scores can help with math and English placement at the UC and CSU level,” said academic counselor Nicole Pearson.