***March 2016 SAT (US Only) Thread*** |New Redesigned SAT Discussion Thread

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

I know that there are some juniors out there who plan on taking the new SAT in March, so I decided to create this thread for discussion about preparations, plans, or anything about the new format in general.

This is a thread for anyone considering to take the SAT on Saturday, March 5, 2016 in the United States.

Use this thread to discuss preparation tips. The registration deadline is Friday, February 5, 2016.

After the examination, you may discuss test questions, but do so at your own risk. Do NOT, however, post links to Google Docs, as they will be removed. On a similar note, do not ask for them either.

Good luck! :wink:

NOTE: This is the first administration of the new SAT. For more information, visit https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/.

Resources:
—Free Test Preparation for the Redesigned SAT from Khan Academy:
https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
—SAT Question of the Day App for the New SAT:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/daily-practice-app
—New SAT Reading Section Information:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/reading
—New SAT Writing Section Information:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/writing-language
—New SAT Math Section Information:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/math
—New SAT Essay Information:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/essay
—Key Changes of the Redesigned Exam:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/key-changes

For actual practice questions, you can purchase the College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide (2016 Edition), which includes 4 official New SAT practice tests from the test maker (ISBN-13: 9781457304309). If you want to save money, however, the College Board has these practice tests on their website. They can be found here: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-tests

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2

Other than the College Board’s book with the 4 tests, are there any more practice books for the new SAT?

3

@buffalo11 I bought the Kaplan book for it but I haven’t really looked at it yet to know how it is.

4

All the usual publishers have books out. None of the ones I’ve seen are particularly good, though, unfortunately, and some are downright sloppy (clearly the result of a hasty rush to publish).

5

@buffalo11 not sure if this is helpful - but you can also try the PSAT test that was released officially for practice if you haven’t already: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-practice-test-1.pdf

6

I figured out from an Amazon review that the 4 tests in CollegeBoard’s book for the New SAT are on Khan Academy for free. @buffalo11

7

Can someone tell me the difference between SAT and SAT with Essay? “With Essay” is like ACT with writing? The colleges my D is interested in have not updated their websites to accommodate the new SAT. They just say SAT and two Subject Tests or ACT with Writing. If they are asking ACT with writing, should she register for SAT with Essay?

8

@HiToWaMom if she’s applying to any top 20 colleges she probably should

9

:slight_smile:

10

One of her reaches is not quite top 20 but more like top 30 LAC. Yeah, just in case, I will have her take the one with essay. Thank you guys!!

11

I currently have the SAT Prep Black Book by Mark Barrett as well as the old “blue book”. I’m worried these prep materials won’t be relevant to the new SAT. I want to start by learning the structure and strategies of the SAT before practicing problems, and I’m getting very mixed responses about whether these materials would be helpful. There have been several forums I have looked at which indicate that the book is completely irrelevant to the test due to its overhaul. I’ve seen other forums which indicate that as much as 80% of the strategies presented will remain similar enough to use these resources. I plan to use the old strategies as a foundation, then practice the old test a few times before trying to apply as many strategies as possible to the new test (using the free tests on Kaplan). Is there a better course of action I should take?

Sorry for the wall of text…

12

Hi guys,

I’m currently prepping for the March SAT I and I’ve found myself at a lack of practice tests. If anyone’s taken the official PSAT 2015 and is up to trade, I have the test booklet for the late test of PSAT 2015 :slight_smile: Thanks!

13

Does anyone else think all the grades in March will be substantially higher?
I scored much better on one of the new practice tests than what I was scoring with the old format.
Anyone else have similar situations?

14

I found it interesting that the PSAT had a very lenient math curve (missed 3 and got 750) as opposed to the old SAT/PSAT where missing 3 questions could cost someone 70-90 points. The grammar curve, meanwhile, was the harshest of the three sections. Do you guys think grammar will have the hardest curve on the New SAT test?

15

Probably. I got 5 wrong for math which was a 37/38. I got 4 wrong for Grammar got a 33/38.

16

so, the new SAT won’t have the experimental section right?

17

I heard it was only if you’re taking the one without an essay

18

@aprilnguyen what do you mean the experimental section?

19

like in the old Sat, there is always one experimental section, so will there be any for the new sat? @icantsleep

20

There’s no experimental (“dummy”) section anymore, if I understand correctly.