Taking the new SAT or taking the old SAT early?

Test Preparation
1

<p>So, I found out that the "new" SAT that will be implemented is going to be a COMPUTERIZED TEST. It also has a program where if you get a question right, the following question becomes harder, and if you get a question wrong, the following becomes easier. This makes me really uneasy as I am not good at computer tests. Not to mention having the pressure of knowing how you're doing the whole 4 hours.
I am in the high school graduating class of 2017, so the new changes will affect me. I really don't want my hard effort to go to waste; I recently broke 2000 on a practice SAT. My "SAT" counselor recommended that I take the SAT at the end of sophomore year, and by that time I will be finished with pre-calculus. My parents also agree that taking the SAT before the changes are implemented will be the best course of action. </p>

<p>So TL;DR: if I have a 670 Math, 650 CR, and 690 W with 9-10 essay as a rising 9th grader, should I take the old, paper SAT at the end of sophomore year or the new, computerized SAT at the end of junior year? I'm really freaking out about this.</p>

<p>P.S. I'm aiming for 2300+.</p>

2

<p>Do you have a source for your info about the “new” test? I read the NYTimes article and it doesn’t say what you’re saying…</p>

3

<p>I heard from my mom that a lot of people have been talking about it, and I also heard first hand from an Ivy grad. I don’t know, it may just be a rumor, but I’m still apprehensive.</p>

4

<p><a href=“What the New SAT and Digital ACT Might Look Like - The New York Times”>What the New SAT and Digital ACT Might Look Like - The New York Times;

5

<p>“It also has a program where if you get a question right, the following question becomes harder, and if you get a question wrong, the following becomes easier.”</p>

<p>Maybe I’m just jealous that I won’t get these new rumored perks, but this sounds a little rigged in my opinion. Shouldn’t all students be tested on the same level? I mean, it is a STANDARDized test after all.</p>

6

<p>First of all, I would take with a grain of salt any statement that these tests will be computer based. They might offer a computer-based option, but if you consider the number of students taking these tests, and where they take them, you realize there is no way they can be offered on computer to all of those students. College Board does not have the infrastructure to do so. Even if all the current testing facilities opened their computer labs to run the tests, they wouldn’t be able to accommodate all the test takers.</p>

<p>Second, what’s so scary about a computer based test? Is it the computer that bothers you, or the adaptive test? There are distinct advantages to an adaptive test, for students of all levels. For those at the higher performing level, it allow you to get to the more difficult question quickly, and focus on those. Perhaps it will allow for more of those questions which will allow them to truly differentiate among those top students, such that a single wrong answer will not preclude them from an 800</p>

<p>For the middle range students (500-600) it might mean they don’t even see the toughest questions, but can prove themselves on the mid-range questions. For those with the lowest scores, it gives them another shot at answering a few questions correctly.</p>

<p>Many states are moving to these same types of tests for their state testing, so many will be used to these types of tests by the time they are rolled out for SAT and ACT.</p>

7

<p>Most students do better on the SAT when they are older. I wouldn’t fear the new SAT, it will be dumbed-down.</p>

8

<p>I don’t like computer tests because I’m not good at them. It’s really hard to read a passage and refer back to it when answering the questions, and I have to manage two mediums (paper and the screen) when doing Math.</p>

9

<p>^^^ I agree. I took a Geometry Test online… not fun.</p>