Features: A Message from Claes Nobel Advisory Board Highlight - Tyra Banks High School Highlight Partner News College-Bound Advice A Senior's Words of Wisdom for the College Application Process Internships from a Student's Perspective Learn to Earn ABCs on the SAT Spotlight on Service Tsunami Relief: How You Can Help Red Cross: Give the Gift of Life--Every Drop Counts Students Follow Their Passion -- Taking Advantage of Special Opportunities People to People: An Adventure of a Lifetime The Joy of Journalism Adventure in the Alps: Summer in Switzerland Overcoming Challenges Coping with Change: Coming to America Struggling with Scoliosis: Obstacles into Opportunities Overcoming Personal Affliction ABCs of the SAT from the Editor If you haven't heard of the new SAT format, you've probably been living under a rock, or perhaps another planet. The SAT is a rite of passage for many high school students, and the upcoming changes may be a cause of concern or relief, depending on your perspective. We polled students in December about the addition of the essay portion to the SAT exam, asking whether students considering this addition a good idea. Interesting enough, 56.3 percent of respondents favored the addition of the essay portion, while 43.8 percent were not pleased with the addition. Here are a few responses: "The new SAT is better. There are no more analogies and quantitative comparisons, and the math really needed a facelift. The new SAT more accurately tests students' abilities to solve problems and read critically in addition testing writing skills. Although inevitably colleges will "test' the student's writing ability through the college application essays, the new SAT tests writing abilities on a nation wide level, just as it does with reading and math. The essay creates a more complete standardized test." Clinton Scroggins "I personally believe that the essay on the SAT is not necessary. One cannot measure a written essay objectively, especially if a moral or political issue is the topic. The reader and the student will both have their opinions and biases. No matter how hard the college board tries to make the grading objective, sore personal bias will be involved‹it's only human. To make the essay requirement may compromise a person's score and jeopardize his changes of being accepted into a prestigious college. In my opposition, I am only taking the old SAT and the ACT with an optional, no-required essay." Tammy Hsu Basic Facts: For an quick overview, read My College Guide's tips on the new SAT, "Beyond the Bubbles: the New SAT" at www.mycollegeguide.org/read/sat.phtml. The most comprehensive site for information on the new SAT is free at http://www.collegeboard.com. In a nutshell, here are some practical facts from the site that address concerns we are hearing from students: The new test begins with the graduating class of 2006; the test debuts in March 2005. Those graduating in 2005 are not affected by the new SAT. If you are graduating in 2006 or beyond, the College Board does not recommend taking the old test now. It is recommended that students wait until spring of their junior year in order to have covered as much English and math as possible. Cost: The new version is $41.50. (check with the College Board about possible fee waivers for hardship cases). Length: Total time for the test is 3 hours and 35 minutes. Scoring: There will be 3 scores: Math 200-800 Critical Reading (formerly Verbal) 200-800 Writing 200-800 Math: Quantitative comparisons are eliminated and some problems from Algebra II are included. Essay: No more analogies! Grading: The writing portion is graded holistically, on a scale from 1-6 (6 being the highest score). This means that readers score the essay on its total effect, rather than counting errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The essay is to be read as a first draft, rather than a polished piece of prose. It is graded by trained composition and writing teachers. Graders do not know the identities of the students. Handwriting: Penmanship is not a factor in the score; however, your essay needs to be legible. Length: The new writing section will be 60 minutes, with 25 minutes for the essay. Topics: The essay topic will be an open-ended question about an issue that you support from your own experience. The test makers stress that you do not need any prior knowledge about the topic to answer the question and that ESL students should not have problems with the topic. College admissions use: This will be up to the admissions office. Some colleges may use the essay for admission purposes, some may use it for composition course placement, and some may not use it at all. Many will probably take a wait and see attitude, so you should check with the universities you are interested in for specifics. << Back to Journal Home page