Students across the country are preparing for a new, more challenging SAT that will debut in March, the first major revision of the college admissions exam in a decade.
The College Board, which administers the SAT, decided last year that the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class, particularly as most states have adopted Common Core State Standards.
Among the biggest changes: Obscure vocabulary is no longer a primary focus. Now students must analyze text and show that they understand how the author uses words in passages.
Math will focus on problem solving, data analysis and algebra. There will be more graphics and more word problems in the math sections than in the old test, according to Michael Boothroyd, executive director of college admission programs for Kaplan Test Prep.
Younger students came face to face with the new exam model for the first time last month, when they took the PSAT. The test, which qualifies students for National Merit Scholarships and prepares them for the SAT, was 35 minutes longer and more difficult than in previous years.
“I took the PSAT last year and it was somewhat difficult, but not so difficult that I felt like I needed to study excessively,” said Julie Lam, 16, an honors student at George Washington Carver School of Arts and Sciences near Mather. “This one caught me off guard. I didn’t expect it to be difficult. The math section is the one I struggled with the most.”
Carver high school juniors Lam and Jade Thomas said the math portion of the nearly three-hour PSAT was the most difficult. Particularly troublesome was a timed section that required students to solve problems using multiple steps and – for the first time – without a calculator.
Most of the students who took the PSAT at George Washington Carver High in mid-October didn’t know that the test had changed, said Thomas, 15. “There were some people around who were struggling,” she said. “There were tiny whispers like, ‘What does this mean?’ ”
One of the key changes to the SAT is that the essay section, which has grown from 25 to 50 minutes, is optional for most students. Only 13 percent of the nation’s schools, including University of California campuses, require the essay for admission.
SAT test scores also will return to the 400 to 1,600 scale, while PSAT scores will range from 320 to 1,520. There is no longer a penalty for incorrect answers.
A survey by Kaplan Test Prep published in August showed that 85 percent of parents and college-bound students in the U.S. were unaware the SAT is changing. Some students who know about the change are considering taking the old SAT before the end of January,
At St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento, guidance counselors are working with each class to determine which test they should take.
“For juniors, for a practical matter, it will be up to them,” said Lisa Wilkins, director of marketing and enrollment for the school. “January will be the last old SAT they can take.”
Natomas Charter School staff have told students about the new tests and given them handouts comparing the old and new tests, said Suzanna Shenk-Tiffany, a school counselor.
Students can always take both the old and new SAT tests, keeping the best score, Shenk-Tiffany said. “Some take it four, five or six times,” she said, adding that some colleges will take the best English score from one test and the best math score from another.
Most colleges plan to accept both the old and new SAT tests for a few years.
Some advocates for low-income students in past years have criticized high-stakes college admissions tests because affluent families can afford to pay for expensive prep programs that help raise scores. In response, the College Board has partnered for the first time with Khan Academy to provide free, extensive SAT prep online.
The Khan Academy website walks students through sample questions, scores them, shows their weaknesses and helps them to improve.
“This partnership is designed to level the playing field for all kids,” said Cyndie Schmeiser, chief of assessment for the College Board.
The free online test prep could offer some relief to parents who have had to shell out hundreds, even thousands of dollars for SAT and PSAT test prep. The test prep industry offers everything from a plethora of study guides starting at $6 to as much as $1,600 for some some classes.
The new test has meant that Kaplan Test Prep and other companies that offer SAT and PSAT prep classes and individual tutors have had to revamp their classes.
Sacramento-area Kaplan tutor Robert Mitchell said the new SAT, which can go almost four hours with the essay, requires stamina and good organization.“We give four full-length practice tests,” he said. “It’s very difficult to take the SAT on the first try without any practice. Taking realistic practice tests is very helpful.”
His best tip for students: “Don’t use the old prep books. These are major changes.”
The changes to the new test include a math section with questions with multiple parts and as many as five clues in them, he said. Problems in the old test contained only two clues.
“It’s helpful to read one sentence at a time and to take notes as you go to glean important information,” Mitchell said.
The English portion has lengthier passages, he said, but includes less obscure words that are more commonly used in high school and college.
George Washington Carver Principal Allegra Alessandri recommends that her students instead take the ACT test, which also is used for college admission and has gained in popularity. She said the ACT better reflects the coursework taught at the Waldorf-inspired school. The SAT doesn’t show a student’s persistence or measure potential for future success, she said.
The changes come as the SAT – once the primary college admissions exam – lost ground to the ACT in recent years. According to the two test companies, 1.85 million high school graduates in the class of 2014 took the ACT, while 1.67 million took the SAT.
Schmeiser said that the SAT redesign was geared toward assessing the knowledge and skills students need in college. Fewer than half of the students who took the old SAT test were prepared to go to college and take entry-level courses without the need for remediation, she said.
“That is appalling,” she said. “We are committed to helping kids become ready.”
Diana Lambert: 916-321-1090, @dianalambert
HOW IT WORKS
I believe they should not change the SAT because we are already doing the new common core. Just with common core schools have gotten harder and a lot of people aren’t even improving on their test scores as they said, “There were some people around who were struggling” (Sacramento Bee). There is more critical thinking involved which I think is good but with test becoming short answer, longer, and more difficult I believe it will not benefit us in any way.
ReplyDeleteMegan Welter Per. 2
Annalise Hite
ReplyDeletePer. 6
Common Core is already a hassle for students and parents. As a student, I believe that if SAT were to change it should be the same level of difficulty as the old SAT. Common Core and a changed SAT just causes more trouble for students. When previous students say, "Don't use old prep books, these are major changes."(Sac Bee), this causes stress to the students who are going to be taking the new SAT. Parents will be paying money for new SAT books, and prep classes. Again, in my opinion, this is a waste of money and another way of stressing students out.
Marie Ong-- Period 6
ReplyDeleteThe concept of redesigning the current SAT to conform to our learning capabilities has got me intrigued since the day I found out they are changing it. This school year, I did not find the PSAT as difficult as students from George Washington Carver High described it as. It all depends on the results I'll get back later this year to see how I scored compared to last year. I do have one question for the people on the College Board Association: How are the scores from the current SAT going to be compared with scores from the new SAT? "Schmeiser said that the SAT redesign was geared toward assessing the knowledge and skills students need in college" (Lambert). The new SAT benefits students by assessing how ready they are before going into college. I have mixed feelings of both the current SAT and the new SAT that will be released shortly, but knowing lots of information about both tests is really helpful!
I can see why they would change the SAT from vocabulary based to critical thinking questions. However, I do not think that the new SAT should be any harder than the previous. "Don't use old prep books, these are major changes."(Sac Bee) shows how difficult it will be to study for the new SAT for students taking it in the next few years. The SAT is does not make anybody smarter. It is simply a test of what you have learned throughout high school so I don't think that the answers should be longer and have harder questions. That does not test our intelligence, it only brings our test scores down and makes it even more difficult to make it into a good college.
ReplyDelete-Rhys Kennedy Per. 6
Cameron Stone -- P6
ReplyDeleteI believe that changing the SAT is not smart. This standardized test has been effective throughout the years. Changing the material and increasing the difficulty is unfair to future generations. They will not have previous test scores that they can compare their results to. Also, students will not have as many study resources. Robert Mitchell advised students, "don't use old prep books, these are major changes" (Sac Bee). The fact that these changes are referred to as "major", means students and teachers across the nation will have to learn and teach new curriculum. This is unfair and not a smart decision by the school board.
I think that the idea of changing the SAT to something more difficult and challenging is unfair in a way to the people who have to take the harder SAT. If the people got into college taking the easier SAT then it would only be fair if the people who are trying to get into college now to take the easier one as well. It is understandable that they want to focus on other aspects in the SAT questions but it seems more reasonable for that to be something that was decided a long time ago when the SAT became a popular thing, rather than changing it at a random time. Although tutors are available to help, it still is a completely different test than before.
ReplyDeleteAubrey Koenigs
Period 6
I believe that changing the SAT is a bad idea. People just a year older had the opportunity to take an easier test and pretty much accomplishing the same thing. It wouldn't be fair for the students that have to take the new one especially because now its even harder to get into college. Even though we are learning a different way, it should stay the same for everyone.
ReplyDeleteNathanial Draper, Period. 5
I think the changing the SAT is very unfair. I don't think that they should be changing it now to all the common core stuff because we haven't been doing common core really until the past few years. People just one year ahead were able to take an easier test. Getting into college now is already hard enough so I don't think they needed to change it. At least "Most colleges plan to accept both the old and new SAT tests for a few years (Sacramento Bee)". This helps people who have already taken it but it says the last time to take the old one is in January.
ReplyDeleteI think changing the SAT is a poor idea. The whole new common core learning system is coming into place and it constantly requires students to use "critical thinking" instead of just memorizing material and regurgitation answers. Its good in some aspects, but also forces students to work in a different way they they're used to, which isn't necessarily how all people learn. Before the new changes to the learning system, it worked just fine. I don't really see why it is logical or fair to future classes, to be honest, to change the SAT. It wouldn't benefit us in any way.
ReplyDeleteHannah Miller, p2
It will be very interesting to see how the changes to the SAT affect the scores of students. The College Board "Decided last year that the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class, particularly as most states have adopted Common Core State Standards" (Lambert) shows that new common core standards are beginning to take a larger part in the education of children. However the question remains if those changes are beneficial or not. I believe that the idea of creating a nationwide standard is good, but the actions and methods of teaching have just created an unstable teaching environment. The SAT will be a good judge of if the common core standards are good, and it will provide a lot of information on the education in the United States.
ReplyDeleteLasse Nordahl Period 6
I believe changing the SAT was bad and good. I know that the Collage Board wanted the students to test on things that reflect on the things they learn in the classroom but, it was such a quick transition most students at certain schools weren't even warned of the new changes. "Most of the students who took the PSAT at George Washington Carver High in mid-October didn’t know that the test had changed, said Thomas, 15"(Lambert). I understand they want to change it up and focus on other topics but making it more challenging isn't fair to the students, especially with some that struggled already with the first one. They did make good changes here and there throughout the test. Some changes that i liked is the online test prep helping parents save money, more clues in the math portion, and less obscure words in the English portion. Since making the test more challenging those improvements will be helpful.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they should make the SAT harder. So much money will be used to change the SAT. Making it more challenging is not fair to the people that have not taken it before. The only positive thing I can think about this new SAT is that you only get points for the questions you get right.
ReplyDeleteI took the PSAT this year and the year before that and I saw a major change .The English potion was way more reading and took longer than usual. I feel like hanging the SAT will benefit the future students, due to the exposure to common core at a younger age. The class of 2017 has the option to take wither the old on or the new one. For the students who take the new SAT in the 2017 class will have a more difficult time. “This one caught me off guard. I didn’t expect it to be difficult. The math section is the one I struggled with the most.” This quote I can relate too as well, because of the tough math section.
ReplyDeleteAs a student, I don't like the fact that they changed up the SAT to be more challenging and harder for students. For some students, it angers them because it can effect their chances with getting into the college they really want to go to, by making the test harder. The changes the college board made was they "decided last year that the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class" ( Lambert). I will be taking it in March and will be expecting a hard test.
ReplyDeletePersonally I like the changes they are making to the SAT. As a student It was always hard for me to understand complex vocabulary words. With the the SAT this will no longer be a big problem "Among the biggest changes: Obscure vocabulary is no longer a primary focus. Now students must analyze text and show that they understand how the author uses words in passages." (Lambert). I think this new format reflects more of real life situations and how the real world is more thinking and problem solving instead of memorizing terms. I look forward to the opportunity to take this new SAT.
ReplyDelete- Zach Potter per 5
I think the SAT changing and becoming a harder test is not a good idea. The SAT is a big test and you need to be able to do your very best on it. They said it was going to be a better test because it was going to be more common core,but everyone that has talked about the PSAT said it was a harder test that they didnt understand as well. Also most parents do not know about the change when they are paying for there kids to go to tutors and getting ready for the test. "A survey by Kaplan Test Prep published in August showed that 85 percent of parents and college-bound students in the U.S. were unaware the SAT is changing. " I think you should be able to pick what test you would like to take because one might be easier for on person than another.
ReplyDeletethey are changing all the test to common core this is supposed to make the tests harder this could be a good or bad thing."The College Board, which administers the SAT, decided last year that the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class, particularly as most states have adopted Common Core State Standards" this shows how the collages want to see how well we do on a harder test and this also means that a lot of the people that take the test will begetting lower scores. so the school will be changing there grade average for the sat and they will let lower scores in. so this could be a good or bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that it is a good idea to change the SAT. The PSAT of the new test was actually harder than the PSAT from the previous year. I do not think that the test should be harder because it is already hard and long enough. Students need to do the best they can on this test. It is best if the SAT stayed the same.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the changing of the SAT leaves the now Jr. at a disadvantage. Because now instead of having the test they have learned everything since 1st grade now they are having to learn a whole new way that has only been thought to them for a year or two at most. While younger kids have more time to learn what it is about and are taught in that fashion.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be interesting to see how the new SAT compares to the old SAT. They mentioned the new SAT removing the obscure wording for English, which is very good. I believe there will be many positive and negative effects, including the scores. it will be very difficult for people who are still trying to adjust to the new common core teaching or if their school does not teach common core. They did call for a revising of the SAT, as they pointed out that "Fewer than half of the students who took the old SAT test were prepared to go to college and take entry-level courses without the need for remediation" (Sacramento Bee). That's very concerning, and if those were the true statistics then they really did need to change the SAT to better accommodate the students. I don't agree with it being longer and more difficult though, as it puts many Juniors like myself at a disadvantage for the test.
ReplyDelete"Students across the country are preparing for a new, more challenging SAT that will debut in March, the first major revision of the college admissions exam in a decade." WHY CHANGE IT NOW!? Personally common core infuriates me. It's they stupidest excuse for people to make more money. Because of this ridiculous change, schools had to completely restock all textbooks, and the person selling it is sitting back making bank while students are suffering. You can't just switch the method of learning more than half way through children's education. If you are going to use this dumb method, start from kindergarten. And don't change the SAT either, it's just mean.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I don't think that common core is bad. I just think it is bad when you introduce it to older students who haven't had to work with it throughout their school career. If you introduce common core to children in kindergarten then their experience with the matter won't be full of suffering because common core will be the only method of learning that they have ever been familiar with. It seems to me that introducing common core to kids in the middle of their school career is unfair and outrageous considering that these new learning concepts will make it harder for the student to adjust to the new methods of learning, which will then also make it harder for them to excel as a student. -Sabrina Shaw Per. 4
DeleteI don't think changing the SAT was a good idea. The new SAT should not be more difficult as the old SAT. Changing the way the test is organized and making it more difficult, will just cause more stress on students. It's unfair, because now there isn't as many prep books to will someone prepare, and the old books will be useless. There is no longer a penalty for incorrect answers (Sacramento Bee). I think that it's good that there's no penalty, because we get to see what we are good at.
ReplyDelete- Sheila Ordukhani per 2
I think that making the SAT more difficult is stupid. If people already have prep books for the SAT they are advised to not use them anymore because the tests are now “major changes”(Mitchell).The only thing I like so far is that there are no incorrect answers. They no longer count answers against you. Now that might just seem awesome, but they haven't pointed it out too much but that just means that you will not have those points. Even though you are no longer getting counted against, it will probably just get evened out because you still will not get those points.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Hulsing
Period 2
Changing the SAT is not the smartest idea. First, they already reinforce common core enough in class, there is no use to have it on the SAT. Having common core skills on the SAT make it way harder than the SAT has ever been. "Among the biggest changes: Obscure vocabulary is no longer a primary focus. Now students must analyze text and show that they understand how the author uses words in passages" (Sacreamento Bee). Second, people have been doing this same SAT for over a decade and there are many helpful prep books out there, that students can no longer use. Third, I do not like the fact that it is changing other tests too, including the PSAT and increasing the number of people taking the ACT. Changing the SAT is just going to make colleges rethink their admission requirements.
ReplyDeleteEmily Bobrowsky- Period 1
Changing the SAT is not a good idea at all, they have already enforced common core upon us in the classroom and my transition was tough. I went from all A's to A's B's and a C. If the SAT were to change i doubt i would be be able to keep up with the new changes of the tough common core. People should just throw away their SAT books because there are "major changes" (Mitchell). This will mess up some peoples college aspirations.
ReplyDeleteMaking the SAT harder is not a good idea. It makes people even more angry because they already didn't like or thought the SAT was hard and now it is being changed. The new SAT is changing the thought of a college someone wants to go too and is making some people hate the SAT because of their college in mind."decided last year that the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class" ( Lambert) The College board is saying that the Sat should be more of what we learn in school and that is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteChanging the SAT is a bad idea because we now have to try and keep up with the new common core. There has already been many peoples grade drop because of common core and making the SAT harder will not help only causing more people to stress and over think problems. Also making the SAT harder can cause people not to get into a good college and rally let them down. Hopefully they decide to change there mind about changing the SAT and think of the greater good.
ReplyDeleteChristian Hudson
Period 2
I think that it would not be the best idea to change the SAT. Most of the schools have moved into common core to help the devolving of kids learning. Many of the kids though are struggling. "There were some people around that were struggling" (Sacramento Bee). I think that people expected us to be able to jump into something new and get it right away. It is really hard for me at first to get common core. I think that it is not right for SAT to change.
ReplyDeleteKaci Pebley Per. 2
Changing the SAT is going to screw up everyone. Think of the juniors that just took the PSAT last year. When they take it this year it will be completely different and this could affect them not getting into a good college because of their SAT score. Julie Lam, 16, says, “This one caught me off guard. I didn’t expect it to be difficult. The math section is the one I struggled with the most.” Julia is an honors student and said that the test last year wasn't too hard and she said that this one caught her off guard. Imagine what this test will be like for the average ranking students.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the ruling of changing the SAT. Common Core is supposed to help kids develop when it is actually causing them to have more trouble with math. A 16 year old honors student named Julie Lam says, "This one caught me off guard. I didn't expect it to be difficult". This shows that with the hardening of the SAT and standards for college, less and less kids will be successful. What was wrong with the old SAT that made them change it so dramatically?
ReplyDeleteAlthough the change in the SAT may be more difficult, I think it is somewhat fair because Diana Lambert explained, "There is no longer a penalty for incorrect answers". This means that there is not penalty for taking a guess on certain questions. However I do not think that they should increase the overall difficulty of a test that had been administered for so long. The what was wrong with the old test? Why do they need to change it? It just seems as if these questions aren't being answered and it is as if students are being experimented on more than taking a standardized test. Ryan Brown Period 2
ReplyDeleteI think its not right to change the SAT, only because for so many years everyone has had their education based off of everything from the SAT and now everyone is going to have to learn everything new. On the other hand, it may not be such a horrible change because "there is no longer a penalty for incorrect answers". If there is nothing wrong with the old SAT, why would someone change it to make it just a difficult, more challenging test?
ReplyDeleteAlle Turk P4
I dont think that it was necessary to change the SAT. We have been taught for so many years off of content to prepare us for that test and I think it was uncalled for to create an entirely new one. I would be very upset if I had already taken the SAT in junior year because that was meant to prepare you for the next one, but it will be completely different. Although it is nice that "There is no longer a penalty for incorrect answers", this new system is unnecessary and a bit too experimental.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't think that it is a good idea to change the SAT. Because we are already going through common core, which I already am not a fan of, I think that it is not necessary for schools to be changing this as well. If they change the SAT, we will have to go under a new learning system, which is going to be very rough for students. Common core was expected to improve students learning skills. But it is doing the exact opposite in my opinion. In general, I think that the SAT should not be changed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Matthew because common core has already made it so much harder for people who were not used to its type of learning. If they changed the SAT to make it harder then it would put an even bigger work load on people who take hard classes. Common core is improving peoples learning but it takes so much more work so in my opinion we should go back to the old way of learning. Overall the SAT should not change and stay exactly the same.
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ReplyDeleteI don't think changing the SAT is the smartest decision. Common core is forced upon us (students) enough as is, and designing it into the SAT will do nothing but hurt most of the students grades. Common core is there to make students think a little more then usual and by doing so, some people are not understanding or fully capable of answering the question, "There were some people around that were struggling" (Sacramento Bee) By putting common core on the test and going out of their way to completely change the SAT, they are hurting most students.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely ridiculous that they should up the difficulty on the SAT. Some of the things that we learn in high school, our parents didn't learn until college. They stress the students and they are sometimes learning stuff that they aren't prepared to learn. We shouldn't expect them to get into good schools when we completely change the test from what they're used to learning. "This one caught me off guard. I didn’t expect it to be difficult."
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't like this because of the new common core standardized testing now these days because they are making it harder for students to take the test. They have to not only take the test, but to explain how they are doing their work. I understand in math that they do this because it is basic problem solving and equations, but don't understand how you could do it in any other subject. This is why the SAT s are harder and students might not perform well with this new common core. It is very important that they pass the PSAT s because it gets them ready for the SAT s so then they could get into college by passing them. They really should not change the SAT s because common core is already putting pressure on students, as well as parents. Brandon Marshall Period 4
ReplyDeleteI personally think that making the SAT harder is only a bad thing. Making the SAT harder is not smart because students already have a tough enough time with standardized testing. There is already so much pressure that comes with the SAT that include being judged by people if your score isn't high as well as not being able to get into a college you want to. The only good thing about this is stated by Diana Lambert, "There is no longer a penalty for incorrect answers".
ReplyDeleteThe common core they just switched us to is already affecting kids in good and bad ways. We have knew books and homework to match it. Honestly from my perception I think the common core is harder and the SAT will be the same amount of difficulty depending on how yo do with the new common core. We are learning totally new things than our relatives have learned in the past. I disagree with there idea of upping the difficulty of the SAT tests. ¨There were some people around that were struggling¨ (Sacramento Bee). With that said they shouldn't be upping the difficulty it should stay the same as it has been. That way the kids struggling cant study with there parents or older siblings and get a good test score not have to study something people don't know. In my opinion its a little unfair.
ReplyDeleteI believe they shouldn't change the SAT because it's too late. So many kids have already taken it and it wouldn't be completely fair for the rest of the students if they were to make it harder. Also some of the students grades may drop which won't help them. Students may stress out about it too much, it further explains more, “There were some people around who were struggling” (Sacramento Bee).
ReplyDeletePersonally, i believe that the SAT should not be made any harder than it is. The SAT is hard enough and stressful enough as is, and if we make it harder we will just be making it so much worse on the students taking the test. This will do nothing, but put a toll on a lot of kids grades.
ReplyDeleteI believe that making the SAT harder would only effect kids more in a negative way. Many kids already stress out over SAT's and other things, so changing the SAT would most likely end up with lower scores. ¨There were some people around that were struggling¨ (Sacramento Bee). Students are struggling already and there is no reason to make it harder. By changing the SAT and adding common core, it would only hurt students' grades and add more stress.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the SAT needs to be any harder. Students already have such a stressful experience with the current SAT. The SAT isn't necessarily something you can study for, they give you a packet of problems that might be on the test. It is not exact which puts students under even more stress. More and More people will struggle with the test. This really benefits no one.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think they shouldn't have a new SAT. In article it said "The College Board, which administers the SAT, decided last year that the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class, particularly as most states have adopted Common Core State Standards." (DIANA LAMBERT), since there are some states getting use of Common Core I don't think new SAT is going to help, especially since most colleges look at the student's SAT scores. I think they should maybe focus on one thing at a time, like for example getting more states to adapt to Common Core.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree with the idea of a harder SAT. It is already known as the hardest, most stressful test that High School students take and it shouldn't be more rigorous. If they follow through with this new test, kids are going to be doing more than just whispering "What does this mean?" (Diana Lambert). This is such an important topic and I hope we get the right resolution out of all this.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the decision to make the SAT more difficult at all. Everyone knows the SAT as to be the most stressful and mot difficult test out there, why make it more challenging? Changing the SAT to make it more difficult will just put more stress on students who are about to take the test, and they have enough stress without it.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree with the SAT becoming harder. But I do have to say the new English part doesn't bug me as much becuase "the English portion has lengthier passages but includes less obscure words that are more commonly used in high school and college". Although it is much longer, the vocabulary isn't as hard as it used to be. I strongly disagree with the new math put on the SAT: math will focus on problem solving, data analysis and algebra". Math is already hard enough for some students, i don't think it should have been made harder. Overall I strongly disagree with the new SAT.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying because kids are already stressed out enough as it is with school and studying for the SAT. Many students still have a difficult time with the SAT as it is so why make it harder so more kids will get lower scores and have a harder time getting into a nice college.
DeleteI highly disagree with a harder SAT. The test is already stressful and challenging. Changing it and making it more challenging will just give students more stress. "don't use old prep books, these are major changes" (Sac Bee). This quote states that we will have to learn new material for the SAT which will just make student and teachers have to learn new curriculums. I think the change in the SAT is unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI ,like many of my fellow classmates, completely disagree with the decision to make the SAT Testing harder. Students today are stressed out enough between academics, sports, extracurricular activities and social lives. I also don't think that it is fair for them to make the SAT harder randomly, students have been preparing and studying for a ceratain form of the test for a long time and changing the whole test seems unfair and doesn't seem like a very good idea in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSarah Moghaddam period 1
There is absolutely no point in making the SAT harder. The article states, "There were some around that were struggling" (Sacramento Bee). From my own experience, I thought the PSAT was very opinionated, often times very similar answers that both could be correct. Making the SAT harder, along with common core, provides no positive impact as kids already face enough work through K-12.
ReplyDeleteI am okay with the fact that the College Board has changed the SAT. They claim that "the test needed to better reflect what students are learning in class, particularly as most states have adopted Common Core State Standards"(Lambert). Since they already changed the "teaching style" or way of teaching to common core, why not change the SAT to reflect that? Even though the test may be harder, it could get us more ready for college. I also like the fact that "the College Board has partnered for the first time with Khan Academy to provide free, extensive SAT prep online"(Lambert). I think this is a great way to get kids ready for the SAT in an effective way that everyone has access to. It could definitely help to give all kids the same help, and advantage in preparing for the test. I may even use this online prep if it is available when I am studying for the SAT!
ReplyDeleteRenee Gibson, period 2
I think that it is very unfair that they change the SAT this year. OR should offer the option for students to take the old or the new PSAT. I took the PSAT and it was very difficult, so I am nervous about the SAT. Its is weird that schools are choosing to change the SAT now, past students had an easier test, and now we are stuck with the harder one.
ReplyDeleteI think that it unfair if they make the SAT harder because students before had it easier. It doesn't give the same challenge
ReplyDeleteChanging the SAT to make it harder is a bad decision. There are some people who believe that the SAT isn't hard but there are many students that have to study into late hours of the night and stress out over one test. If the SAT is going to change to be harder on kids, they will just score even lower on the test. I don't believe one test score should decide whether you get into college or not. The article says, "Some students who know about the change are considering taking the old SAT before the end of January." (Lambert 1), which is showing that students who have to take the SAT do not want it to be harder because it will jeopardize their grade and if they get into college.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Hum Period 1
I think that changing th SAT is not a very smart idea. With tests and everything implementing common core, I think that makes it hard enough. Not only is that only a real struggle as it is, but changing the SAT to more difficult standards could really imply the wrong idea for some students. As in maybe showing that they didn't get the average score. In reality though, the Test is harder and more challenging for students to do better on it. All in all I don't think they should change it or make it harder, it would on stress out students and parents even more for preparing for such a test like this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is fair to now all of the sudden change the SAT completely and make the kids that have to take it soon, have to take the completely new and harder one. It can maybe help in some ways but to change it now of all times doesn't seem like the best time. Now all of the juniors from now will never know how it use to be and will have to study ten times harder because they are making it more difficult.
ReplyDeleteMaking the SAT more difficult is very unfair. People should not be set to different standards. Increasing the difficulty of the test would cause many issues. Doing this would only cause more stress for students. Students of the past should be prepared for college so why is there a need for change? Making the SAT harder will cause students to study more than pothers due to the changes, that would be unfair.
ReplyDeleteI think its a good idea to change the SAT like this. If it helps get students prepared for the future, and if the problem that some people have with the change is money, there are other options. "The free online test prep could offer some relief to parents who have had to shell out hundreds, even thousands of dollars for SAT and PSAT test prep,"(Sac Bee). All in all, I believe it is a good idea to change the SAT so that students can be more prepared for college and the future.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the idea of changing the SAT to be more difficult. The current SAT already puts a large amount stress on students. Making the SAT more difficult will add even more stress and have a negative effect on students scores and grades. Also the current juniors who have studied for the old SAT will have to study even harder for the new SAT which adds even more stress and work than there already is.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that changing the SAT will be beneficial towards students education. Common core has already become an extremely large part of our learning. And I am not fond of it.
ReplyDeleteWe "must analyze text and show that...[we]...understand how the author uses words in passages, and it is difficult. Grades, GPAs, and SAT test scores play a huge part in determining our futures, and if it is proven that intelligent students are struggling with this new style of teaching, then it should be removed. -Sydney Crozier period 2
I don't even know why the SAT was changed. After taking the brand new PSAT and taking the ACT, I don't see much a difference in the two except for the extra subject on the ACT which is science. I know schools are going towards more common core and the ACT is what tests you on that. On the other hand, I can see why the SAT wants to move in a more common core direction in the way they word their questions. The SAT also wants more colleges to look at SAT scores than more ACT scores because most schools on the east coast are looking more at the ACT rather than the SAT. The SAT is for certain group of people and the ACT is for another group of people. There is no reason to make the SAT more like the ACT.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that the SAT should be changing. Common core is stressful enough and with these drastic changes to the SAT, stress is only going to increase.In addition, juniors that have prepared and studied for the old SAT are going to be in even more stress because of these changes. On the positive side, I'm glad that some places are leveling out the playing field and providing free online SAT prep coursework.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that changing the SAT has a negative affect on students. It should be a normal thing for curriculum and tests to be changed as years go by. If people are so concerned about the SAT becoming harder they should have been more prepared and signed up for the old SAT because colleges will be accepting those shoes for the 2017 class. The major bonus of the new changes is the free online prep work! If students are better prepared....maybe it will not be as hard as you think?
ReplyDeleteAlexis Miller period 6
I think that it unfair if they make the SAT harder because students who took the test before all the new people did had it a lot easier. common core is hard enough to deal with already, so there's not really a need to make it even harder than it already is. Making the SAT harder, along with common core, provides no positive impact as kids already face enough work through K-12.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they should make the SAT harder. So much money will be used to change the SAT. Making it more challenging is not fair to the people that have not taken it before. The only positive thing I can think about this new SAT is that you only get points for the questions you get right.
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