College entrance exam changes scoring and makes essays optional
When current high school freshmen take the SAT tests in 2016 and beyond they will encounter a redesigned test focused on eight key changes, according to College Board, a not-for-profit organization in charge of the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. Changes include:
- Relevant words in context
- Command of evidence
- Essay analyzing a source
- Focus on math that matters most
- Problems grounded in real-world contexts
- Analysis in science and history/social studies
- Founding documents and great global conversation
- No penalty for wrong answers
Along with the eight key changes the scoring system has been changed from a possible maximum score of 2400800 for math, 800 for reading comprehension and 800 for writingto 1600 with the essay section of the test being optional.
The newest changes negate some of the previous updates made to the test in 2005 when the essay section was introduced and the maximum score was increased from 1600 to 2400.
The changes to the SAT pretty much fall in line with our changes in the [Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills state curriculum] reflected in our [English, language arts and reading] courses, said Don Wise, Georgetown ISD director of high school curriculum.
