Katy ISD held four community meetings in May to introduce parents and students to the redesigned SAT, which replaces the existing test in March 2016. Sophomores and juniors scheduled to take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in October 2015 will take the redesigned test.

[caption id="attachment_68032" align="alignright" width="460"] Comparison of test length and timing:
Current SAT vs. Redesigned SAT[/caption]

What's new?

• There is no longer a need to memorize definitions. Vocabulary knowledge is tested in the context of relevant words found in career and business passages.

• Students will use a range of graphics and paragraphs to analyze and synthesize information.

• The new essay will be a persuasive argument based on a given passage and will be optional as individual colleges may choose not to factor essay scores into admissions decisions.

• Math problems will focus on three key areas, including problem solving and data analysis, “heart of algebra” linear equations and complex equation manipulation.

• All questions will be based on real-world college and career scenarios.

• Texts and graphics will incorporate science, history and social science contexts that encourage students to analyze global events, scientific discoveries and health and environmental issues.

• Passages from U.S. founding documents and excerpts from speeches by global authors, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, will be incorporated to encourage reflection on themes of freedom and justice.

• There will be no penalty for wrong answers, so students are encouraged to provide thoughtful answers rather than best guesses.