By Lauren Posego, Assistant News Editor

For the first time since 2005, the SAT is being revised. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a college admission test run by College Board. On March 5, 2014, the College Board announced that a redesigned version of the test will be given starting in March 2016, so this will affect students who are a sophomores or younger. The designers of the test feel that this version will correspond with Common Core Standards for math and reading benchmarks better, and will be more aligned with what is taught in school.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I hope it will be a better predictor of our ability and I hope Saegertown kids will be able to do better on it so we can raise our scores to be compatible to the national average,” said sophomore Sydney Kightlinger. Many changes have been made to improve to test.

Currently, the test is 3 hours and 45 minutes with a mandatory essay. It features five answers choices, a 400-2400 scale range, and deductions for wrong answers with sections including writing, critical reading, mathematics, and an essay.

The revised version will be 3 hours with an optional 50 minute essay. It will be based on a 400-1600 scale range, and the answer choices will be reduced from 5 to 4. The sections include evidence-based reading, math, and an optional essay; there will be no deduction for wrong answers. In an effort to incorporate history into the test, at least one reading passage will be about a historical event in American history. “I think that this new test will relieve some stress for me because it seems easier. Hopefully I’ll do well on it,” said sophomore Morgan Kightlinger.

In addition to this revised test, College Board is also introducing a new PSAT which will launch in October 2015. Its revision will comply better with the new SAT.

Find out more about the revised SAT at https://www.collegeboard.org/delivering-opportunity/sat/redesign