Audrey Keller

For the digital SAT, junior Michelle Chen studies in the Upper Commons. Beginning March 9, 2024, the SAT will be digital. “Once the exam is over and we get a couple of years of data, we’ll really see what the advantages or disadvantages are as far as test scores,” Test Coordinator Jessica Brawner said.

Starting March 9, 2024, the SAT will be completely online.

The PSAT, however, has been digital since the fall of 2023.

Sophomore Michelle Chen recently took the PSAT and appreciates the change.

“I was like, oh, [the PSAT is] on the computer? I’ll roll with it,” Chen said.

Lafayette Test Coordinator Jessica Brawner holds the same opinion.

“I think students are more familiar with working on their homework and assessments on their computers than they are in paper-pencil format,” Brawner said.

In order to take the test students need to bring a charged, working Chromebook with the Bluebook application installed. Brawner also said that scratch paper, pencils and calculators are allowed during the test. 

“If your Chromebook starts acting up, don’t ignore it. If you have to put in a tech ticket, it could take a while,” Brawner said.

Accommodations such as extended time or a paper test will still be provided to students who require them.

The testing application Bluebook also provides a variety of resources to students. 

There are more SAT alterations, creating differences between the paper and digital tests.

One change in particular is the module system, which affects test scoring.

Scores will still be out of 1600. Though, according to the College Board, “the difficulty level and other qualities of each question—as well as whether the student got the question right or wrong—are taken into account when calculating a student’s score.”

According to the College Board website, each test section is divided into two modules, “the first module contains a broad mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Based on how students perform on the first module, the second module of questions will either be more difficult or less difficult.”

To prepare students for this shift, College Board moved the PSAT online first to allow underclassmen to familiarize themselves with the testing format.

College Board said they will release more details in the future. Currently, SAT-related information can be found on their website.