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New version of SAT limits math, expands to digital

College Board President David Coleman attends an announcement event Wednesday in Austin, Texas, where College Board officials announced updates for the SAT. (Associated Press)

Changes coming in 2016 to the SAT:

• No more extra penalties for wrong answers.

• Essay portion will be optional.

• Score scale will be 1,600 with a separate score for the essay compared to today’s possible total of 2,400.

• Can be taken in either paper or digital form, not just by using a pencil.

• Will include a passage drawn from “founding documents” such as the Declaration of Independence or from discussions they inspire.

• Calculators will be permitted only on certain portions of the math section, not on the entire section.

• Students will be asked to analyze both text and data in real-world contexts instead of answering questions that don’t require that.

• Vocabulary words more widely used in classroom and work settings will replace more obscure vocabulary words.

• Essays will measure students’ ability to analyze evidence and explain how an author builds an argument, not just students’ ability to construct an argument.

• The math section will draw from fewer topics instead of a wide range.

Associated Press