Trial of digital SATs deemed a success

Sayde Feeley

News Editor

For the first time in Maine South history, students were given the opportunity to take the Digital SAT. College Board conducted a free trial on Sept. 24, 2022, to oversee the administration of the test digitally. All Maine South seniors who had signed up for Aug. 27 or Oct. 8 SATs were given the opportunity. As incentive for contributing, not only could students choose to submit their digital score in college applications, they could choose between a $50 gift card or a full refund on their last SAT.

Participants were sent to Glenbrook South where they were instructed to bring their own Chromebook or personal computer for testing. There, students needed to log in with their own information and be individually checked by administrators.

“The process leading up to the test took awhile because we had some tech issues, but because it was a pilot, it was meant for College Board to work out those issues,” senior Macy Muellner, a participant in the trial, said.

Students also had to download an app on which to take the exam, causing more problems.

“It was hard to download the software device onto my Chromebook and a lot of other kids had to be given a secondary device in order for it to work,” Muellner said.

College Board continues to work through these complications and will be introducing the role of a technology coordinator at future testing sites.

Once all students had successfully started the exam, the process went much more smoothly. The Digital SAT was composed of a Reading and Math section, with a short break in between, similar to the original paper and pencil test. Students only had to click an answer, though, instead of physically bubbling in a letter.

“The test went by a lot quicker for me,” senior Sara Mietus, another test participant, said. “For Reading, I usually go right up to the deadline, but I actually had extra time, and for Math, I had almost every question finished halfway through.”

This extra time students had to go over earlier questions or organize their thoughts caused many to feel less pressure during the exam, too.

“A big part of that extra time was I didn’t have to bubble in answers,” Mietus said. “It made me more confident in my answers because sometimes I worry that I mis-bubbled or that there were too many C’s or B’s in a row. With the ESAT, though, you just click and move on.”

Some students also felt that the online test’s overall material was slightly easier than the paper and pencil form, especially in the Math section. All these benefits have caused Digital SAT scores to trend slightly higher than paper exams for many participants.

After the success of similar trials nationwide, College Board hopes to make a full transition to the Digital SAT. Students have mixed feelings about this development though.

“Although I would choose to take the ESAT again, I think they should definitely keep the option to take both, just because some people prefer taking notes on paper,” Muellner said.

Starting in the fall of 2023, all PSATs will be given online to familiarize students with the digital testing experience. Afterwards, all SATs will be administered on computers by 2024. Original paper and pencil tests will still be offered to test takers, but only for specific circumstances or needs.