By Evan Bailyn

In March 2005, the SAT changed. The College Board decided to make these changes after several years of research, feedback, and heated discussion. The new test is the result of college admissions officers, professors, counselors, and parents asking for a better determinant of a college applicant's chances of academic success.

What's Different

There are three sections instead of two. The biggest change, the new writing test, includes grammar questions and an essay. A critical reading section replaces the old verbal section, and analogies have been dropped. As for the math section, algebra II questions were added to the current geometry and algebra I questions, covering three years of high school math instead of two.

Writing

• There are three parts. The first consists of multiple-choice grammar or usage questions. These involve finding errors or ways to improve a sentence or paragraph. You only have to identify the errors, not correct them.
  
• The second part asks you to pick the best version of a section of a sentence. All the possible answers may be correct, but only one will be the clearest way of expressing the underlined part.
  
• The third part is a 20 minute timed essay. The topic varies from exam to exam. It may ask your opinion on an issue or why you agree or disagree with a statement. Your essay will be scored on whether or not it sticks to the topic, how well it is organized, how appropriate your examples are, and how fairly you address other points of view.

Critical Reading (Formerly Verbal

• Short reading passages replace analogies. Once you read the new short passages you are asked to choose the most correct explanation of a word, phrase or idea in the passage. Longer reading passages remain the same.

Math

• The math section includes questions on material taught in algebra II, such as matrices, absolute value, rational equations, rational inequalities, radical equations, and geometric notation. You can use a calculator.
  
• The math section no longer has questions comparing quantities, such as the volumes of two three-dimensional objects.
  
• Some math questions require you to provide your own answer, and more than one may be correct.
  

Note: The PSAT has also changed. The test given in fall 2004 included changes that parallel changes to the SAT I. However, there is no essay, and the math portion does not cover algebra II.

>>Back To Articles about applying to College