SAT 1600 doesn’t contain that much of a Vocab of the old SAT 2400:
Reading Section is much easier as a result, the Math section is now focusing more on Algebraic questions. However, the Writing section is more of a challenge.
My only wonder now is whether I should continue to cram vocab for the old SAT 2400 or begin to study the new format of SAT 1600.
Tks for your opinions and advices!
Well which one are you planning on taking? Have you taken any practice tests yet? If so, how were your scores?
I’m looking into the same question on behalf of my daughter, who is also a HS sophomore right now.
In her case, there are a couple factors weighing in favor of taking the current version:
(1) She already took the current SAT in 7th grade (for CTY) and did quite well for her age (and the relatively limited 2 weekends of afternoon studying) – she got a 640M, 630CR, 570W (even though she took the writing section completely cold). So, it seems to me that she’s got a bit of a knack for this test and she’s somewhat familiar with it.
(2) Her brother (a senior right now) just went through this process over the past 2 years. We (as a family) own a number of test-prep books based on the current test.
The other factors in favor of taking the current version apply to all sophomores, I think:
(3) While there are tons of resources and prior tests available for the current SAT, there are VERY limited resources available with respect to the new SAT;
(4) Having worked for many years out in the world, it’s my guesstimate that any number of things can go wrong on the implementation of a new test and they likely will. It could have bad or ambiguous questions. They could get the timing wrong. Who knows what could happen. I don’t think I’d want my daughter in that guinnea pig test group, when these tests are so important.
(5) My daughter was a strong test-taker for the current form SAT. From what I understand, the new SAT will be more like the ACT. I also understand that many students tend to test better in one exam type than the other. So, I wonder if the new SAT will play less to her strengths (reasoning and analysis versus memorization).
For all of those reasons, we’re planning on having her study hard for the SAT this summer and then take the test this coming fall and as late as January 2016. Hopefully, her score will be high enough that she can relax and either take or not take the new SAT, depending on her mood / whim. She can focus on APs / subject tests instead in the spring.
Would appreciate any feedback regarding that proposed approach.