College Board, the privately owned non-profit and creators of the SAT and AP (Advanced Placement) programs, is switching PSATs and SATs to a completely digital form. Students taking the PSAT this fall are having it digital now so they can be prepared for the digital SAT this spring. Not only is the SAT digital, but there are options to take AP tests digitally right now though it is not yet enforced as the only option.  

¨The test is easier to take, shorter, has more time per question, and comes with a built-in calculator,¨ said College Board responding to how the test has been changed.

So how will this affect students? One of the changes is that the testing time is shorter. It is estimated to be around two hours instead of three. As for accessibility, if a student does not have a device to take the SAT the ¨College Board¨ will have requests open to borrow a device as they have done in the past. In addition, scores will be out much sooner than before they are estimated to be a few days rather than almost 2 weeks. It seems that there are not that many downsides to the digital SAT as it also helps relieve test fatigue. But why are they changing it?

 ¨Students are now doing more of their learning and testing digitally, and the SAT shouldn’t be the exception,” said College Board on standardizing their tests.