Admit This! (College Confidential): “The New SAT: What Test Takers Think”
CNN.com: “The new SAT: The verdict is –“
Inside Higher Ed: “New SAT Launches”
The Chronicle of Higher Education: “What Students Said Right After Taking the New SAT”
Education Week: “SAT Test-Taking Declines in Settings Not Sponsored by States or Districts”
POLITICO: “ESSA spurs states to consider innovative tests”
Neighbor Newspapers: “Survey: Most students find new SAT straightforward”
New SAT Experience Prompts Some Students Who Hadn’t Planned on Taking the ACT® to Reconsider
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)
Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT
New York, NY (March 7, 2016) — A Kaplan Test Prep survey of over 500 teens who took the first administration of the new SAT on March 5 found that most students (59%) generally gave the exam solid marks for having questions that were straightforward and easy to follow, though most (58%) also said they found the length of the sections tiring.* And despite the change in the essay becoming optional, 85% of students opted to complete it.
The survey also found that 56% of new SAT takers had either already taken the ACT, the other major college admissions exam, as well, or were planning to do so — but an additional 17% of test takers who were not previously planning to take the ACT said taking the new SAT prompted them to consider changing plans.
“An ongoing trend we’ve seen throughout the past few admissions cycles is the shift towards a two-test landscape, and what’s interesting is that even as some of the changes to the SAT make it more ACT-like, more students are taking both tests or considering the ACT option,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “Students have been recognizing that they have more than one test option, and the shakeup caused by the SAT redesign has furthered this recognition.”
Overall, SAT takers felt that the difficulty level of the new test fell in line with their expectations: 48% said the test was about what they expected; 30% felt the test was more difficult; and 22% felt the test was less difficult than expected. However, despite the fact that a higher percentage (41%) found the Math section more difficult than expected, the new limitation on calculator use did not seem to faze a majority of SAT takers; 56% said they felt comfortable doing math without a calculator.
When asked whether the new SAT reflected what they have learned in high school, 16% responded “Very much so,” while 56% responded “Somewhat.” Twenty-three percent responded “Not too much” and 5% responded “Not at all.”
To schedule an interview with a Kaplan Test Prep expert about the new SAT and the survey, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
For hi-res photos and B-roll of students preparing for and taking a practice test, editable video interview clips addressing new SAT FAQs, downloadable SAT sample questions and other call-outs, go to http://www.kaptest.com/sat/kaplan-sat-prep/sat-pr-press-kit.
*Based on the results of an e-survey of 521 students who took the SAT on March 5, 2016.
SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.
About Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. Additionally, Kaplan offers new economy skills training (NEST) programs and resources designed to provide training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.
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The Christian Science Monitor: Redesigned SAT: “Will it broaden more students’ college horizons?”
The Spokesman-Review: “Revamped SAT test debuts Saturday”
The Boston Globe: “New SAT paying off for test-prep industry”
Newsday: “High school juniors across LI poised to take revamped SAT”
CBS – Augusta, GA: “The SAT is changing in a big way with a new format and scoring method”
GoodCall: “40% of College Admissions Officers Check Applicants’ Social Media Accounts”
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)
Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT
Interviews with Experts, Photos and B-Roll Available at www.satchange.com
New York, NY (March 1, 2016) — This Saturday, hundreds of thousands of teens across the country will undertake the first administration of a redesigned SAT — the first time the test has changed since 2005. What are the changes? How significant are they? Kaplan Test Prep, the world leader in test preparation, has helped hundreds of thousands of students through dozens of test changes, and its experts can provide context, including:
Based on questions and comments from the thousands of teens who attended a February 21 all-day, live online SAT Prepathon (www.kaptest.com/sat/prepathon), students across the country are anxious about the upcoming test.
For journalists who will be covering this rite of passage for college-bound teens, taken by 1.7 million students across the country last year, Kaplan can provide expert perspective and resources. To schedule a TV, newspaper, blog, or radio interview with a Kaplan Test Prep expert about the new SAT, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
For hi-res photos and B-roll of students preparing for and taking a practice test, editable video interview clips addressing new SAT FAQ, downloadable SAT sample questions and other call-outs, go to www.satchange.com.
SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.
About Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. Additionally, Kaplan offers new economy skills training (NEST) programs and resources designed to provide training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.
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