New York City Students Get Early Crack at New SAT Exam

Two years after the College Board announced major changes to the SAT, high school juniors are looking to this Saturday, when the new exam debuts across the country. But some New York teenagers got the test early and have this advice for their peers: 

"I would really recommend to bring a granola bar," said Noland Navarro. "And also a watch."

"Don't rush," said Abigail Afoakwah, and focus on questions that you know you can answer, since only correct answers will be scored.

"Use all your strategies," said Ricardo Rivera. "Go back and review your notes," he said, so that things are fresh in your brain.

"Try not to psychologically psych yourself out," said Jordan Chin. "Because when you overthink something, then you end up messing up."

The students from the Business of Sports School participated in a pilot program for approximately 15,000 New York City students who took the SAT during the school day for free. Students in several other states and some urban districts, including Tampa, Dallas, Forth Worth and San Jose, had the same opportunity this week, according to the College Board. 

Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced the initiative in October, saying the SAT would be offered to students at more than 90 schools this year. Next year, high school juniors citywide will have the opportunity to take the test during school.

For the students who got a first shot this week, a weight was lifted.

"I came prepared and I attacked this test," said Shirif Saka, a Business of Sports School junior.

Saka said he and some classmates made flashcards of math formulas, took practice exams after school and on the weekends and studied vocabulary. The hardest part about the test, they all agreed, was pacing themselves.

"Timing is key," said Poopar Namkaew. "Make sure you have a certain amount of time for each section and each question."

The new three-hour SAT has more emphasis on reading. The essay is optional. Only correct answers will be scored, so students are not penalized for guessing. And the test will no longer focus on obscure vocabulary words, in favor of testing students on vocabulary in context (if this last change upsets you, then you will enjoy the College Board's homage to anachronistic verbiage on the test.)

To learn more about how the SAT has changed over the decades, the NPR education team provided this quiz.