see that a math problem is TWO PARAGRAPHS long. Again, the bark here is
worse than the bite. In some ways, the detailed, minutely explained problems are
clearer than the shorter SAT problems of yesteryear. But pay attention during our
Reading chapter. The same reading skills discussed there also apply to the new,
wordy Math section.
There is also increased emphasis on science, history, and social studies—and
a lot more infographics. While the old SAT included a variety of types of
reading passages, they did not draw from natural science texts or include charts
and graphs. Nor did they tend to be actual historical documents. Don’t be
surprised to see passages in the new reading test that include infographics, or
excerpts from documents like The Federalist Papers. (The good news is that you
aren’t expected to be familiar with these documents.)
Finally, the new optional Essay asks you to analyze, rather than emote or
philosophize. The old SAT Essay asked students to answer very broad questions,
like “Is violence ever justified?” and students were expected to write about their
own ideas. The new, now “optional” (more on that in Chapter 6) Essay will
provide you with a passage and ask you to analyze it. What claim is the author
making? How does the author establish this claim? What evidence is used?
The big idea here is that the new SAT wants students to use the same kinds of
skills they will use in college. When you sit down in Anthropology 101, the
professor will not say, “Do you think violence is ever justified? Write a five-
paragraph response in twenty-five minutes. Go!” What the professor will do is
give you (a ton of) reading and ask you to analyze it. With every change to the
test, the College Board has college readiness firmly in mind. Will the new test
achieve this goal? Only time will tell.