3 Ways to Attack the New Digital SAT® Reading and Writing Modules
In both taking the College Board’s new digital SAT® practice tests many times now, and in working on creating new digital SAT®-aligned tests of our own, we’ve cultivated some game-changing strategies that will help test takers dominate the new test version.
One of the most important strategies in taking any test is deciding in what order to tackle the questions.
Just like the paper version of the SAT®, digital SAT® test takers can work through each module in any order they like. This means that test takers can take the test in straight order—questions 1 through 27 for each module—or they can skip questions, flag them, and return to them later (we’ll dive into our suggested strategies for doing this in a bit).
Unlike the paper SAT®, digital test takers don’t have to worry about bubbling in the right answers as they jump around through a section. The new computerized format allows test takers to focus and answer solely on the question right in front of them. This means no more mass erasures when they realize their questions and answer sheet bubbles are off by a number!
The Pros and Cons of 3 Different Digital SAT® Approaches
There are basically 3 ways to effectively attack the new digital SAT® Reading and Writing modules. We’ve noted the pros and cons (if any) of each option, so you can better support your clients as they consider and choose the strategy that works best for them.
Option 1: Take the Test Straight
I’m going to be honest, this really isn’t exactly a strategy that requires a lot of explanation. There’s nothing for test takers to really remember if they choose to take the test in question order, but it is worth noting what they can expect if they choose this option.
Pro: The new digital SAT® Reading and Writing modules are fairly predictable. Each module flows through each of the domains in the same order, every time.
Domain: Craft and Structure
Domain: Information and Ideas
Domain: Standard English Conventions
Domain: Expression of Ideas
The four digital SAT® R&W domains will appear in this same order, for every R&W module, every time. This predictability makes taking the test in order simple and straightforward.
So, why consider a different strategy? Why not keep it simple?
Con: Because choosing this strategy is not ideal. Test takers will undoubtedly spend far too much time on challenging (read: time-eating) questions when their time would have been better spent knocking out the easier (read: easy points!) questions first.
Option 2: Grab the Low-Hanging Fruit
In this strategy, test takers skip any questions they deem too hard, and crush the easy questions, first.
Pro: Compared to “Option 1: Take the Test Straight,” this strategy is much more effective. Test takers are less likely to fall into the time traps of the more challenging questions, which means they are less likely to run out of time before getting the easy points.
Con: There is no formula for this strategy; it’s a total choose-your-own-adventure approach that is entirely based on the whim of the test taker. Sure, it sounds fun, but it could be a real gamble to use a fly-by the-seat-of-one’s-pants strategy on test day. Ultimately, this option requires a lot of on-the-spot judgment calls that may or may not pay off.
Con: This strategy is hard to prep for. For it to work, students need to be able to self-assess their own strengths and weaknesses in the face of questions that they have never seen before under serious time constraints. These strengths and weaknesses are bound to be different from student to student. As such, it adds an extra burden on tutors to not only assess their students, but continuously help students evolve their test-taking strategy.
Moreover, I can tell you from experience that there are some very complicated questions on the digital SAT® that appear simple at a first glance. A hunt for the easy problems can quickly go off the rails when a student gets drawn into a problem that they really should have skipped.
Option 3: Use the Optimized Test-Taking Order
Gotta be honest, this is my personal favorite strategy for the most efficient, effective way to take the digital SAT® R&W modules. Simply because: it just works.
Pro: This strategy combines the pros from Options 1 and 2, creates a more predictable test-taking approach that follows a simple pattern and flow, and leaves it up to the test taker to prioritize the easiest and fastest sections, first.
Important Tip: Test takers should flag every question they skip to make sure they know which questions they need to go back to.
In this option, test takers:
1. First, work through the Words in Context questions.
Right out the gate, test takers want to knock out all of the vocabulary questions; these questions are located in the Craft and Structure domain (the first domain they’ll encounter).
They’re right at the beginning; they’re short and sweet; and students either know the words or they don’t. This all amounts to a great place to start. Test takers choose an answer and move on to the next one.
2. Second, skip to the Standard English Conventions questions.
The Standard English Conventions domain is the third R&W domain, and the questions typically start on or after question #15. Test takers should skip straight to question #15, and keep skipping until they get to the first Standard English Conventions question.
The skills tested in this domain are Boundaries and Form, Structure, and Sense. Much like the vocabulary questions, these are short, direct, know-it-or-don’t style questions that shouldn’t take much time or pondering. Students should get the points they can from these and move on.
3. Third, jump to Transitions questions.
Located in the Expression of Ideas (fourth and last) domain, test takers should knock these easier questions out before completing the rest of the test.
These fill-in-the-blank questions are usually a combination of transition words and punctuation that connect ideas in a short text. If test takers have been following the strategy to this point, this should allow them to maintain the same established rhythm and pace.
4. Last, return to the beginning of the module, and complete the flagged questions that were skipped until the module has been completed.
This is self-explanatory—simply finish the test! All the shorter, straightforward questions should be out of the way, and now it’s time to dig into the meatier questions that require more reading and interpretation work.
We have repeatedly found this strategy to be the optimal choice for taking the digital SAT® R&W modules. We highly recommend using this strategy as the cornerstone to your R&W test-prep approaches.
Pro: This strategy allows for a consistent timing and pace throughout the module. Students are essentially completing the test from the questions that take the shortest amount of time and effort to those that take the longest time and most effort.
Pro: This strategy empowers tutors by giving them a consistent approach that can be used with all students. No matter how students grow and evolve throughout their test-prep journey, the plan of attack never wavers. Every time you assign a practice digital SAT® to a student, you are also reinforcing this optimized test-taking procedure.
Pro: Leveraging the predictability of the digital SAT® Reading and Writing test structure makes it simple for students to both understand the strategy and rehearse it each time they take a practice test.
Unlike the “skip-the-hard-ones” Option 2 approach, students will have a plan of attack that will work regardless of when and where the challenging problems appear on the test. From our experience taking and creating practice tests, it is clear that while the domain placement on the Reading and Writing modules are predictable, the locations of the challenging problems are not. This strategy removes the need to assess individual problems beyond determining their type.
Using digital practice tests, like Clear Choice Prep’s new SAT®-aligned, all-digital, full-length adaptive practice tests, your students can experience the difference this strategy makes, and internalize it as a strategy that they can execute on test day.
For more information on College Board’s new digital SAT® R&W modules, check out our article: What Can Test Takers Expect on the Digital SAT® Reading & Writing Modules? for a more in-depth look at each of the R&W domains and skills tested.
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