SAT/ACT Updates For the 2022-2023 Season

Last Updated On: July 1st, 2024

The SAT and ACT continue to evolve and adapt to remain relevant in the college application and admissions process. We’ve compiled the most important updates for the new 2022-2023 season below!

Concordance Tables
The SAT and ACT will still be compared using the same concordance tables; they have no plans to adjust these moving forward. If you’re not sure what a concordance table is… basically schools use these as a metric for comparison between the two tests. The ACT and College Board work together to determine the scores that best align and then provide the data to colleges and universities. For the most up to date concordance tables being used, check out ACT – SAT Concordance Tables.

A shift back to test mandatory?
Colleges are still going back and forth about whether to take the SAT and ACT this year. Most colleges are making standardized test policies optional, but a few schools are continuing to make the test mandatory. Hear from one of our expert tutors on what to expect from the admissions process.

SAT News and Updates:

• According to the College Board’s latest updates, “We will make the transition to the digital SAT at international test centers in March of 2023 and at U.S. schools and test centers in spring of 2024.”
• Finally… 4 full length practice exams in the new digital format. Fingers crossed for a fall release, but College Board hasn’t committed to a release date.
• The new digital SAT offers a more relaxed pace for most pilot test takers. Some students even reported finishing the sections about 5 minutes early. The test has also been dramatically reduced from 3ish hours to 2ish hours.
• SAT’s question answer release service may be saying goodbye soon. With the new switch to digital, it seems like change is on the horizon. This service provides students with their answer booklet and test to study from. Hear pros and cons on what the QAS service offers and if it could be valuable to you and yours.
• With the new digital offerings, the College Board has confirmed they will be committed to a more flexible test date schedule.

SAT Test Dates 2022

(table from https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-test-dates)

ACT News and Updates:

• As a result of the new digital SAT news, the ACT has been cooking up something too. The good news…they will plan to always offer a paper option.
• ACT still offers the optional 40 minute essay for an additional $25 and intends to keep this option available moving forward.
• While most schools don’t require this essay, it’s a great way to show your skills in a timed setting. For a full list of schools that require the ACT essay: Complete List: Which Colleges Require ACT Writing?
• No more individual section retesting! After proposing this idea to colleges, they found that most schools were not interested in giving this option to students. Whew! Another burden off incoming students = big win!

ACT 2021-2022 Test Dates (National)

ACT 2022-2023 Test Dates (National)

(Tables from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html)

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