4 Most Challenging Questions on the New SAT

4 Most Challenging Questions on the New SAT The College Board is rolling out a redesigned SAT, slated to be given for the first time in March 2016. After a complete overhaul, the test is now designed to quiz students on the skills that are most valued by colleges. If you will be taking the new SAT, you may be wondering how the test is different, what you can expect, and how you can best prepare yourself to address these new questions. Heres a look at some of the most challenging questions on the new SAT: 1. Data interpretation questions in the SAT Reading test The SAT Reading test will no longer be a mix of questions on vocabulary and prose. On the new SAT, all of the questions are based on passages, you are not tested on obscure vocabulary, and some passages may require you to analyze graphs and data. In this sense, the new SAT Reading test doesnt just evaluate how you can interpret prose and fiction passages; you also will be tested on passages and data with a historical, scientific, and sociological focus. These new questions are meant to assess your readiness for data-based college courses. If you arent fully comfortable with your data interpretation skills, these questions may be particularly difficult for you. Plan ahead and start practicing these skills by reading essays or studies that are scientific, historical, and nonfiction in nature, and immerse yourself in data sets and graphs. Try using a prep book designed for the new SAT. 2. Advanced mathematical reasoning and trigonometry on the SAT Math section In the past, the SAT did not venture into math topics beyond the level of Geometry and Algebra I, but on the new SAT you can expect questions involving complex math, including trigonometry and new concepts in statistics and geometry. If youre taking the new SAT before youve reached these more advanced topics in class, find a math tutor or reach out to a teacher for help mastering these concepts before the test. In addition, make it a habit to practice these new concepts on your owncreatetrigonometry flashcards or take practice tests in advanced algebra. Maximize your score by becoming comfortable with every topic tested on the SAT Math testeven the hardest topics! 3. Questions on grammar and rhetorical skills in the SAT Writing and Language section You may already be familiar with the current SAT Writing test, which includes a mandatory essay and about 49 questions that test your command of grammar, style, and punctuation. The new SAT Writing and Language test will still test these concepts, but will also test your knowledge of the message, organization, and development of a passage at varying levels of difficulty. For this test, you should think of yourself as an editor, identifying and correcting factual errors, grammar missteps, and improving the text of various passages, charts, tables, and other infographics. Much like an editor, you will need to consider the tasks of the old test (grammar, style, and punctuation) as well as the passages effectiveness as a whole, making decisions about the cohesion and overarching structure of the passage. [RELATED: What is an Average SAT Score?] 4. The new, optional SAT Essay The old, mandatory SAT essay was a rushed endeavor for many students, who found that constructing and supporting a persuasive essay in 25 minutes was a tough task. The new SAT essay is optional, and it differs drastically from the past SAT essay. The new SAT Essay is 50 minutes long and asks test-takers to thoroughly analyze a short passage. Youre not expected to develop and defend an opinion; rather, youll have to analyze how the author of the passage constructs his or her argument using evidence from the passage. Although you may not be used to doing such heavy analysis on a standardized test, with practice your SAT Essay skillsand all of the other new skills required for success on the new SATcan improve. [RELATED: How is the New SAT Scored?]