Digital SAT: Learn to approach the new question type in the Reading and Writing

1. Digital SAT: Learn to approach the new question type in the Reading and Writing section The College Board has released a set of digital SAT sample questions that provide a valuable glimpse into what to expect on the new test. While the reading and writing on the digital test will be significantly shorter than on the current SAT, most of the questions will remain essentially the same as students will still see questions testing the main idea, primary purpose, punctuation, and vocabulary, although the format may change for some questions. There will be very little change. In the sample set, the College Board introduced an entirely new question type: one that required the test-taker to review a hypothetical set of student notes and answer a question about how to organize feedback based on the notes. is required. For example, students might see a question like this: While organizing research for an upcoming assignment, a student took notes: ● Himari is a Japanese contemporary painter and performance artist. ● Her work has been displayed in New York, Amsterdam, Paris, London, and many other places around the world. ● Most of his works feature polka dots.

2. ● Her installation I'm Here, But Nothing (2005–2013) was composed of a room with few objects and walls covered with hundreds of glowing polka dots. ● Her floating work Guideposts to the New Space (2018) featured a series of round, bright red "humps" covered with white polka dots. The student's objective is to show the similarity between the two tasks. Which of the following best uses the information in the notes to accomplish this goal? i) I'm here but none of the rooms include polka dots on the walls, and on the other hand, the guidepost for New Space uses polka dots on round shapes. ii) Like many of Himari's other works, I Am Here, But Nothing and Guidepost to the New Space both contain polka dots; I'm here, but nothing covers them on the walls and on the round "humps" on the guideposts for the new place. iii) Himari's work, which typically uses polka dots, has been displayed in many places around the world. iv) Himari performed I Am Here, But Nothing from 2005-2013 and Guidepost to the New Space in 2018. So, how should one tackle these questions? It would be really important to focus on the target given in the question prompt. In this case, you are asked to select the answer that best reflects the similarity between the two functions, so check whether each answer does so. Note that while option i) mentions that both works contain polka dots, it uses the phrase "on the other hand"—a phrase indicating a contrast rather than a similarity—to link the content of both works. Thus, option i) can be eliminated. Option ii) emphasizes that both the works use polka dots, thus showing a similarity, so keep option ii). Note that option iii) is a true statement, as the notes indicate that Himari's work has been exhibited worldwide, but the answer option does not serve the purpose given in the question; This does not reflect the equivalence between the two functions and hence is not the correct answer. Choice iv) similarly contains a true statement but does not show how the two functions are equal and thus is not the correct answer. The correct answer is option ii). As you practice these questions, just remember to look for the answer that best meets the goal provided, and you'll find that only one answer works!

3. How to Prepare for the Reading and Writing Section? Here's how you can start preparing: Reading: Begin by reading about a variety of humanities and science subjects. Start with The Economists, New Scientists, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. You should start reading the editorial immediately. Learn about current geopolitical and environmental issues. Focus on becoming a more savvy reader in general. Try to develop an opinion instead of being a passive receiver of facts. Writing and Language: Punctuation and grammar rules are not likely to be taken out of standardized tests anytime soon. If you need any personal assistance, reach out to our experts here. We are extremely happy to help in whatever way we can.