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Test Preparation Courses header

Why Did the SAT Change?

The New PSAT was introduced in October, 2004 to high school Sophomores and Juniors. The first administration of the NEW SAT Reasoning Test took place in March, 2005. The USD course will prepare you to meet the challenge of the new exam!

What were the changes?
1) There is now an additional writing section on the test including a persuasive essay in addition to multiple-choice questions. This section accounts for 800 points, bringing the total maximum score to 2,400 (up from the previous 1600 maximum). The test has also increased in length from 3 hours to 3.5 hours.

2) The Verbal section is now known as Critical Reading. Analogies (Bird: Air as Fish: Stream) have been eliminated. This section includes short reading passages as well as longer selections.

3) The Math section eliminates quantitative comparison questions and incorporates items from Algebra II and third-year college preparatory math.

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