Digital SAT 2024 Exam Pattern | How to Prepare for Digital SAT PDF Download

What is Digital SAT?

The Digital SAT, administered by the College Board, is a standardized test accepted in the U.S. and many countries for college admissions. Launched digitally for international students in 2023 and U.S. students in 2024, it maintains the traditional SAT’s scoring, scale, subjects, and college relevance, while being administered on a laptop or tablet (personal or borrowed). Shortened to 2 hours, it uses two adaptive modules per section, where performance in the first module determines the difficulty of the second, creating a personalized test experience. With autosave functionality, the Digital SAT combines familiar content with adaptive precision to assess college readiness and predict university success.

Overview of the New Digital SAT Exam Pattern 2024

The Digital SAT exam has undergone significant changes and is now in its latest format. This is the most significant revision in recent years, and the following is an overview of the changes and updates for the New Digital SAT.

• A New and Shorter Digital SAT Exam: The Digital SAT has been shortened to 2 hours, now consisting of two sections: Reading & Writing and Math. The reading section features shorter passages with one question each, while the math section includes fewer word problems to promote critical thinking. Test-takers will also have extra time to answer questions.
• Faster Digital SAT Score Delivery: Candidates can now expect to receive their Digital SAT scores within a few days instead of weeks, enabling them to apply to universities more promptly without delays from awaiting exam results.
• Calculator Use in the Math Section: The updated Digital SAT 2024 allows students to use calculators throughout the entire math section, unlike the previous format, which had one sub-section without calculator use. A virtual calculator will be available for those without their own. This change aims to assist students and schools with limited resources. The digital platform will also include a timer, a reference sheet, and an option to flag questions for review.
• Individualized Testing Format: The Digital SAT offers personalized exams for each student, enhancing test security and reducing cheating. An introductory module precedes each section, with the difficulty of subsequent questions based on the student’s performance. This method helps align students with various career paths, courses, and training programs.

Digital SAT 2024 Exam New Pattern

The Digital SAT consists of two main sections:  

Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section features two modules; the Reading and Writing section includes 27 questions per module (25 operational and 2 pretest) with a time limit of 32 minutes per module. The Math section has 22 questions per module (20 operational and 2 pretest) with 35 minutes allocated for each module. The total test duration is 2 hours and 14 minutes, including breaks, with a composite score ranging from 400 to 1600.

The table below illustrates the Digital  SAT test pattern:

Section-Wise Distribution of Questions in Digital SAT 2024

The section-wise distribution of questions in  Digital  SAT exam 2024 has been given in the table below:

Digital SAT Reading and Writing Section Exam Pattern 

For further information regarding the format of this section, refer to the following table:

For topic-wise weightage, please refer to the table provided below:

Digital SAT Math Section Exam Pattern

The Digital  SAT Math section is designed to assess a candidate's mathematical abilities. With recent modifications to the SAT exam format, candidates will now have access to calculators for the entire Math section of the exam. 

For further information regarding the format of this section, refer to the following table:

For topic-wise weightage, please refer to the table provided below:

What does the Reading & Writing Test Measure?

The Digital SAT Reading Test assesses the reading skills essential for college and job training, emphasizing text and data analysis. The Writing Test evaluates your ability to identify and correct writing errors. Both sections consist of multiple-choice questions based on passages and supplementary materials, such as tables and graphs, with answers derived solely from the provided content.

Key Components:

1. Command of Evidence:

• Identify the strongest supporting information from passages for earlier questions or conclusions.
• Analyze how authors use evidence to support their arguments.
• Understand data presented in informational graphics.
• This section tests your ability to enhance information presentation by selecting answers that strengthen arguments or provide relevant details.

2. Words in Context:

• Includes questions focusing on significant words and phrases relevant in college and the workforce.
• Determine meanings based on context.
• Evaluate the impact of an author's word choice on meaning, style, and tone.

3. Analysis in History/Social Studies and Science:

• Passages will cover topics in history, social studies, and science.
• You may be required to improve content by revising paragraphs to align with accompanying informational graphics.

4. Expression of Ideas:

• Focus on the writing aspects of passages, including topic development, organization, and language use.
• Find better wording or structural changes for clarity and identify effective transitions between ideas.

5. Standard English Conventions:

• Tests your understanding of technical writing aspects such as sentence structure, language use, and punctuation.
• Requires you to revise text to ensure adherence to standard written English rules.

What does the Math Test Measure?

The Digital SAT Math section evaluates your problem-solving skills using mathematical concepts and reasoning, covering areas such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Questions are presented in a multiple-choice format and may involve data interpretation and analysis. This section assesses your mathematical abilities and their practical applications.

Key Components:

1. Fluency:

Measures your capability to perform mathematical procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and strategically.

2. Conceptual Understanding:

Assesses your grasp of mathematical concepts and relationships, requiring you to connect properties of linear equations with their graphical representations and real-life applications.

3. Applications:

Involves real-world scenarios where you must identify key elements to solve problems, express them mathematically, and derive solutions.