When I first took the SAT without tutoring, I did fairly well, but I knew I had untapped potential and could do even better. Kayte and the other instructors from Knower Academics pushed me to reach this potential, as well as taught me new techniques and strategies about taking the test that proved to be extremely useful. With their help, I was able to improve my score 200 points from the first time I took it. Kayte and Knower Academics were instrumental in this improvement, including helping my math score jump 140 points to a perfect 800. I am extremely grateful for all that Knower Academics has done for me. They are truly dedicated to helping students succeed in reaching their potential and goals.
The revamped SAT exam bears only traces of resemblance to its predecessors. College Board™, maker of the SAT, set out to create an exam that would reward students who have taken rigorous coursework in many subjects. The SAT is no stranger to renovations, and has entered all new territory by changing not just the format and content of the exam, but the actual delivery of material. As of 2024, College Board has officially moved the SAT to a computer based testing platform, known as Bluebook™. First and foremost, Knower focuses on teaching students how to KNOW the Test, itself. Through all of these refinements to the exam, the SAT remains a highly complex exam and many aspects bear little resemblance to typical school assessments.
The new digital SAT remains in step with the broader trends of U.S. education, reflecting an increased focus on math and science, as well as integrated reading and writing skills across the curriculum, and the ability to synthesize and connect learning to concepts that go beyond individual facts.
What does this mean for students preparing to sit the new SAT exam? Even for this generation of students, who are often quite comfortable with technology and screens, getting familiar with the testing platform represents a significant learning curve. In effort to allow student to actively process the test material, College Board has included several on-screen test-taking tools, such as annotation, a timer, and graphing calculator. When used effectively, these tools do a fair job of allowing students to have a test experience somewhat similar to paper format. Before students get too excited about doing away with bubble sheets, however, they need to really practice using on-screen tools and learn how to effectively manage their focus, time, and priorities when limited to scrolling through questions one at a time. To succeed on this exam, students need test-taking strategies and logical problem-solving abilities, as well as rock-solid skills in math, reading, and grammar. Experience with history and science may save time, but could also cause students to rely on their knowledge rather than exactly what is written in the passages or reflected in the data. Knower Academics helps students hone these skills by teaching them the specific strategy, technique, and content they need to demonstrate their strengths on the test. Contact us to learn more about how our KNOW the SAT™ program builds these skills.