1 of 69

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT:

The What, When, and How of the Digital SAT

PRESENTED BY

Jennifer Winward, Ph.D.

JULY 2025

Founder & CEO, Winward Academy

WINWARDACADEMY.COM

2 of 69

2

01

Overview of Changes

02

SAT Structure & Scoring

03

Digital SAT Interface

04

How to Best Prepare

05

Accommodations

Agenda

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

3 of 69

Overview of Changes

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

01

3

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

4 of 69

Overview of Digital SAT

Reading and Writing and Math Modules

4

BRIEF PAUSE

READING AND WRITING SECTION

Module 1

A blend of easy, medium, �and hard questions

32

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

27

Module 2

Adaptive: easier or harder based on performance in Module 1

32

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

27

MATH SECTION

Module 1

A blend of easy, medium, �and hard questions

BRIEF PAUSE

35

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

22

Module 2

Adaptive: easier or harder based on performance in Module 1

35

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

22

USING A CALCULATOR IS ALLOWED ON BOTH MODULES

2

“PRE-TEST” QUESTIONS IN EACH MODULE

*These are not scored

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

5 of 69

SAT Scoring Breakdown

5

200–800

POINTS

POSSIBLE

Reading & Writing

MATH

200–800

POINTS

POSSIBLE

Calculated as Reading and Writing + Math

(400–1600 POSSIBLE SCORE)

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

6 of 69

SAT: Module Details

6

READING AND WRITING MODULES

COLLEGE READY SCORE - 480

MATH MODULES

COLLEGE READY SCORE - 530

TIMING

64 MINUTES

  • 32 min Stage 1
  • 32 min Stage 2

70 MINUTES

  • 35 min Stage 1
  • 35 min Stage 2

QUESTIONS

54 QUESTIONS

  • 27 in Stage 1
  • 27 in Stage 2

44 QUESTIONS

  • 22 Q in Stage 1 (5–6 SPR)
  • 22 Q in Stage 2 (5–6 SPR)

TIME PER QUESTION

1.2 min per question, �both stages

1.6 min per question,�both stages

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

7 of 69

Digital SAT Test Day

Comparing Regular Time vs. Extended Time

THE DIGITAL SAT (dSAT)�WAS DESIGNED TO APPEAL�TO STUDENTS.

  • It is much shorter (46 min. shorter)
    • 36 fewer minutes in Reading
    • 10 fewer minutes in Math
  • Long reading passages are removed
  • Calculators are allowed on all �math sections

7

Digital SAT: Regular Time

4 Sections, 2 Hours and 14 Minutes

Digital SAT: 1.5 Extended Time

4 Sections, 3 Hours and 22 Minutes

Reading �& Writing 1

�Math 1

27 QUESTIONS

22 QUESTIONS

10 MINUTE BREAK

27 QUESTIONS

22 QUESTIONS

10 MINUTE BREAK*

32MIN

35MIN

35MIN

48MIN

48MIN

53MIN

41MIN

32MIN

27 QUESTIONS

Reading �& Writing 2

�Math 2

22 QUESTIONS

27 QUESTIONS

Reading �& Writing 1

�Math 1

Reading �& Writing 2

�Math 2

53MIN

22 QUESTIONS

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

8 of 69

SAT Structure & Scoring

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

02

8

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

9 of 69

9

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

10 of 69

10

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

11 of 69

11

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

12 of 69

Exam Structure & Scoring

Adaptive scoring module breakdown for the Reading and Writing section

12

READING AND WRITING EXAM SECTION

POSSIBLE SCORE

~450–800

POSSIBLE SCORE

~200–600

> 65% Accuracy

MODULE 1

A blend of easy, medium, �and hard questions

8 EASY QUESTIONS

9 MEDIUM QUESTIONS

8 HARD QUESTIONS

2 UNSCORED QUESTIONS

Get 18 or more right (out of 27),�go to the harder module 2

Get fewer than 18 right (out of 27),�go to the easier module

< 65% Accuracy

12 EASY QUESTIONS

10 MEDIUM QUESTIONS

3 HARD QUESTIONS

2 UNSCORED QUESTIONS

MODULE 2

Harder

Easier

MODULE 2

3 EASY QUESTIONS

11 MEDIUM QUESTIONS

11 HARD QUESTIONS

2 UNSCORED QUESTIONS

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

13 of 69

Exam Structure & Scoring

Adaptive scoring module breakdown for the Math section

13

MATH EXAM SECTION

POSSIBLE SCORE

~450–800

POSSIBLE SCORE

~200–600

> 60% Accuracy

MODULE 1

A blend of easy, medium, �and hard questions

6 EASY QUESTIONS

8 MEDIUM QUESTIONS

6 HARD QUESTIONS

2 UNSCORED QUESTIONS

Get 13 or more right (out of 22),�go to the harder module 2

Get fewer than 13 right (out of 22),�go to the easier module 2

< 60% Accuracy

10 EASY QUESTIONS

8 MEDIUM QUESTIONS

2 HARD QUESTIONS

2 UNSCORED QUESTIONS

MODULE 2

Harder

Easier

MODULE 2

2 EASY QUESTIONS

9 MEDIUM QUESTIONS

9 HARD QUESTIONS

2 UNSCORED QUESTIONS

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

14 of 69

Exam Structure & Scoring

Introduction to Item Response Theory scoring

14

ITEM RESPONSE THEORY (IRT)

WHAT DOES IRT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION?

Method of developing and scoring tests with �questions (items) of different difficulty levels

Purpose: To effectively differentiate test-takers in �terms of ability on an underlying trait (i.e., math skills)

Number of questions answered correctly

Difficulty of each question

Probability of answering correctly—based on item difficulty and test-taker ability

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

15 of 69

Digital SAT Interface

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

03

15

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

16 of 69

Digital SAT Interface

Bluebook app

BLUEBOOK APP �HTTPS://BLUEBOOK.APP.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG

  • This is an app that will need to be installed on your device before using
  • The app is where you will take your actual dSAT and there are options available to practice with the app beforehand
    • Currently, there are 6 practice tests available on Bluebook
  • Students can access their results from practice tests by logging into their CollegeBoard account

16

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

17 of 69

Digital SAT Interface

Key test taking features

GENERAL dSAT INTERFACE FEATURES:

  • Timer to view or hide (always visible in last 5 minutes)
  • Bookmark to mark questions for review
  • Elimination to cross off wrong answer choices
  • Highlight to mark Reading or Writing passages
  • Annotate to write yourself notes

dSAT MATH INTERFACE FEATURES:

  • Math formulas
  • Calculator for all problems

17

Bookmark Question

View/Hide Timer

Annotate Notes

Eliminate Answers

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

18 of 69

Digital SAT Interface

Math modules

GRID-INS

  • Student Produced Responses (i.e., Grid-ins) are intermingled with multiple choice questions
  • Grid-in answers can now be negative

CALCULATORS

  • There will be a built in Desmos graphing �calculator in the Bluebook App
  • Students can use their own approved calculator
  • In-depth practice with Desmos beforehand �helped significantly

18

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

19 of 69

How to Best Prepare

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

04

19

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

20 of 69

How to Best Prepare

What to practice in advance

Familiarize yourself with the features before the day of the exam

Learn how to utilize the Desmos calculator and where to access the reference sheets

PRACTICE WITH BLUEBOOK AND ONLINE FORMAT

PRACTICE YOUR SCRATCH PAPER STRATEGY

Students are only allowed five sheets �of paper - be efficient

Fold or draw grids to keep work organized by question

Number your work as you go

20

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

21 of 69

Accommodations

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

05

21

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

22 of 69

Accommodations

Updates regarding access to individual �testing accommodations

ACCOMMODATIONS WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE �FOR THE DIGITAL SAT

  1. Certain accommodations are no longer needed �(i.e., large print)
  2. Other accommodations have changed in delivery �(i.e., replace human reader or braille test with text-to-speech feature)
  3. Extended time or breaks are offered
  4. If an accommodation cannot be satisfied digitally, students may qualify for a non-adaptive, paper-based version of the dSAT

22

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

23 of 69

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT:

Deep Dive on the Reading & Writing Modules

PRESENTED BY

Jennifer Winward, Ph.D.

JULY 2025

Founder & CEO, Winward Academy

WINWARDACADEMY.COM

24 of 69

Deep Dive on the �Reading and Writing Modules

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

01

24

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

25 of 69

Reading and

Writing Modules

Exam Scoring and Structure

25

BRIEF PAUSE

READING AND WRITING SECTION

Module 1

A blend of easy, medium, �and hard questions

32

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

27

Module 2

Adaptive: easier or harder based on performance in Module 1

32

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

27

2 “PRE-TEST” QUESTIONS IN EACH MODULE

*These are not scored

READING AND WRITING QUESTIONS ARE INTERMINGLED �WITHIN EACH MODULE

  • Questions are ordered by skill/knowledge element and then by level of difficulty *domain grouping reduces task switching
  • Passages are short but difficult where 1 passage = 1 question
    • 25-150 words for each passage

READING AND WRITING PASSAGES

  • Passages come from history, literature, humanities, and science *topic-specific prior knowledge is not assessed
  • Passages are organized into three text complexity levels (grades 6-8, 9-11, and 12-14)
  • Poetry - this is new but there will be very little of it (1900s and earlier)
  • Passages might include graphics (tables, bar graphs, line graphs)

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

26 of 69

Reading and Writing Passages Then Vs. Now

26

PENCIL-AND-PAPER EXAMPLE PASSAGE

DIGITAL EXAMPLE PASSAGE

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

27 of 69

Reading and Writing Modules

The 4 Reading and Writing domains (1.2 minutes/question)

STANDARD ENGLISH CONVENTIONS

(~26% OF EXAM 11-15 QUESTIONS)

  • Boundaries
  • Form & Structure

CRAFT & STRUCTURE

(~28% OF EXAM 13-15 QUESTIONS)

  • Vocabulary: words in context
  • Text structure & purpose
  • Cross-text connections

INFORMATION & IDEAS

(~26% OF EXAM 12-14 QUESTIONS)

  • Central Ideas & Details
  • Command of evidence
  • Inferences

EXPRESSION OF IDEAS

(~20% OF EXAM 8-12 QUESTIONS)

  • Rhetorical synthesis
  • Transitions

27

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

28 of 69

Example Questions from the Four R&W Domains

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

02

28

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

29 of 69

Domain: Craft & Structure

Skill: Vocabulary

29

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

30 of 69

Domain: Craft & Structure

Skill: Text structure & purpose

30

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

31 of 69

Domain: Craft & Structure

Skill: Text structure & purpose

31

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

32 of 69

Domain: Craft & Structure

Skill: Cross-text comparisons

32

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

33 of 69

Domain: Information & Ideas

Skill: Central ideas and details

33

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

34 of 69

Domain: Information & Ideas

Skill: Command of evidence

34

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

35 of 69

Domain: Information & Ideas

Skill: Inferences

35

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

36 of 69

Domain: Standard English Conventions

Skill: Boundaries

36

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

37 of 69

Domain: Standard English Conventions

Skill: Form and structure

37

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

38 of 69

Domain: Standard English Conventions

Skill: Form and structure

38

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

39 of 69

Domain: Expression of Ideas

Skill: Transitions

39

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

40 of 69

Domain: Expression of Ideas

Skill: Rhetorical synthesis

40

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

41 of 69

Reading and Writing Modules

In comparison to pencil-and-paper SAT, the digital SAT has…

41

LESS

  • Grammar
  • Idioms No longer tested
  • Sentence placement No longer tested

MORE

  • Vocabulary (in context and tier 2 words)
  • Humanities passages
  • Tense
  • Separation of clauses
  • Quotations
  • Logical transitions

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

42 of 69

Reading and �Writing Modules

Observations to keep in mind

  • Time management strategy
  • Complete the last two domains first (grammar)
  • Complete the first two domains last (reading)
  • Vocabulary seemed more difficult on actual dSAT than on practice tests
  • Many passages in Old English, making them more challenging for students

42

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

43 of 69

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT:

Deep Dive on the Math Modules

PRESENTED BY

Jennifer Winward, Ph.D.

JULY 2025

Founder & CEO, Winward Academy

WINWARDACADEMY.COM

44 of 69

Deep Dive on the�Math Modules

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

01

44

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

45 of 69

Math Modules

Exam Scoring and Structure

45

  • Each question belongs to one content domain (out of 4 total domains)
  • Each four-option multiple choice question (~75%) has a single correct answer, and each student-produced response question (~25%) can have multiple right answers
  • Questions from all domains appear in each module
  • Across each module, questions are arranged from easiest to hardest
  • Approximately 30% of Math questions are set in context, "word" questions that require students to consider a science, social studies, or real-world scenario (note: topic-specific prior knowledge isn’t assessed)
  • Informational graphics include geometric figures, data displays, dot plots, scatterplots, bar graphs, line graphs, histograms, and graphs of functions in the xy-plane

BRIEF PAUSE

MATH SECTION

Module 1

A blend of easy, medium, �and hard questions

35

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

22

Module 2

Adaptive: easier or harder based on performance in Module 1

35

MINUTES

QUESTIONS

22

USING A CALCULATOR IS ALLOWED ON BOTH MODULES

2 “PRE-TEST” QUESTIONS IN EACH MODULE

*These are not scored

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

46 of 69

Math Modules

Key information about student-produced response questions

  • If you find more than one correct answer, enter only �one answer.
  • You can enter up to 5 characters for a positive answer and up to 6 characters (including the negative sign) �for a negative answer.
  • If your answer is a fraction that doesn’t fit in the provided space, enter the decimal equivalent.
  • If your answer is a decimal that doesn’t fit in the provided space, enter it by truncating or rounding �at the fourth digit.
  • If your answer is a mixed number (such as 3 ½), �enter it as an improper fraction (7/2) or its decimal �equivalent (3.5).
  • Do not enter symbols such as percent sign, comma, �or dollar sign.

46

ANSWER

ACCEPTABLE WAYS �TO ENTER ANSWER

UNACCEPTABLE: �WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT

3.5

3.5

3.50

7/2

31/2

3 1/2

2/3

.6666

.6667

0.666

0.667

0.66

.66

0.67

.67

-⅓

-1/3

-.3333

-0.333

-.33

-0.33

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

47 of 69

Math Modules

The 4 Math domains (1.6 minutes/question)

ADVANCED MATH

(~35% OF EXAM 13-15 QUESTIONS)

  • Equivalent expressions
  • Nonlinear equations in 1 variable
  • Systems of equations in 2 variables
  • Nonlinear functions

ALGEBRA

(~35% OF EXAM 13-15 QUESTIONS)

  • Linear equations in one variable
  • Linear equations in two variables
  • Linear functions
  • Systems of linear equations in two variables
  • Linear inequalities in one or two variables

PROBLEM-SOLVING & DATA ANALYSIS

(~15% OF EXAM 5-7 QUESTIONS)

  • Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units
  • Percentages
  • One-variable data: distributions and measures of center and spread
  • Two-variable data: models and scatter-plots
  • Probability and conditional probability
  • Inference from sample statistics and margin of error
  • Evaluating statistical claims: observational studies and experiments

GEOMETRY & TRIGONOMETRY

(~15% OF EXAM 5-7 QUESTIONS)

  • Area and volume formulas
  • Lines, angles, and triangles
  • Right triangles and trigonometry
  • Circles

47

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

48 of 69

Example Questions from the Four Math Domains

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL SAT

02

48

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

49 of 69

Domain: Algebra

Skill: Linear equations in one variable

49

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

50 of 69

Domain: Algebra

Skill: Linear equations in two variables

50

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

51 of 69

Domain: Algebra

Skill: Linear functions

51

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

52 of 69

Domain: Algebra

Skill: Systems of two linear equations in two variables

52

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

53 of 69

Domain: Algebra

Skill: Linear inequalities in one or two variables

53

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

54 of 69

Domain: Advanced Math

Skill: Equivalent expressions

54

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

55 of 69

Domain: Advanced Math

Skill: Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables

55

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

56 of 69

Domain: Advanced Math

Skill: Nonlinear equations in one variable and systems of equations in two variables

56

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

57 of 69

Domain: Advanced Math

Skill: Nonlinear functions

57

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

58 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: Ratios, rates, proportional relationships, and units

58

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

59 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: Percentages

59

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

60 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: One-variable data - distributions and measures of center and spread

60

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

61 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: Two-variable data - models and scatterplots

61

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

62 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: Probability and conditional probability

62

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

63 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: Inference from sample statistics and margin of error

63

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

64 of 69

Domain: Problem Solving & Data Analysis

Skill: Evaluating statistical claims from observational studies and experiments

64

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

65 of 69

Domain: Geometry & Trigonometry

Skill: Area and volume formulas

65

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

66 of 69

Domain: Geometry & Trigonometry

Skill: Lines, angles, and triangles

66

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

67 of 69

Domain: Geometry & Trigonometry

Skill: Right triangles and trigonometry

67

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

68 of 69

Domain: Geometry & Trigonometry

Skill: Circles

68

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®

69 of 69

Thank You!

Please ask any questions and reach out to me any time for support.

jennifer@winwardacademy.com

Jennifer Winward, Ph.D.

Founder & CEO, Winward Academy

Follow us:

WINWARDACADEMY.COM

EVERYONE’S PRIVATE TUTOR ®