The Foreign Service Journal, June 2014

60 JUNE 2014 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT ACT has five sections: English, mathe- matics, science, reading and an optional writing portion. In 2012, for the first time ever, more students chose to take the ACT than the SAT. What Exactly Will Change? The big picture on the changes is that the SAT will reflect more of what is actu- ally being learned in America’s schools, and the College Board will make test prep accessible to students of all income levels. Now to the details: • The entire process will be more trans- parent. The College Board is moving away from using obscure texts, tricky questions and unfamiliar vocabulary. This may well be tied into a desire to exercise more con- trol over SAT prep, but it’s a positive step regardless of motive. • The writing portion will become optional, and scoring will return to its pre- 2005 potential total of 1,600 rather than 2,400. Each of the two required sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math, will offer the traditional score range of 200-800. The optional essay score will be added separately. The optional essay will require more text-based analysis than in the past. Some experts feel that improving the essay and making it optional at the same time sends a mixed message. And, in fact, the College Board has revealed that its member admissions officers are divided on whether the essay is a useful portion of the test. • Vocabulary words will be more familiar, less arcane. The College Board stresses that the test will emphasize a student’s interpretation of the meaning of the word in context. As they put it, “No longer will students use flashcards to memorize obscure words, only to forget them the minute they put their test pencils In 2012, for the first time ever, more students chose to take the ACT than the SAT.