Digital SAT
The SAT, a standardized test extremely important for undergraduate admissions in the US and beyond, has transitioned to an online format known as the Digital SAT since March 2023. It is a prerequisite for many colleges and universities, serving to assess students readiness for higher education. Administered by the College Board, the DSAT holds significant weight for students aspiring to study abroad.
DSAT has always been an important admissions criteria for all premium universities in the US, Singapore, and even UK and Canada. In India, approximately 35 universities (Ashoka, OP Jindal Global, Shiv Nadar, FLAME, KREA to name a few) now recognize DSAT scores for admissions, with this number steadily expanding. Additionally, achieving a commendable DSAT score can lead to scholarship opportunities and fee waivers, further incentivizing students to excel in the exam.
The digital SAT consists of three main sections
Reading
Writing
Maths
The digital SAT consists of two main sections: Reading & Writing and Math. Each section has 2 modules. The first module of each section presents a varied mix of easy, medium, and hard questions. Depending on a students performance in the first module, the difficulty level of the second module may adjust accordingly. This means that the second module “adapts” itself to the performance in the first module.
Students are allotted 64 minutes for the Reading & Writing section and 70 minutes for the Math section; total test duration is 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Each Reading & Module has 27 Questions to be answered in 32 minutes. Out of these, 25 are Operational questions and 2 Pretest questions i.e. Experimental questions which are not scored. Each Math section has 22 questions to be answered in 35 mins. Out of these, 20 operational questions and 2 pretest questions.
The majority of questions are multiple choice, although some math questions require students to enter the answer instead of selecting it. Importantly, there’s no penalty for guessing on any question, so it’s advantageous to provide an answer even if unsure rather than leaving it blank.
The Reading & Writing and Math sections are each scored on a scale of 200-800. The total score of the test is in the range of 400-1600.
The scores are valid for 5 years.
ACT
The ACT exam, administered by ACT Inc., is a standardized test required for undergraduate admissions primarily in the US, Canada, and Singapore. It is an online multiple-choice exam designed to assess candidates’ skills in writing, mathematics, verbal reasoning, and science. The syllabus aligns closely with high school curriculum, testing an applicant’s comprehension, analysis, and analytical skills.
There is an optional writing section available during ACT registration, which students can choose for an additional fee. International students seeking undergraduate admissions abroad often take the ACT exam to demonstrate their academic abilities.
ACT scores range from 1 to 36, calculated based on performance in each section and then aggregated to provide an overall score in the range of 1 to 36. The scores are valid for 5 years.