According to students, the May 4, 2024 digital SAT exam had easy first modules but difficult second modules in both English and Math. Find out why and how you can better prepare.
The second iteration of the Digital SAT on May 4, 2024, presented a blend of challenges and improvements that sparked intense discussions among test-takers across the U.S.
While the College Board aimed to refine the testing process, students found the math module 2 extremely difficult, suggesting that adaptive testing may amplify the difficulty curve more than anticipated.
The difficulty of Math Module Two was a central topic in the post-test discussions. Many students shared their struggles with this particularly challenging section of the SAT. Comments highlighted the daunting nature of the questions which seemed to require more time than was allotted, leading to widespread frustration.
Students detailed specific problems that were difficult to solve, expressing concerns that even strong preparation may not have been enough. The sentiment was one of exasperation, with many feeling that the module was not just a test of knowledge, but also of one's ability to handle undue pressure.
Despite the criticism, however, there was also acknowledgement that the exam is testing deep understanding of mathematical topics other than just rote memorization. As one student commented, "Its less about memorizing formulas and more about creative solutions to eliminate answers."
The adaptive nature of the second modules, intended to adjust the difficulty based on a student's first module performance, seemed to heighten the test's challenge beyond expectations.
This adaptation might be a strategic component designed to better differentiate among high scorers, but it also raises questions about equitable preparation opportunities.
The most obvious problem was still a lack of appropriate practice material. Back in the March 9, 2024 exam this issue became prominent as students were taken aback by how much more difficult the exam was compared to the official practice tests.
While College Board took quick action to mitigate the issue by providing practice tests #5 and #6, which were more difficult than the first 4 practice tests and closer to the real exam difficulty, some students complained that the two extra tests were insufficient.
The unexpectedly difficult Math Module Two was also frequently used to highlight the lack of practice material. Many students argued that there were no practice tests that reflected that same level of difficulty, not even the practice tests 5 and 6.
To better prepare for upcoming exams, we recommend students only use practice the difficult-rated questions from official practice materials and skipping easy questions once they know how to solve them to avoid wasting time.
We also recommend joining online or in-person study groups with similar-level peers - from the students we surveyed we found that students who studied with peers outperformed students who studied alone. If a group is not available, joining online communities such as r/SAT can be helpful too.
Finally, there's Test Ninjas, our own digital SAT practice platform. Our platform provides plenty of difficult questions in both Reading and Writing and Math, and our mock tests are fully adaptive with highly-difficult second modules just like the real exam.