For generations of high schoolers pondering life after graduation, the SAT advanced placement exam has been a staple experience for youth pursuing higher education. But several monumental changes are ahead that buck the traditions and past practices of bygone times.

From the get-go, the paper-and-pencil format of the SAT largely has remained the same. But that practice is about to change on a global scale as College Board implements the changes at all of its worldwide test centers.

Beginning in 2024, all test centers will administer a digital form of the SAT.

The pencil-and-paper method gives way to digital app

Today, the SAT is a readily recognizable acronym, but the organization behind it might be lesser known. College Board, an international nonprofit organization, is the entity responsible for the SAT. The 6,000-member association has been the SAT’s driver since 1900.

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College Board began its digital transition in March 2023 at international test centers. In March 2024, all U.S.-based test centers will follow suit with the change as well.

Rather than the tried-and-true method of filling in answers on paper, students will take the exam on a laptop or tablet via an app that test administrators will download on devices on exam day.

The app will be equipped with several digital tools for student test-takers’ use, including an annotator, calculator, reference sheet, and timer. Additionally, the technology will include a flagging tool that will mark questions in need of review.

Exam length, format among other changes ahead

College Board is introducing several other tweaks to the SAT as the digital format is introduced. The time allotted to complete the digital version of the exam is 2 hours and 14 minutes. By contrast, the paper-and-pencil format clocked in at 3 hours.

The change-up is possible because the overall format of the SAT also is being modified. The digital version of the exam consists of two distinct, streamlined sections. The first consists of reading and writing; the other is comprised of math. The paper format, in comparison, had three distinct sections: reading, writing and language, and math.