The College Board is planning changes to the SAT exam that will take effect in spring 2016. Though the planned revisions aren't finalized, some information is available on what the new tests will contain and how the new score reports will look. The new file report format will be in use as early as fall 2015.
These changes will require institutions and student information system vendors to consider how they will adapt their systems to accommodate the new file report formats. With only a year to go, institutions need to start planning now.
The white paper, authored by Tom Green, Director of Technology Solutions and Managing Consultant at AACRAO, is available at the AACRAO Consulting web site. In it, Green details:
- Other practical considerations of the new test formats.
- The working groups to convene.
- The systems to consider.
- Questions to ask software vendors.
The guidance is based upon sound project management practices and reflects the proliferation of data and systems using test score data today. Beyond the student information system itself, colleges and universities have CRM, academic advising, placement and other systems, as well as a host of automated routines to use the test scores for admission decisions, communications, placement into or exemption from courses, etc.
Green researched the paper in collaboration with the College Board, which provided information on the upcoming changes to the tests and likely reporting changes. The staff of the College Board also assisted Green by fact-checking the paper to assure it aligned with the terminology and time lines they are using to communicate with colleges and universities. They plan to also release the paper as part of their information for institutions.