Digital SAT vs. Paper SAT: Key Differences

If you’re getting ready for the SAT, understanding the differences between the digital and paper SAT is key to building the right prep plan and knowing what to expect on test day.

Quick Answer: The digital SAT, introduced in March 2024, is shorter (2 hours 14 minutes vs. 3 hours), adaptive, and fully computer-based. It features fewer questions, shorter reading passages, and allows calculator use on all math questions. The test is taken on a laptop or tablet at approved schools or testing centers — but not at home. While the format has changed, the 400–1600 score scale, accommodations, and testing locations remain the same.

Curious about how these changes affect your strategy? Keep reading for a side-by-side comparison of the digital and paper SAT, plus tips to help you prep with confidence.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• May I Take Either Version (Digital or Paper) of the SAT?
• What Didn’t Change with the Digital Test
  • SAT Scores
  • Testing Locations
  • Accommodations
• What Is the Difference Between the Paper SAT and the Digital SAT?
  • Adaptive Testing
  • In-Test Features
  • Test Length
  • Section Structure
    • Fewer Questions
  • Passage Length
  • Calculator Use
  • Question Types
    • Math Section
      • Four Math Topic Categories
    • Reading and Writing Section
      • Four RW Topic Categories
• Digital SAT vs. Paper SAT: A Side-by-Side Comparison
• Key Takeaways
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Can you take the SAT at home?
  • Is the digital SAT harder than the paper SAT?
• What’s Next?

Let’s start by discussing when you can take the SAT online.

May I Take Either Version (Digital or Paper) of the SAT?

The short answer is no. The digital SAT is the only game in town (unless you qualify for particular accommodations, which we will cover shortly). You may have taken a paper test when you took the PSAT, but both the SAT and the PSAT are now digital-only. So be prepared to take the digital version of the SAT on test day.

If you are starting to plan your SAT prep, it’s a good idea to check out the College Board website for up-to-date info on digital testing dates.

TTP PRO TIP:

Always look at the College Board website for up-to-date information on test dates.

As of now, the following dates have been confirmed for 2025 and 2026:

• August 23, 2025
• September 13, 2025
• October 4, 2025
• November 8, 2025
• December 6, 2025
• March 14, 2026
• May 2, 2026
• June 6, 2026

If you are curious about the layout or structure of the digital SAT, you can take SAT online practice tests. The College Board has made some free digital SAT practice tests available for download to anyone preparing for the digital SAT format.

TTP PRO TIP:

Always look at the College Board website for up-to-date information on test dates.

Now, before we get into the changes to the SAT, let’s take a look at what has stayed the same.

What Didn’t Change with the Digital Test

The digital SAT changes are significant, but a few key elements of the test have stayed the same as they were with the paper version. Let’s take a look.

SAT Scores

The digital SAT scoring uses the same scoring scale of 400–1600 that the paper version used. So, in each of the 2 sections in the digital SAT (Math and Reading/Writing), the minimum possible score is still 200, and the maximum possible score is still 800.

Keeping the score scale the same means that test scores from the digital SAT can be compared to those from paper SATs taken in earlier years. Additionally, score reports look pretty much the same.

However, one benefit of the digital test is that score reports are available within days instead of weeks after your exam. This means you know how you performed — and whether you need a retake — much sooner than you could know with paper testing.

KEY FACT:

The digital SAT uses the same 400–1600 scoring scale as the paper test.

Testing Locations

Although the SAT has gone digital, the testing locations and SAT requirements have not changed. So, like the paper test, you may take the digital SAT only in schools and designated testing centers. The SAT administered at testing centers is offered only on Saturdays.

Some schools participate in SAT School Day, where students take the SAT on a normal school day at their home school. Check with your school administrator or guidance office to determine if your school participates in SAT School Day.

Note that students who take the SAT cannot take it at home.

KEY FACT:

You may take the SAT only in schools and designated testing centers.

Accommodations

Accommodations that allow for paper testing are still available to students who need them. In fact, the College Board offers the same accommodations that have always been available for test takers. So, extended time, text-to-speech, Braille, etc., are still available.

Keep in mind, however, that both the structure and content of the SAT have changed for all students, regardless of whether you receive accommodations allowing you to take a paper-and-pencil test. So, if you receive such accommodations, you will see a version of the SAT paper test that is on par with the digital version. Thus, you’ll need to adjust your SAT strategies and test preparation accordingly.

KEY FACT:

Testing accommodations are still available for students who need them.

Now that we know which major aspects of the SAT have stayed the same, let’s talk about the major SAT changes on the digital test.

What Is the Difference Between the Paper SAT and the Digital SAT?

The most obvious change associated with the test format is that it’s no longer on paper (unless you’re receiving paper testing accommodations). So, no more filling in bubbles with a pencil.

Instead, you take the test on a desktop or laptop computer, Chromebook, or iPad. In fact, you have the option to take the SAT online, either on a school-owned device or your own. Furthermore, you can use a device that operates on either a Windows or a Mac operating system. You cannot, however, take the SAT on a cell phone.

KEY FACT:

You cannot take the digital SAT on a cell phone.

Along with a digital test come some built-in features and digital tools that weren’t possible with the paper-and-pencil SAT. Let’s review what those are, starting with the biggie: adaptive testing.

Adaptive Testing

Along with digital testing came a major change to how the SAT functions. The current SAT incorporates what is known as adaptive testing. Specifically, the digital SAT uses a section-adaptive model.

So, each SAT section has 2 modules, and your overall performance on the first module in a section affects the difficulty level of the second module in that section. Thus, how you perform on the first SAT Reading and Writing module affects the difficulty level of questions you see in the second Reading and Writing module. Likewise, how you perform on the first Math module affects the difficulty level of questions you see in the second Math module.

This is a good thing! If you do well and encounter more difficult questions on the second module, those more difficult questions will reward you with a higher SAT score. So it’s important to do well on the first module of each section. First, you’ll get a great score for doing well on the first module. Second, you’ll have a chance for more score-enhancing questions on the second module.

Importantly, since the adaptive testing the digital SAT uses is section-based rather than question-based, you can skip around within a module and change your answers to previous questions in that module if you have time. So, in that sense, the digital test should feel similar to the paper test.

KEY FACT:

The digital SAT uses section-adaptive testing — your overall performance on the first module affects the difficulty of the second module in that section.

Shortly, we’ll talk more about how the SAT sections have changed. For now, let’s look at some of the new in-test features that come along with the digital test.

In-Test Features

With the SAT online format, you have some new on-screen tools in your tool bag. Let’s take a look.

• Digital timer: An on-screen countdown clock lets you know how much time you have left in a module. You can keep the timer visible on-screen or choose to hide it. Either way, you get an alert when 5 minutes remain in the module.
• Mark for review: You can flag any question you want to return to before the module is complete.
• Highlighting: You can highlight any part of a question and leave yourself a note. This feature can come in handy if you plan to return to the question later.
• On-screen calculator: You have access to an on-screen graphing calculator.

Now that we have a handle on the built-in features of the digital version of the SAT, let’s discuss the key changes in the test’s structure and content. We’ll start with one of the most talked-about SAT changes: test length.

Test Length

The digital SAT test timing is significantly shorter than that of the previous version of the SAT.

Whereas the paper SAT took 3 hours to complete, the digital SAT takes only 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Let’s talk about some of the changes that allow for the shorter test.

Section Structure

The digital SAT format brought on a new section structure. There are now 4 sections, 2 of which are Math sections. However, there is no longer a separate Reading section and a separate Writing and Language section, which together made up the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) portion of the old test.

Instead, there is a “Reading and Writing” section. The Reading and Writing section is essentially a mix of “Reading” style questions and “Writing and Language” style questions. So, within the same section, you will see some questions that focus on your ability to interpret aspects of a passage and other questions that focus on grammar.

As we already discussed, each section has 2 modules. So, you’ll see 2 Math modules and 2 Reading and Writing modules.

Along with this restructuring, sections on the digital test are shorter than those on the old test. Each Math module is 35 minutes, for a total of 70 minutes spent on the Math section, and each Reading and Writing module is 32 minutes, for a total of 64 minutes. Note that each module has separate timing, and once you begin a new module, you can’t return to the previous module.

KEY FACT:

On the digital SAT, the 2 Math modules are 35 minutes each, and the 2 Reading and Writing modules are 32 minutes each.

Along with shorter sections and a shorter test overall, the digital SAT involves fewer questions. Let’s discuss.

Fewer Questions

Whereas the 2 Math sections on the paper SAT totaled 80 minutes and 58 questions, the Math modules on the digital test total 70 minutes and 44 questions. Furthermore, the section times and number of questions are evenly split between the 2 modules. This is in contrast to the paper-based Math section lengths of 55 minutes (38 questions) and 25 minutes (20 questions).

Similarly, the 65-minute, 52-question Reading section and 35-minute, 44-question Writing and Language section that made up EBRW on the paper test have become two 32-minute Reading and Writing sections that contain 27 questions each.

So, in total, the SAT online has around 30% fewer questions than the non-digital version. For many SAT test-takers, the reduction in the number of questions is sure to be one of the biggest benefits of the digital SAT.

KEY FACT:

The digital SAT presents a total of 98 questions, down from 154 questions on the paper test.

Passage Length

Another major and much-welcomed change to the SAT is that there are shorter reading passages and math passages on the digital test.

All passages in the Reading and Writing section are now around 100 words. Furthermore, there is only 1 question on each passage (or passage pair).

As you may know, the old version of the SAT presented Writing passages that were 400–450 words and had 11 questions each. Reading passages contained 500–750 words and had 10–11 questions each. So, the reduced word count and question distribution on the current SAT represent a huge change.

Of course, with 27 questions in each Reading and Writing section, you can expect to see 27 different passages in each section, since there is only 1 question per passage. So, you now see many more passages on the digital SAT. However, given how short each passage is, you’ll spend significantly less time reading and digesting passages.

If you are wondering how long a 100-word passage really is, this paragraph and the preceding one, which together are 7 lines long, are nearly 100 words. So, the digital SAT passages are about this size.

As for math passages, the average length of word problems is somewhat shorter on the digital test. This change helps ensure that all students, regardless of their English language ability, have an even playing field on which to showcase their math skills.

KEY FACT:

Passages in Reading and Writing are now about 100 words each on the digital test, and word problems in the Math section have also been shortened.

Calculator Use

One change that many students taking the SAT are excited about is that the digital SAT allows test-takers to use a calculator for all Math questions.

So, there is no longer a “No Calculator” Math section.

As I mentioned earlier, there is an on-screen graphing calculator built into the digital test. You have access to that calculator during both of the 2 modules that make up the Math section. Additionally, you have the option of bringing your own calculator to use during both modules.

KEY FACT:

There is no “No Calculator” Math section on the digital SAT — calculators are allowed for all Math questions.

Now that we’ve covered the major structural changes in the digital SAT, let’s talk about the notable content changes.

Question Types

It’s important to keep in mind that even with the digital exam, the SAT remains a test of college readiness. So, overall, the skills tested have remained largely the same. However, there have been some changes to the question types that appear on the SAT and to which skills are emphasized. Let’s take a look.

Math Section

The math concepts tested on the digital SAT are unchanged. So, you see the same topics in algebra, geometry, data analysis, and trigonometry.

However, a slightly smaller percentage of these Math questions are multiple-choice on the digital test. In the previous version, about 80% of Math questions were multiple-choice, while the other 20% were student-produced response (SPR) questions, which required you to write in an answer. On the digital SAT, that split is roughly 75% / 25%. So, given that there are 44 Math questions, there are a total of around 33 multiple-choice questions and around 11 SPR, or grid-in, questions.

KEY FACT:

On the digital SAT, about 75% of Math questions are multiple-choice and about 25% are grid-in.

Let’s look at the 4 broad topic categories of digital SAT Math questions.

Four Math Topic Categories

In the digital SAT Math section, the topics tested fall into the following 4 broad categories:

• Algebra (13–15 questions): concepts such as linear equations, linear functions, and linear inequalities
• Advanced Math (13–15 questions): concepts such as nonlinear equations, nonlinear functions, and equivalent expressions
• Problem-Solving and Data Analysis (5–7 questions): ratios, rates, percentages, probability, scatterplots, statistics, and more
• Geometry and Trigonometry (5–7 questions): area and volume, right triangles, circles, unit circle, and more

Check out our comprehensive breakdown of SAT Math topics for information about the exact types of Math questions you’ll encounter on test day. You can also try the Target Test Prep SAT Math course for 5 days for free!

Reading and Writing Section

The biggest content changes on the digital version of the SAT are in the Reading and Writing section. That said, the section tests the same broad skills that EBRW tested, including

reading comprehension and English grammar skills.

However, given the much shorter passages on the digital test, some EBRW questions are no longer practical. For instance, a Writing question on the previous SAT might ask you where to move a sentence within a paragraph, whether to keep or delete a sentence, whether to add a sentence, or how to most effectively combine 2 sentences.

On the flipside, let’s look at some new Verbal content that the digital SAT is testing. You might encounter a passage that features a series of bullet points and be asked to select the answer that effectively synthesizes them to achieve a certain aim. This type of question was not previously tested.

A few other key differences between the previous and current versions of the test: you no longer see passages that are excerpts of historical documents, but you may see questions that feature lines of poetry — something that the paper-and-pencil SAT didn’t have.

Additionally, you won’t see all those pesky questions featuring words that are easily confused (think affect/effect or advice/advise) or be tested on your ability to catch redundant statements (“declining downward” or “currently happening at the present time,” and so on).

KEY FACT:

The digital SAT may feature some poetry excerpts and some bulleted statements.

Let’s look at the 4 broad topic categories that Reading and Writing questions on the digital test fall into.

Four RW Topic Categories

Reading and Writing questions on the digital SAT fall into 4 broad categories:

• Information and Ideas (12–14 questions): questions that ask you to identify the main idea of a passage, draw inferences based on a passage, interpret information in the passage or an associated table, or choose a statement among the answer choices that logically completes the passage
• Craft and Structure (13–15 questions): questions about the main purpose of a passage, the overall structure of a passage, the function of a specific part of a passage, the meanings of words in context, or the connections between ideas in 2 different passages
• Expression of Ideas (8–12 questions): questions that ask you to select the appropriate transition words to connect 2 sentences in a passage or that ask you to synthesize bulleted notes to accomplish a specific goal (aka “rhetorical synthesis” questions)
• Standard English Conventions (11–15 questions): subject-verb agreement and pronouns-antecedent agreement, modifier placement, verb forms, appropriate use of plurals vs. possessives, punctuation, and sentence structure — in other words, grammar!

KEY FACT:

Some Information and Ideas questions may ask you to interpret tables or visuals linked to a passage.

The actual concepts and skills tested on the SAT haven’t changed dramatically with the debut of the digital exam. They’re just somewhat pared down, and in a couple of cases, tested in new ways.

We now know the major structural and content differences between the paper version of the SAT and the current digital SAT. Now that we’ve delved into the details, you can use the following chart to compare the major aspects of the 2 versions of the test.

Digital SAT vs. Paper SAT: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Key Takeaways

In this article, we’ve learned that the digital SAT format represents a major change to the test. A shorter test with fewer questions, shorter reading passages, and calculator use for all math questions means that many students are probably quite happy with the changes.

Nonetheless, students still have to master many of the same skills and concepts they needed for the paper test. Moreover, some important aspects of the SAT have stayed the same. You still take the SAT at your school or a testing center, and your test is still scored on a scale of 400–1600. Additionally, accommodations — including paper-and-pencil tests — are still available to students who need them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you take the SAT at home?

Students are not permitted to take the SAT at home. You may take the digital SAT only in schools and testing centers.

Is the digital SAT harder than the paper SAT?

Some students may consider the previous (paper) version of the SAT more difficult than the digital version because it was longer, contained longer reading passages and more question types, and allowed for calculator use in only one Math section.

What’s Next?

Are you just beginning your digital SAT prep? These 5 steps for success will get you started on the right foot.

Not sure how long you may need to study? Get expert advice here on planning your study schedule.

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