A New Era of Relevance, Reach, and Readiness for the SAT

The year 2025 marked a milestone for the SAT^® Suite of Assessments. More than two million students in the class of 2025 took the SAT, a number not seen since 2020. But beyond the return to pre-pandemic strength, the real story is a renewed commitment to reimagining how College Board supports students, families, and educators in their shared pursuit of opportunity.
At Forum 2025, Nicole Gibbs, senior director, external engagement, brought that story to life in her session, “SAT Suite of Assessments: A New Approach for Today’s Students and Schools.” She guided K–12 educators through how the SAT is entering a new chapter, grounded in a new three R’s of relevance, reach, and readiness.

Relevance

When College Board announced the transition to a digital SAT Suite in March 2023, it promised more than a new format. It promised to make the most of what digital makes possible. The result is a shorter, more relevant test that meets students where they are and reflects what they’re learning every day. The initial promise has been fulfilled: “The feedback has been incredibly positive,” Gibbs said, noting 97% of the 15 million+ students who’ve taken a digital test report a positive experience.

Now the focus is ensuring the SAT isn’t just a single moment, but a launching point. Through the BigFuture^® School mobile app, students who test on a school day can view scores, connect directly with colleges through Connections^TM, and explore potential matches via College Match, a new feature that suggests schools based on student interests and goals.

Reach

As a mission-driven organization, College Board believes opportunities should belong to every student. A student’s financial situation should never stand between them and their goals. That’s why College Board has expanded student access to SAT Weekend fee waivers, now available through a self-identification process in addition to the traditional fee waiver codes students can receive from their school counselors. New trackable codes make waivers easier to distribute and monitor.

But access isn’t only about cost. In some regions, students face long drives or limited testing options. Through partnerships with new and existing test centers, College Board has added more than 170,000 new seats in the past year alone—including a brand-new September administration—that ensures every student who wants to take the SAT has a place to do so.

Readiness

For College Board, readiness means giving students tools to grow with confidence. Our commitment to free, world-class practice resources holds steady, and we offer seven full-length digital practice tests that mirror the real SAT. Research shows that students who complete even one official full-length practice test score an average of 25 points higher than those who don’t. To make preparation more engaging, College Board’s website now includes a new Question of the Day feature for a fun, free way to build skills in reading, writing, and math.

But readiness extends beyond students. College Board is expanding multi-language resources, from websites to webinars, to help families and educators navigate every aspect of the SAT Suite, from understanding test options to interpreting scores. Why? Because, as Gibbs said, when everyone in a student’s circle is informed and supported, readiness becomes a shared journey toward opportunity.