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After the October administration of the digital SAT, many students reported that the test seemed more difficult than expected. Here are five theories that might explain this perception and advice to students deciding whether to cancel or retake the test.
The digital SAT adjusts difficulty based on student performance. Test takers who perform well on the first module receive a more challenging second module. This can make the test feel harder even though it’s a good sign; higher difficulty often indicates stronger performance. Conversely, those who receive easier second modules might find the test smoother but could be limited in achieving top scores.
Each module includes two “experimental” questions that do not count toward the final score. These are used by the College Board to test new items, but their unpredictable difficulty can distort how hard the exam feels. Because test takers don’t know which questions are experimental, they might mistakenly assume the test overall is unusually challenging.
Some Test administrations are genuinely harder or easier than others. However, the scoring algorithm adjusts for this, ensuring fairness. A difficult version allows for more errors without major score penalties, while an easier version may require near-perfect accuracy to achieve a top score.
Repeated questions can also shape students’ perceptions. The College Board has reused certain questions across practice and official tests. Students who have encountered similar material might find those sections easier, while others seeing entirely new questions could perceive the test as more difficult.
Even well-prepared students can feel added pressure when stakes are high, which can make the test seem harder. On the other hand, motivated students sometimes perform better under pressure, using extra time to review and refine their answers.
The test might have felt tougher, most of these factors do not significantly affect actual scores. Our advice to students not to cancel their scores unless a major issue occurred, such as illness or technical problems. Often, students who felt discouraged end up pleasantly surprised when results are released.
We encourage test takers to view their results as learning tools for future improvement and as a reminder consistent practice is the key to mastering the digital SAT. Sign up for free now to access personalized study plans, practice tests and questions, vocabulary and tutorial bank, mistakes review, personalized tests and college admission tools and resources.