Ultimate Guide to the Digital SAT: What Changed and How to Prepare
The SAT has fully transitioned to a digital format. If you are testing in 2025 or later, you will take the Digital SAT, a shorter and adaptive version of the exam. Many students wonder if it is harder or easier, how the modules work, and how to prepare for it. Once you understand the structure, the new format becomes much more predictable.
Tools like Curio can help. Curio creates official style SAT questions tailored to your level. Your study path starts with a short 12 question assessment that builds your Learning Profile and predicted SAT score. Every quiz adjusts difficulty as you grow, and you can ask Curio’s AI tutor for instant explanations at any time.
What Is the Digital SAT
The Digital SAT is taken on a laptop or tablet instead of paper. The content is similar to the old version, but the test is shorter and more efficient. Students receive scores faster, and the exam includes digital tools like Desmos, annotation, and answer flags.
Digital SAT vs Paper SAT
The digital version is different in several ways.
About 2 hours instead of 3
Only two sections, Reading and Writing, and Math
Multistage adaptive format
Faster score reporting
Built in calculator for the entire Math section
Shorter reading passages with one question each
The skills tested remain the same, but the experience is more streamlined.
Digital SAT Format
Reading and Writing
54 questions
64 minutes
Short passages
Grammar, logic, transitions, vocabulary in context
Math
44 questions
70 minutes
Built in Desmos calculator
Focus on algebra, functions, data, and problem solving
Both sections contain two modules. Your performance in Module 1 determines the difficulty of Module 2.
How Adaptive Testing Works
The SAT begins with a baseline module. If you perform well, your second module becomes more challenging. Scoring is based on both accuracy and difficulty. High difficulty modules allow higher scaled scores. This makes consistency more important than grinding through long passages.
How to Prepare for the Digital SAT
Use adaptive practice
The real test is adaptive, so study tools should be too. Curio’s quizzes adjust to your level and mirror the exam structure.
Master high yield topics
Focus on grammar rules, reading logic, and algebra. These appear most often.
Take digital practice tests
Use official Digital SAT tests to learn timing and navigation.
Learn Desmos
The built in graphing calculator is a major advantage if you know how to use it effectively.
Review your mistakes
Understanding why an answer was wrong improves your score faster than simply completing more questions.
Test Day Tips
Charge your device fully
Bring your charger and ID
Install Bluebook in advance
Arrive early
Know how to use the built in tools
The Digital SAT is shorter, modern, and more predictable than the old version. Once you understand the format and practice adaptively, it becomes much easier to navigate. Use this guide to get familiar with the new structure, and pair it with Curio’s adaptive SAT practice for personalized preparation.