SAT’s Steps Towards Representation: How the Digital SAT is Amplifying Indigenous Stories

Content changes to the digital SAT include a greater number of Reading and Writing passages with dramatically shortened word counts. Instead of 9 passages that are each 300-800 words long there are 54 passages that are each 25-150 words long. Although these shortened passages do sacrifice some depth, the sheer number of them means that College Board is able to cover a wider breadth of Literature, History/Social Studies, Humanities, and Science topics. 

After analyzing the first four officially released digital SAT practice tests, it’s clear that College Board has put substantial energy into increasing the representation of Indigenous topics among its passages, which is a welcome (and overdue) change. On the paper-and-pencil SAT, roughly 2% of Reading and Writing passages were on Indigenous topics. On the digital SAT, Indigenous topics account for an average of 9% of Reading and Writing passages. 

Why is Representation Important on the Digital SAT?

Students benefit from reading about diverse topics and passages written by a variety of voices from different backgrounds. The digital SAT’s choice to feature passages that highlight Indigenous people, works, or history is important not only because Indigenous topics are still rarely explicitly taught in schools but also because all students should have their cultures and histories represented in the texts that they read. 

Some may insist that it doesn’t matter what the topics of SAT Reading and Writing passages are. Students are reading them for the sole purpose of answering questions correctly and want to do so as quickly as possible to move onto the next section of the test. 

Apart from the fact that we’ve spent 22+ years hearing our students tell us that it’s easier for them to focus when the passages are interesting and engaging, we know that unlike certain homework assignments or English class novels, students will be reading the SAT passages. Why not have them read about the accomplishments of linguistics professor Ofelia Zepeda, fashion designer Jamie Okuma, poet Tommy Pico, or engineer Mary Golda Ross? Why not expose them to the history of the Cherokee syllabary or the importance of the “three sisters” crops (maize, squash, and beans) to the survival of early Indigenous peoples? 

Academic Approach Values Inclusivity in Education

We commend and celebrate the inclusion of Indigenous-focused passages on the digital SAT. Want to know more about the topics featured on the digital SAT? Let us know in the comments below. 

And of course, be sure to check out all of the passages featured on the four digital SATs available on College Board’s Bluebook app and Academic Approach’s practice SATs, which are available (you guessed it) only through Academic Approach—call us to schedule your free consultation now!