Source: The College Board, CBS News, The New York Times

Following are some of the key ways in which the SAT will change:

• Questions on the test will be more grounded in the real world and relate directly to the kind of students will do in college and in their careers.

• The SAT will narrow its focus to key concepts that are deemed critical for college success.

• The exam will return to being scored on a 1,600-point scale, rather than 2,400 points.

• Students will no longer be penalized for wrong answers.

• The essay portion of the test will be optional and scored separately.

• The exam will last three hours, with an additional 50 minutes for the optional essay.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/education/major-changes-in-sat-announced-by-college-board.html?_r=0