College Board Confirms Digital SAT Rollout, Debunks Satirical 'Virtue Signaling' Claim

Washington D.C. – The College Board has definitively refuted a viral claim suggesting the replacement of the SAT with a "standardized virtue signaling" assessment, clarifying that the rumor originated from satirical news sources. Instead, the organization has been implementing a significant transition to a fully digital SAT exam, a change that began internationally in March 2023 and was fully rolled out in the United States in March 2024. The satirical tweet from "Associated Fress" stating, > "US College Board To Replace SATs With Standardized Virtue Signaling," has been widely debunked by fact-checking organizations.

The actual changes to the SAT involve a move to a digital format, making the test shorter and adaptive. This new digital SAT is designed to be more efficient, with a total testing time of approximately two hours, compared to the previous three-hour paper-based exam. Students now take the test on a computer or tablet, and a built-in graphing calculator is available for the entire math section.

This digital transformation aims to enhance test security, provide quicker score delivery, and offer a more streamlined testing experience for students. The College Board announced these comprehensive changes well in advance, detailing the shift from paper-and-pencil tests to a secure digital platform. The adaptive nature of the test means that the difficulty of subsequent questions adjusts based on a student's performance, tailoring the exam more precisely to individual skill levels.

Fact-checking organizations, including Snopes and Lead Stories, have confirmed that the notion of a "standardized virtue signaling" test is entirely false. These reports trace the origin of the claim to satirical websites like The Babylon Bee, known for publishing humorous and often exaggerated content. The College Board has consistently maintained its focus on academic readiness and skill assessment through its standardized tests.

The College Board continues to evolve its assessment tools to meet the needs of students and higher education institutions in a changing landscape. The digital SAT represents a modern update to a long-standing college admissions examination, focusing on core academic skills in reading, writing, and math, rather than any form of social or political signaling.