關於新版SAT考綱 你應該知道的一些事

The new SAT will soon arrive on a wave of bold promises. The College Board has said its redesigned admission test would contain “no more mysteries.” Instead of being a riddle to solve, it would correspond with high-school curriculums and better reflect what students have learned.

伴隨着一波大膽的承諾，新版SAT即將面世。美國大學理事會(College Board)宣稱，這一重新設計的入學測試將“不再神祕”。SAT將不再令人困惑猜疑，相反，它將與高中課程密切相關，從而更好地成爲學生所學知識的真實反映。

The pitch sounds good. But is it true?

這個說法聽起來不錯，但實際情況是否如此？

In the spirit of good prep, let’s review what we know so far. The new SAT, which debuts in March, will look a lot different from the current version. Instead of three sections, there will be two: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Each will be scored on a 200-to-800 scale. There will no longer be a penalty for guessing, and the odds will be better (the number of possible answers will decrease from 5 to 4). The now-required essay will be optional.

本着不打無準備之仗的精神，讓我們來回顧一下，迄今爲止我們對新版SAT都有什麼瞭解。新版SAT將在2016年3月開始實施。它與目前的版本大不相同。考試從三部分轉爲兩部分：數學、基於證據的閱讀與寫作。每一部分的分值爲200-800分。猜測錯誤的答案不再有倒扣分，猜測正確的概率也會比過去更高（每道題的選項從5個降到了4個）。作文在現在的版本中屬於必答部分，在新版則會變成可選部分。

As for content, the revamped test draws heavily from the Common Core — math and reading benchmarks adopted by most states. Those standards emphasize evidence-based interpretations of texts, vocabulary used in college and careers, and depth-over-breadth math skills. And yes, although the exam will not be the mirror image of the ACT, the two are about to become much more similar.

改革後的SAT考試大量借鑑美國共同核心課程標準(common core)——美國大多數州都已經採用這一數學和閱讀的教學標準。這個標準強調基於證據的文章解讀、大學裏和職場中所常用的詞彙、以及注重深度而非廣度的數學技能訓練。沒錯，雖然新版SAT尚不至於和ACT考試如出一轍，但是這兩個考試的確會變得更加相似。

The changes get mixed reviews. Some testing experts who’ve studied the College Board’s sample questions describe them as more relevant and less gimmicky. Others foresee problems, especially for those who struggle with reading.

公衆對這次的SAT改革評價不一。一些研究過美國大學理事會樣題的業內專家表示，這些考題更加貼近學習內容，取巧的可能較小。也有些專家表示擔心，認爲閱讀能力較差的學生尤其可能會遇到一些問題。

“The new SAT will align better with what kids are learning in school,” said Ned Johnson, founder of PrepMatters, a test-preparation service in Bethesda, Md., and co-author of “Conquering the SAT.” “But if you haven’t gone to a school that’s prepared you well, the test isn’t going to serve you well.”

PrepMatters的創始人內德·約翰遜(Ned Johnson)指出：“新版SAT更加貼近於孩子們在學校裏學習的內容。”PrepMatters是一家位於馬里蘭州貝塞斯達市(Bethesda, Md.)的備考服務公司。約翰遜也是《攻克SAT》(Conquering the SAT)一書的合著作者。他說：“可是，如果學校沒有把你教好，那麼這個新版考試對你則不會有什麼幫助。”

Although the SAT is evolving, not all of its stripes are changing. Test-taking savvy is still going to make a big difference when students pick up those No. 2 pencils. So let’s take a closer look at some of the changes — and why they matter.

儘管SAT有諸多變化，新舊版本並非全然不同。當孩子們拿起2號鉛筆準備考試的時候，考前的充分準備依然會起到很大的作用。因此，讓我們再一起仔細研究一下，新版SAT都做了哪些改變，以及這些改變爲何重要。

First, the reading section won’t be so “recondite,” because obscure words like that are disappearing. The test will no longer ask students to complete sentences. Now they will have to derive the meaning of widely used words based on context. Test takers should expect to see words that can be used in different ways (“measured,” “disposed”). Instead of recalling a definition from vocabulary flash cards, they’ll have to read prose passages carefully to choose an answer.

首先，閱讀部分不會再像以前那樣“深奧晦澀”(recondite)。考試中不再會有諸如像“recondite”那樣的生僻詞彙，簡單的選詞填空這一題型也已被取消。現在，學生們需要根據上下文找出常用詞的正確含義。考題裏會考察的詞語通常在不同語境下會有不同的意思（比如“measured”詞義有測量的、有板有眼的、小心謹慎的等等；“disposed”詞義有丟棄的、有[某種]偏好等等）。簡單地記憶單詞卡上的定義是不夠的，考生們必須仔細閱讀文章段落才能選出正確答案。

How should students prepare? By reading often and diving into various kinds of texts, especially nonfiction, tutors say. That’s more a long-term strategy than a quick test-prep trick. Habitual reading can also help on the writing section, which will demand prolonged concentration. To answer questions about grammar, punctuation and usage, students will have to wade through extended passages relating to history, humanities and science.

學生應該如何爲此做準備呢？備考輔導老師們認爲，他們應該經常深入閱讀各種書籍文章，尤其是非小說類作品。這不是臨陣磨槍的考前技巧，相反，這是一個長期的策略。閱讀習慣對寫作部分也大有裨益，這一部分要求考生能夠長時間地保持專注。學生們必須讀完有關歷史、人文、科學等方面的冗長段落，才能回答有關語法、標點及詞彙使用的問題。

What’s true of the writing section is true of the new SAT in general: There’s much more to read. “The most fundamental change is that there are many, many more words,” said Aaron Golumbfskie, education director for PrepMatters. “If you don’t read well and happily, this test isn’t going to be your friend.”

不僅寫作部分是這樣，整個新版的SAT也是這樣。閱讀的比重在整個考試中都大大加強。“最根本的改變就是要讀的東西多了很多很多。”PrepMatter的教育總監亞倫·過朗夫斯克(Aaron Golumbfskie)說道，“如果你不善於閱讀，又不喜愛閱讀的話，那麼這個考試對你來說會很難過。”

Even the math section will require more reading, with fewer questions based on equations and more word problems. Some prompts will present the same type of real-world situations that the Common Core emphasizes — “The recommended daily calcium intake for a 20-year-old is 1,000 milligrams (mg). One cup of milk contains 299 mg....” Mr. Golumbfskie describes the math section as “tighter in focus.” The current test covers a lot of ground, with a question or two on each topic; the new one will drill down into a few key areas. Geometry is fading out. Algebra is stepping up: Prepare for linear equations and inequalities, and systems of equations in two variables.

即使是數學部分也需要更多的閱讀。考試中純方程式題目減少了，應用題增加了。有些試題會以共同核心課程標準強調的實際生活案例爲題。例如：“醫生推薦的20歲成人鈣攝入量爲每日1000毫克。一杯牛奶含299毫克……”過朗夫斯克解釋說，數學部分的重點更加集中了。目前的老版本考試範圍很廣，每個數學科目都會有一兩道考題。新版則會更深入地考察較少的關鍵科目。平面幾何將從考試中淡出。代數的比重則會增加，考生要在線性方程、不等式、二元方程等方面做好準備。

The addition of more-advanced math, such as trigonometry, means the test will cover material from a greater number of courses. That will make it more difficult for students to take the SAT early. Some questions will require knowledge of statistics, a course relatively few students take in high school. And because one math section will prohibit the use of a calculator, students who use them in class may want to practice tackling calculations with pencil and paper.

新版還增加了更深的數學科目，比如三角函數。這也意味着這一考試涵蓋了更多數學科目內容，因而，在低年級就參加SAT考試不再那麼容易。有些問題還會用到統計學知識，而這門課並非每個高中生的必修課。另外，一部分數學考試將不再允許使用計算器。因此，習慣在課堂上使用計算器的學生應該考慮做一些筆算練習。

After getting through all that math, test takers who opt to write the essay will have a much different assignment than they do today. The prompts, which will look familiar to those who’ve taken Advanced Placement English, ask for a critical response to a specific argument. In: analysis. Out: writing about your personal experiences. For example: Read excerpts from a 1967 speech by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and explain how he used evidence, reasoning and/or stylistic elements to support his argument that American involvement in the Vietnam War was unjust.

做完所有的數學部分以後，選擇考作文的考生會面臨與今天迥然不同的新任務。作文題會要求學生對一個指定論點作出批判性的迴應。對參加過英語大學預修課考試(Advanced Placement)的學生來說，這樣的題型看起來會很熟悉。作文着重分析，而不再要求描述個人經歷。請看下面這個例子：請閱讀下面這段牧師馬丁·路德·金博士的1967年演講節選，並解釋他如何使用證據、推理或修辭方法來支持美國參與越戰是不公正的這一論點。

As much as any other modification, the new essay captures the spirit of the new SAT, which underscores the importance of evidence. Questions throughout will require students to cite specific examples that support their answers. No longer can they get by on writing skills alone.

新的作文要求與新版SAT的其他改動一致，都體現了強調證據之重要性這一精髓。作文部分從頭到尾都會要求學生用具體例子來支持他們的答案。他們不再可以僅僅依靠寫作技巧來答題。

With all the new stuff to consider, it’s easy to forget about what’s not changing. At 3 hours 50 minutes (with the essay), the SAT is still a long, exhausting test. Besides measuring what students have learned, it will measure how they perform under pressure in a high-stakes situation — just like the old model.

這麼多新變化都需要考慮，我們很容易忘記還有一些地方並沒有改變。（包括作文部分的）SAT考試時間是3小時50分鐘，它依然是一場漫長而艱苦的考試。除了對學生所學知識進行檢驗，它也能夠測量他們在重要場合下的抗壓能力。這一點和老版本完全一致。

Adam Ingersoll, a founder of Compass Education Group, a California test-prep service, said the College Board has made the SAT more resistant to the beat-the-test strategies his industry is known for teaching: “The mysteriousness of the test — they are actively trying to bleed that out.”

亞當·英格索羅(Adam Ingersoll)是加州一家備考服務公司Compass Education Group的創始人之一。英格索羅認爲美國大學理事會對SAT所做的改變使其能更好地應對業內風行的“應考策略”：“他們在主動地儘量排除所謂的SAT考試的神祕性。”

But maybe not completely. While poring over sample questions, Mr. Ingersoll spotted the same “trap doors” — questions designed to distract or confuse and to enhance the test’s difficulty — that he finds in the current version.

不過他們在這方面的努力還沒有完全成功。通過對樣題的仔細研究，英格索羅發現了和老版本同樣的“試題陷阱”——這些試題被故意設計來迷惑和誤導考生，從而增加考試的難度。

Colleges use the SAT to sort applicants, and a wide distribution of scores helps them do that. “You can’t have all students getting a 750,” Mr. Ingersoll said. “It needs to be a benchmark of students’ achievement, but that is at odds with selective colleges’ need to have a test that sorts and ranks. These quirks and trap doors make the test perform the way it needs to.”

SAT考分被大學用來對申請人進行篩選，將學生的得分拉開會對這些學校有所幫助。“我們不能讓所有學生都考750分。”英格索羅說道，“這個考試應該是一個學生學習成就的測驗，可是一衆精英院校需要的卻是一個用來評估學生的篩選測驗。這些特別的試題陷阱有助於讓這個考試達到篩選的目的。”

So the big question burning up the web: Which version should I take? The answer could come down to timing. Students have just three more chances to take the current SAT — the last testing date is Jan. 23.

當前在網上最火的問題就是：我應該選擇參加哪個版本的考試呢？這個問題的答案最終取決於時間。學生們只剩下三次機會可以選擇老版SAT——最後一次老版SAT考試是1月23日。

One advantage of sticking with the current version: It’s a known quantity, and plenty of review materials exist. Those who were happy with their PSAT scores might want to take the soon-to-be-old SAT, which would look familiar to them. “There’s not a test-prep tutor anywhere who could look a family in the eye and say, ‘We can do as good a job for you on the new SAT this year,’” Mr. Ingersoll said.

堅持考老版本SAT的好處是：我們對這個考試有充分的瞭解，市面上充盈着豐富的複習資料。對之前PSAT考分滿意的學生可以考慮老版SAT，因爲這兩個考試的結構會比較接近。英格索羅說：“沒有一個備考私教敢大言不慚地對一家人說：‘今年我們幫助你對新版SAT做的準備會和過去一樣出色。’”

Most students take the SAT for the first time in spring of their junior year. Those who don’t want to rush might decide that the new test, though less familiar, fits their schedule better. But remember this: The first cohort to take the new SAT, in March, won’t get their scores until after the next test date, in May. That’s about double the current wait time.

多數學生會在11年級春季學期第一次考SAT。有些不想倉促上陣的學生可能會決定選擇新版。雖然他們對新版考試不一定很熟，然而考試的時間安排或許對他們會更爲有利。但請記住：第一批在3月參加新版SAT考試的考生要等到5月的SAT考試以後才能得到分數報告。這個從考試到發佈分數的時間是現在等待時間的兩倍。

The second question everyone is asking: Is the new test harder? No, several test preppers insist, though some students might stumble over the longer reading passages, the deeper dive into math and questions that require multiple steps to reach an answer. Those concerns could drive many students to take the old test — or the ACT.

大家都在問的第二個問題是：新版考試是否會更難？一些備考專家們認爲不會。但是，較長的閱讀段落，以及更深的、需要分幾步才能得到答案的數學題有可能會使一些學生摔跟頭。這些擔憂會促使許多學生選擇考老版SAT，或者ACT。

Some expect that the new SAT will be even more challenging for the disadvantaged. By weaving more tightly into high-school curriculum, the test would seem to best serve students at high-performing schools, with the strong teachers who prepare them for state standards, as well as affluent students with access to test prep.

有些專家預期，新版SAT對弱勢學生羣體會是個更大的挑戰。因爲這個考試與高中課程聯繫得更加緊密，所以它對好學校裏的學生最爲有利。這些學校裏有雄厚的師資力量來幫助學生達到各州的學習標準，而學生富裕的經濟條件也使他們得以接受備考服務。

“There’s a new body style on the Chevrolet, but it has zero to do with performance — the engine’s the same,” said Jay Rosner, the Princeton Review Foundation’s executive director, who tutors low-income and underrepresented minority students. “It’s going to generate the same hierarchy of scores that exists now.”

普林斯頓評論基金會(Princeton Review Foundation)的執行總監傑·羅斯那(Jay Rosner)說：“這次的考試改革如同雪弗蘭汽車換了一款新的車身，但是這個改變對這款車型的性能表現毫無影響——汽車的發動機還是和原來一樣。”羅斯那是低收入和弱勢少數族裔學生的輔導老師。他說：“新版SAT會產生和現在同樣的分數等級。”