The College Board has published a guide to help students gird themselves for the S.A.T. I: Reasoning Test, the successor to the Scholastic Aptitude Test that will make its debut next March.
The new S.A.T. places greater emphasis on critical reading and problem-solving. In response to concerns about students’ dim writing abilities, the College Board also is rolling out a new Writing Test in May.
The 260-page guidebook, the largest ever published by the College Board, explains the new S.A.T. format introduced in October 1990. It also offers test-taking tips and includes a practice exam.
In the guide, the board--which traditionally, has given the evil eye to for-profit test-preparation books and coaching services--encourages test-takers to make educated guesses, follow seven “golden rules’’ of test-taking, and never forget that the test measures ability, not intelligence.
“Introducing the New S.A.T.: The College Board’s Official Guide,’' is available in bookstores for $12.
It also can be ordered directly from the College Board for $12 plus $3.95 for shipping and handling. Write to College Board Publications, Box 886, New York, N.Y. 10101-0886.--M.P.