Metro Atlanta high school students will be taking a new version of the SAT college entrance exam on Saturday.

Students and parents are feeling anxious about the new version of the highstakes test and have beefed up test-preparation efforts as a result.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the SAT is changing its format, which will hew closer to the reading and math curriculum used in students' classrooms. The change is an effort to focus on the skills students need most for college readiness.

Students who do well on the SAT boost their chances of getting into top colleges and earning HOPE scholarships, part of which hinges on SAT scores.

For several months now, school counselors and administrators in Georgia and throughout the U.S. have tried to prepare students for the SAT changes, offering more opportunities for tutoring and practice taking the new test.

The new SAT exam will call on students to think more analytically in reading, writing and math, to show how they can use and interpret evidence to solve problems, according to Georgia Department of Education officials.

About the Author

Keep Reading

People hold candles and sing during a memorial and prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Washington. (Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP)

Credit: AP

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com