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Snow Forces Cancellation Of SATs, Just As They Begin To Change

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Saturday, January 23rd, is a popular day for high school students to take those ubiquitous scholastic aptitude or SAT tests.

But, this winter snowstorm is taking its toll on students and their families as schools cancel the exams for weather.

"Frantic parents, they're all worried about what is going to happen tomorrow," Manjri Gupta told KDKA's Jon Delano on Friday.

Gupta owns Axios Tutoring in the South Hills that prepares hundreds of students to take the SATs.

"The tests are being rescheduled. It happens very often. You have many reasons for the SATs or ACTs are rescheduled, and tomorrow just happens to be the snowstorm that is hitting us," said Gupta.

Local high schools where SATs are cancelled include: Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Gateway, Greensburg Salem, McKeesport, Montour, Mt. Lebanon, Ringgold, Seton LaSalle, Trinity, Uniontown and West Allegheny.

It turns out that more than 100 schools in Pennsylvania have cancelled the SATs for this Saturday. All of them will be rescheduled, and the most likely date is Saturday, February 20th. To check on the make-up dates, click here.

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While some students may be happy for the delay, those who spent time getting prepared may have a different reaction, says Hoon Kim who helps prepare students at Pittsburgh Prep.

"I think they're somewhat disappointed at this stage because they're ready," says Kim.

"If you can think about an athlete who trains for a particular performance and due to inclement weather it got delayed, so now they have to take the helm and the mantel and postpone it and train again for the next four weeks."

But Kim says if you've prepared, don't sweat it, taking SATs is like learning to ride a bike.

"When you're ready, you're ready."

This cancellation because of snow comes at an awkward time, because the SATs are preparing to change their format on March 5th.

Gupta says the SATs had to change because the competing ACTs were becoming more popular.

Delano:  "So it's money that is driving the change?"

Gupta:  "It's a non-profit organization but it still needs to make money."

Beginning March 5th, the old SAT is replaced a the new one.

Kim says the new SAT will be more like high school exams.

"It won't be some big surprise. It won't be like 'the cat's out of the bag, this is some crazy test I've never seen before, I don't know what to do'."

"Most students will be able to take the test and say this is very, very reminiscent of the kind of learning I did in high school."

The test's focus will be evidence-based reading and writing, language testing, and math with four instead of five answer choices and no penalty for guessing answers.

And now the essay is strictly optional.

The bottom line, says Gupta, "It will be easier for those who have learned the concepts in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade, and it will be difficult for students who have not necessarily kept up at school."

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