Is the 2026 Digital SAT Actually Getting Harder, or Are Desmos-Proof Questions Just Fueling Test Anxiety?
I've been seeing a lot of debate online about whether the SAT exams administered in 2026 are noticeably harder than previous years, especially with rumors of test makers trying to 'Desmos-proof' certain math questions. For students taking upcoming tests this year, are tests actually getting harder, or is this just standard test anxiety?
14 Answers
The tests aren't fundamentally getting harder, but they \*are\* evolving! Test developers constantly tweak question types and phrasing so students can't blindly…
What does it mean for a question to be 'Desmos-proofed'? Are calculator shortcuts becoming useless?
Not useless at all, but test makers now write questions designed to test conceptual understanding rather than just algebraic plug-and-chug. If a problem require…
How is the difficulty distributed across sections? Do students find Math or Reading getting denser?
Many test-takers report that while the core math concepts remain very similar, the Reading and Writing passages have become noticeably denser, featuring trickie…
Is there any truth to the idea that some test administrations have harsher score drops than others?
Individual experiences vary widely based on test form variation and personal anxiety. However, tutors point out that while the hardest questions on recent exams…
How can students adjust their study strategy if test question types are slowly shifting?
Stop relying exclusively on recycled practice tests from years past. Dive deep into the latest official College Board Question Bank, focus heavily on conceptual…
What is the best way to handle Information and Ideas reading questions when passages feel overwhelmingly complex?
Break the passage down into single-sentence assertions. Before looking at the answer choices, summarize the author's precise claim in your own words on your scr…
Does relying too much on online forums like Reddit increase test-day panic about 'harder tests'?
Massively. Every time test scores are released or new exam dates pass, online forums fill with posts from panicked students claiming the test was impossible. Re…
Massively. Every time test scores are released or new exam dates pass, online forums fill with posts from panicked students claiming the test was impossible. Re…