New Test, New Era The SAT Becomes Kentucky’s Next Big Step for Students

New Test, New Era

The SAT Becomes Kentucky’s

Next Big Step for Students

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

Big changes are coming for Kentucky high schoolers — and this one could redefine how students across the state prepare for college. After years of bubbling answers on ACT sheets, juniors will soon be logging in for something entirely new. The Commonwealth is turning the page on an old tradition and embracing a modern, digital future for college admissions testing.

Kentucky is officially swapping out the ACT for the SAT as the state’s college entrance exam, beginning in the spring of 2026. Every high school junior across the Commonwealth will take the SAT free of charge, according to Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher, who shared the news in a statewide announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

“This marks a significant shift, but one that will open new doors for students as they prepare for life after high school,” Fletcher said.

For years, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) partnered with ACT, Inc. to provide the ACT as the state’s college admissions test. That contract, however, expired on June 30. Under a new four-year agreement with The College Board, the SAT will now serve as Kentucky’s state-funded college admissions exam. The deal locks in the cost at $30 per student, which KDE estimates could save the state up to $350,000 annually.

The transition followed Kentucky’s Model Procurement Code — a set of regulations designed to ensure transparency and fairness in large-scale state contracts — and was overseen by the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet. Although a formal protest was filed against the decision in July, the cabinet reviewed and dismissed it in September, finding no grounds for reversal.

Students will take the exam through The College Board’s SAT School Day program, which allows schools to administer the test during a six-week window beginning March 2. The SAT will be delivered entirely online and supervised by school staff.

Unlike the traditional paper format, the new digital SAT is a multistage, adaptive test — meaning it adjusts question difficulty based on student performance. The exam includes two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section has two timed modules of equal length. How a student performs on the first module determines the difficulty level of the second.

The full test lasts about two hours and 14 minutes. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, and an additional “Analysis in Science” score is generated from questions woven throughout the test, rather than a separate science section. This adaptive structure makes the SAT shorter and more streamlined than previous versions.

Fletcher emphasized that this change not only modernizes testing in Kentucky but also gives students access to free, personalized SAT practice tools and faster score reporting. The SAT is widely accepted at colleges and universities across Kentucky and the U.S., and it connects students with national scholarship programs.

Previously, juniors took the ACT in the spring and could retake it later on their own — an option that remains available for those who wish to do so. However, the new contract applies only to the mandatory SAT School Day administration for juniors.

Priscilla Rodriguez, head of the SAT program at The College Board, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “We’re thrilled to work with the Kentucky Department of Education and schools statewide to provide a next generation testing experience,” Rodriguez said. “The SAT will not only give educators meaningful insights into student learning but also provide families with valuable tools to help chart college and career paths.”

This isn’t just a new test — it’s a new opportunity. The SAT’s digital, adaptive format is designed to work for you, giving you faster feedback, more prep resources, and connections to scholarships that could help shape your future.

So, when testing day rolls around, remember you’re not just taking another exam — you’re stepping into the next chapter of what Kentucky education can be.