For a long time, the SAT has been defined by its vocabulary-intensive structure and somewhat eccentric math questions; however, this era has officially come to an end. The SAT testing on Saturday, Jan. 23 marked the final SAT testing in the old format. As the “new and improved” SAT begins in March, many juniors this year made the conscious choice to study and take the test in the fall, rather than the spring.

“I just figured that there was more information on it; so, it would be easier to prep for, and I would had more options,” said junior Kyra Benowitz on her decision to take the old SAT instead of the new SAT.

While the end of such testing might suggest extra pressure for students taking the old SAT, many survived with little more than the ordinary stress these types of standardized tests induce. Even those who approached the final testing as a “one-and-done” situation found minimal stress during the exam, though some wished they had the opportunity to take the test multiple times.

Junior Blake Stoner-Osborne, who took the “one-and-done” approach, said, “I like that I only have the stress of taking it once, but I would have liked the security blanket of being able to take more.”

Others who took the January SAT felt some pressure, but not necessarily for fear of taking the new SAT. Rather, these students were concerned about studying for a completely new test after studying intensely for the old SAT.

“It added pressure since it was the last one and I had studied for that format and I wanted to get it right,” said Benowitz.

While the SAT is changing, standardized tests for college are, of course, not disappearing. With the new SAT as well as the original ACT, students have more options and, as a result, less stress. Even after the end of the old SAT, they can still sign up to take the other two tests afterwards if they are not happy with their scores. Some even see the three different testing options as an extra opportunity.

“In a way, I think we’re lucky because we have three different tests to choose from,” said junior Ray Mosko. “I think the change is beneficial too because it is more suited to what we’re learning.”

However, no matter the opinion or score on the old SAT, its era is over. And with this good-bye, a new era begins of less vocab, common core, and the new SAT.