College Board announces new digital SAT exams

The College Board, the organization that administers standardized exams like the SAT and PSAT, announced today that tests will be delivered digitally internationally in 2023 and in the United States by 2024.

The change doesn’t mean that the popular and controversial college entrance exam can be taken from home. Schools and official testing centers will continue to offer the exams with a proctor.

“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give and more relevant,” said Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president of college readiness exams at the College Board. “We’re not simply putting the current SAT on a digital platform. We’re taking full advantage of what delivering an exam digitally makes possible.”

The digital SAT will take less time, shortening from three hours to two. The exam will feature shorter reading passages but include a wider range of topics. Calculators may be used for the entire math section, and students will get their scores back within days instead of weeks. Students may also use their own devices like laptops or tablets to take the exam. The exam also will automatically save a student’s progress if they lose internet connectivity.

The new system also ensures every student receives a unique test, making it “practically impossible” to share answers.

Mumbai University Postponds Hospitality Exams, Don Bosco Students' Express Concern

Mumbai University Postponds Hospitality Exams, Don Bosco Students' Express Concern | Representative image

The eagerly awaited Semester 5 final exams for the Hospitality Department at Don Bosco College, Kurla West, have yet to receive a confirmed date, causing widespread concern among students. Originally scheduled for November, the absence of a clear examination schedule has left students in limbo, impacting their future plans and professional routes.

Student Concerns

Orion Murzello, a final-year student in the Hospitality Department at Don Bosco College, expressed his apprehensions on the matter. "The exams were supposed to be held in November, and we were planning to start our professional lives in April-May. However, this delay disrupts everything," he stated.

Another student from the Hospitality department, also voiced concerns, attributing the delay to the university misplacing answer sheets twice for Semester 6 exams. "The university just recently released our KT results after multiple delays. This continuous delay from the university's side is creating tension among the students," the student remarked.

Head Of Hospitality Department Expresses Concerns

The Free Press Journal sought insight from Annabelle Rodrigues, the head of the Hospitality Department at Don Bosco College, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Rodrigues clarified that the college is following the regulations established by Mumbai University, as the college is associated with MU. Consequently, the college cannot conduct exams until the university establishes the dates. Expressing frustration, she said, "We have continuously reached out to concerned Mumbai University officials on this matter but have received no concrete answers."

"This isn't the first time; we faced the same issue last year," she added.

Highlighting the repercussions of the delay, Rodrigues emphasized, "This delay means the final Semester 6 exams for students currently in Semester 5 will be conducted in May-June, following the 120-day pattern for the course. Students have already signed up for jobs, and this delay is just disappointing."

Despite the students' readiness and preparation for the exams, Rodrigues stated that the lack of a confirmed exam date has compelled students to move ahead and study Semester 6 portions without completing the Semester 5 exams.

On December 14, Mumbai University released the KT exam results for Semester 5 students but provided no confirmation on the final exam dates.

Mumbai University's Response

The Free Press Journal also engaged with an examination department official from Mumbai University to address the concerns raised.

The university official acknowledged that the university has not yet issued exam dates but sought to allay concerns, stating, "We usually set dates from November to January for exams, and there is nothing to worry about in this matter."

Mumbai University clarified that the initially scheduled dates for November had to be postponed due to technical difficulties but assured that the exam dates would be declared shortly.

All about studying Hospitality & Tourism

Hospitality and Tourism deal with catering to customer preferences in the hospitality industry such as accommodation, transport, and food. Tourism in the aforementioned industry is a branch of hospitality that caters to customers’ tourism preferences like providing transportation packages for desirable destinations.  

Read More:Top Hospitality Colleges in India

Undergraduate Level 

Explore other top arts colleges in major cities of India:Top Arts Colleges in Kolkata | Delhi NCR | Bangalore | Chennai 

Explore other top B.Sc colleges in major cities of India:Top B.Sc Colleges in Delhi NCR | Kolkata | Hyderabad 

Explore other top B.Sc colleges in major cities of India:Top BBA Colleges in Kolkata | Pune | Hyderabad | Ahmedabad | Bangalore | Lucknow | Delhi NCR 

Postgraduate Level 

Here are a few top specializations in the field: 

Hospitality and Hotel Management 

This specialization deals with imparting education to students that teaches them how to treat guests warmly. Additionally, it teaches the students how to manage the different departments of a hotel. Some sub-specialisations under this category are: 

Travel and Tourism 

Travel and Tourism deal with an individual’s tourism and travel requirements. They work on arranging travel conveyances to the individual’s desired destination. Additionally, they also come up with lucrative tour packages for individuals. Students interested in pursuing a career in travel and tourism can opt for the following sub-specialisations: 

Culinary Arts 

Culinary Arts teaches a student how to prepare, cook, present, and serve food. Some sub-specialisations under this category are as follows:

Also Read:

Undergraduate Level 

Postgraduate Level 

Undergraduate Level 

Some of the top entrance exams for the undergraduate level are: 

Postgraduate Level 

Here are a few skill sets that students pursuing hospitality and tourism are expected to develop: 

An undergraduate course in hospitality and tourism at a private university is expected to be anywhere between 6.94K - 3.00L. 

A postgraduate course in hospitality and tourism from a government university is expected to be anywhere between 5.00K - 10.41K.  

Please note that all the numbers mentioned above are estimates and that the course fee differs from university to university.

Here is a list of scholarships for Hospitality and Tourism students:

Some Institutions offering hospitality and tourism courses have placement officials that provide internship requirements to students in need of one. 

Listed below are some fields that hospitality and tourism students can opt for while looking for internship opportunities: 

Here are a few institutions that offer courses in hospitality and tourism abroad: 

Mentioned below are some job profiles that students of hospitality and tourism get placed in: 

The approximate starting salary of a hospitality and tourism professional is between 20,000K-70,000K per month. 

Candidates looking for similar subjects to this sector could opt for Food and Beverage Service, Housekeeping Management, Environmental Studies, Tourism and Marketing Management, Bakery and Confectionery, etc. 

What is the highest-paying job in the hospitality sector? 

The highest paying jobs are those of Hotel Managers, Casino Restaurant Directors, Travel Managers, Restaurant Managers, Chefs, Food and Beverage Managers, and Banquet and Room Sales Head. 

What is the difference between Hotel Management and Hospitality? 

Hotel Management courses educate the candidate on the management of different sectors of a hotel. Hospitality Management, on the other hand, educates the candidate on the workings of the entire hospitality industry including the workings of a hotel. This also includes but is not limited to educating the candidate on the functioning of the airline industry. 

What are the top recruiting companies for hospitality and tourism students? 

Read More: