The SAT, long time nemesis of the aspiring high school student, is finally changing. As of January 24, the new (and improved?) SAT will replace the current test, with some major differences.

First of all, the scoring system is different. The new SAT will be graded on a 1600 point scale as opposed to the old system of 2400 points. This change, however, is unlikely to affect you in any way unless you want to compare new scores with old ones.

What will affect you is the new material. There is a lot of new content tested in the refined SAT, including science and social studies questions. For those that are lacking in math and english skill, this is good news for you– it means an easier test. But don’t worry, there’s also good news for anyone bad at all subjects, because the SAT has eliminated the penalty for guessing.

Additionally, the critical reading section will be brimming with new vocabulary words. According to ETS (Educational Testing Service), these new words will be words that you will find helpful throughout your life and actually use.

Perhaps the biggest change is in the English section. The SAT will no longer require that students take the essay portion of the test. If you are one of the many students that are not fond of essays, this is certainly a positive difference.

Unfortunately, there’s a catch. The colleges will now determine whether they will require applicants to take the essay, and it is expected that most Universities will still want it.

All in all, the SAT is moving towards the characteristics of its cousin, the ACT. Whether this will help you or hurt you depends on your individual abilities and preferences, but it isn’t likely to change again soon.