I have to take the SAT or ACT®. Where do I start?
So, your colleges of choice are asking for SAT or ACT® test scores. One of the first things you should do before you begin test preparation is to take both a baseline SAT and ACT® to determine which test is best for you.
Although both the ACT® and SAT are used by schools to assess the college-readiness of applicants, these are very different tests in format, style and even some content. The ACT® is a paper-based test that includes a Science section in addition to English, Math and Reading sections, whereas the SAT is an adaptive digital test that tests Reading, Writing and Math. The good news is that all four-year U.S. colleges accept scores from both tests, so you should pick the test that is better for you. Taking both baseline tests will allow you to compare scores to see which is higher and determine which test you are most comfortable with and which test best fits your test-taking style.
How do I take a practice test?
While you can self-proctor or ask someone to proctor a test for you at home, taking an SAT or ACT® baseline test that is professionally proctored is the best option. Taking a practice test in a classroom with other students and a proctor who is familiar with the instructions and timing requirements of a test provides a more realistic test taking experience and therefore the most accurate score. Even a virtual test with a proctor timing you is a more realistic experience than you setting your own timer.
Make sure your baseline tests meet testing standards.
Whether you are taking an SAT or ACT® baseline test at home or are scheduling a baseline test at school or with a tutoring company, make sure the baseline tests meet the following criteria:
The Baseline SAT or ACT® is an official test.
When taking an SAT or ACT® baseline test, make sure that the test you take is an official test recently released by the ACT® or College Board. Some tutoring firms use their own tests as baseline tests, but these unofficial tests may not reflect the content or level of difficulty of actual tests. They also may not predict the scaled score as accurately as an official test will. When proctoring baseline tests, Marks Education uses official ACT®s released in the last 2 years or digital SATs released by the College Board.
The Baseline SAT or ACT® is a full-length test.
Some companies administer partial practice tests. While you can get the general feel of a test from a sampling of questions, condensed tests will not give you an accurate picture of which test is better for you. For example, the ACT® is challenging because of the pace at which you need to work in order to complete the full test. A condensed ACT® will not give you a realistic idea of the fatigue you might feel by the time you get to the science section at the end of the test. Similarly, a shorter test will not indicate how you manage your time on a full test and may not give you a good sense of the full range of question types for some sections.
The Baseline SAT or ACT® is administered under the same conditions as the actual test.
As much as possible you want your performance on your baseline test to indicate how you would perform if you were taking an actual ACT® or SAT. This means that you are following the given instructions for each test section. On the ACT®, you should be recording your answers on a bubble sheet with a number two pencil using an approved calculator and taking the test in a single sitting within the officially allotted time. On the SAT, you should be using the College Board’s Bluebook App and taking the test in a single sitting. Again, taking SAT and ACT® baseline tests in a classroom or testing center will provide you with a more realistic testing environment than taking the test at home or in another familiar setting.
Don’t forget about accommodations!
If you have been granted any accommodations, such as extended time or the ability to mark answers in the testing booklet, you should take your baseline test with the accommodations approved by the College Board or ACT®.
Will someone help me understand my baseline results?
If you are proctoring your own test, it is important to review your answers so that you know your strengths and weaknesses. If you are taking an SAT or ACT® baseline test at a tutoring firm, a tutor may be available to review your results with you and discuss a potential tutoring plan. Please note—some tutoring firms charge for consultations while others offer them as a complimentary service.
At Marks Education, we offer free in-person and virtual proctored tests every Sunday. We use official tests released in the last two years. We also offer a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your test results and outline a tutoring plan.
Contact Marks Education to sign up for baseline testing today.
