So I took a practice test on the new SAT with the Princeton Review and got an 1100 (510M 590V). The problem is I took a practice test on the Collegeboard’s Official Guide to the Redesigned SAT and got a 1270 (630M 640V) just a few weeks ago and on the Jan. 23 SAT sitting I got 1840 (630M 640W 570CR). Additionally, the Math on the TPR practice test seemed way harder (maybe it was my lack of sleep or something?? I did sleep for 5 hours and rush to their office) and the Reading and Writing were just bad. Are third party practice tests reliable or will my score be different if I take the rSAT?
Only if done in under as close to same conditions as real test as possible.
My kids did a couple practice tests at home. However, had them go to bed as they would have for the regular test; get the same amount of sleep; eat the food they would eat the day of the test; and had the same snacks as they would during the real test. We, the parents, timed them just like an official proctor would, using the same timed breaks. Even started at the same time as the real test and ended on time.
Result, both kids scored within 20 points of their practice tests on the real thing - and that is out of 2400. Therefore, for them, it was extremely accurate.
May I ask what the publisher of the test they took was? Collegeboard or third party?
College Board. However, in preparing for the practice tests, they did review the concepts from a third party book, Princeton Review.
I would stick to official material only, but if you want to venture into third party offerings, I would use the questions for learning’s sake only (practice problems essentially) and stick to College Board material to get a predicted (probably very accurate) score.
Thanks, I was really worried about that massive imbalance.
I’ll take CB Test #2 in 2 days and I’ll see how I do on that one.
My D took a test at school (PLAN test maybe???) that said her ACT would be between 26 and 30. We found this odd because she usually tests much better. She then took the ACT 3 times getting 33, 34 and finally 35. So much for the predictor. I guess it depends on the company.
Hmm, PLAN is created by the ACT test creators themselves. Seems strange. Though the PLAN would logically be a better predictor than a plain third party predictor, nothing beats the real thing.
I have been worndering about this. My son has taken two Princeton Review practice tests (as part of a prep class for the “new” SAT) and has received ridiculously high scores back. He took the last “old” SAT in January and got 1380 M/CR, but on these two Princeton Review practice tests he got a 1520 and a 1530. This seems way too high to me. Is the “new” SAT test just that much easier or are Princeton Review’s practice tests out of whack?
We have not tried one of College Board’s new practice tests yet.
Nope. I took a practice test twice and bombed it. Real test was 130 points higher on SAT.