How accurate is the Collegeboard practice SAT in comparison to the real test?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
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<p>I've been studying all summer because of how poorly i've been doing on the math and reading sections compared to where i should be. I manage to get a 5 on Ap Language and Comp, yet i'm only pulling a 650 on reading. Same with math, only a 670.</p>

<p>Just happened to stumble upon the practice test tonight so i figured i'd take a stab at the math section. Only got two wrong..pretty damn happy lol.</p>

<p>Now im wondering, how realistic is that test compared to an SAT i'll be taking in the fall? Do you guys think it's easier or just about the same difficulty i'll be seeing?</p>

<p>TL;DR Got a near perfect score on math section, is this test harder, easier , or about the same as a normal SAT?</p>

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<p>Since it is made my the people who make the actual test, it is the most accurate thing out there.</p>

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<p>Wow, that’s pretty good news for me then</p>

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<p>Are you talking about the practice tests in the blue college board book???</p>

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<p>The practice test on the collegeboard website under the practice tab.</p>

<p>I actually just ordered their official book off amazon (it was like 10 dollars lol) with 10 or so tests. So if you have any indication as to how accurate either of them are, i’d love to hear it.</p>

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<p>The CB practice tests are actual exams. The current (2011-12) one is the January, 2006 SAT.</p>

<p>The first three tests in the current blue book are also actual exams as well. As “accurate” as you can get.</p>

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<p>fignewton - Are you talking about the first 3 tests in the blue book??</p>

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<p>Yes. Respectively, they are the October 2006, January 2007, and May 2007 SATs.</p>

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<p>fignewton - how similar you think the JAN 07 test is to the one they have currently. I am taking SAT next year. DId they make any huge change since 07"??</p>

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<p>No, there aren’t any changes at all in the SAT since then. Unless you count score choice, and the security changes starting this fall.</p>

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<p>I think the interesting part of ExoGenesis’ original question is the accuracy of the scores, not the accuracy of the test questions. My daughter (entering 11th grade) has started taking the official practice SAT math tests, and is scoring about 590. She took the actual SAT three years ago for the CTY program and scored a 600 on the math (even before taking geometry in school!) This doesn’t make sense. She’s really good in math. I think there’s a real chance that the scoring tables have been revised to avoid upsetting people who might score a lot lower on the real test than on the practice tests.</p>

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<p>Well, based on the curve spread:
<a href=“http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/SAT-Released-Test-Curves.pdf[/url]”>http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/SAT-Released-Test-Curves.pdf&lt;/a&gt;
the scoring guidelines have not changed much. I’m also entering junior year like your daughter, and I also took the SAT 3 years ago for CTY. I remember second-guessing myself on a few questions there but managed an 800. Now, however, when I take practice SAT’s, I finish math sections in about 6 minutes and I’m only worried about dumb mistakes.</p>

<p>I think your daughter’s performance more or less has to do with prep she may have done in 8th grade but not now (that she may have forgotten).</p>

<p>EDIT: sorry I miscomprehended your meaning. Still, the first 3 tests out of the blue book are real tests, and their scaled scores match up to real scores given out to real students. If your daughter took the test out of another practice book (i.e. PR, Kaplan), I can understand why her scores would be lower.</p>

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<p>Referring to your last sentence … no. The first three tests of the blue book are good indicators of what she would score taking the actual SAT today; the scoring tables in the book have also not been changed since the actual tests were administered (I have both the original tests and the blue book.)</p>

<p>About 25% of the SAT is elementary math: integers, fractions, primes, number properties, etc. It is easy to imagine that these things have faded for your daughter.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the responses. The math SAT questions seem a lot easier than the math level 2 questions, and she got a 700 on that last year. So I think your answer about her forgetting the elementary topics is probably right. She’s just rusty, and she’ll have to do a lot of practice to get the rust off.</p>