I had the rare pleasure of proctoring a free practice SAT at a local library this weekend. Pre-pandemic would find me or another member of the Chariot Learning team at one venue or another nearly every weekend to oversee the administration of a free SAT or ACT. These days, busy teens find it harder than ever to commit to the same four-hour block during days off of school. Plus, the implementation of Bluebook has made testing at home easier than ever.
That said, putting yourself into a true simulation of test day conditions surrounded by other test takers can elevate the value derived from practice. No wonder I was so happy to see 21 high schooler devote a chunk of their Sunday to make the most of one of those Bluebook exams. We all learned a few things about what not to do on test day!
1. SHOW UP LATE
Most attendees arrived at 15 minutes before testing, which allows ample time for registration, seating, and minor troubleshooting (see below). Some, however, showed up right at or even after start time. I might, if I’m feeling generous, let you get away with that at one of my tests, but failure to arrive on time for an official test usually means you missed your chance.
2. DON’T BRING A FULLY CHARGED AND WORKING DEVICE
One of the most impactful features of the digital SAT is the responsibility placed on test takers to secure the means of testing. Gone are the days when a teen could saunter in with little more than a pencil to sit for the SAT. These days, it’s up to you to make sure your device works on test day, so check it, charge it, and run any necessary updates the night before testing. Then check it again that morning before you head to your test.
3. DON’T LOG INTO BLUEBOOK OR RUN UPDATES IN ADVANCE
A working device is necessary but not sufficient to sit for an official SAT. You also need to have preloaded your admission ticket in Bluebook on your testing device. Obviously, that means you need to have the app installed and logged into your account.
I also recommend writing your password on a separate piece of paper in case you are inexplicably kicked out during the test; waiting for customer service replies on test day will almost certainly result in a failed test.
4. FORGET YOUR FAVORITE CALCULATOR
Some test takers (and many teachers and tutors) know how powerful the embedded Desmos calculator can be. That doesn’t change the attachment many students have for their favorite calculators. Make sure to charge your calculator before charging it, and always make sure you are out of test mode.
5. DON’T DRESS FOR TESTING
The room in which we administered this test is notoriously chilly in winter. Luckily, our local teens tend to be indifferent to cold, which is the only explanation for short sleeves among some of our attendees. Most joined me in layering for the event, which all test takers should do.
None of these tips involve reading, writing, math, or any of the executive function skills that drive success on the SAT. Nonetheless, failure to avoid any one of these testing errors can and likely will undermine your best efforts on test day.
Mike Bergin