SAT & ACT Diagnostic Test Instructions
SAT
Bluebook Digital Testing for Students | College Board
You can take Practice Test 7 through the College Board’s Bluebook app (download link above). All instructions are contained in the Bluebook app.
Once complete, please email me the scores as well the information on which specific questions are right/incorrect (it can be screenshots)
Note: Do not take the PDF version of the SAT. You should be taking the SAT digitally through the Bluebook app.
ACT
Printing out an official test online
For the ACT diagnostic test, you should print out the test rather than doing them on the computer.
ACT Test PDF
Most of the ACT test .pdfs are about 80 pages and are comprised of about 40 pages of test and 40 pages of other material. Only the 40 pages or so of test test pages and the bubble sheet should be printed out. The other 40 pages or so you do not need to print. Below I included a link to the .pdf of a full real ACTs.
Bubble Sheet
You should print out and use the bubble sheet to fill in the answers when you take the test for a more accurate diagnostic score. If you are taking the test in a book (read below), then tear out the bubble sheet so that you don't need to constantly flip back and forth.
Buying a Book with Official Tests
Alternatively, you can purchase the full book for the ACT and take the tests directly in there. They release new versions of these books every couple of years, so these links may become dated.
Self-Administer Tests in a Single Sitting
Please try to take each of these tests in a single block rather than breaking each test up over several days. This will give a more accurate diagnostic score and will help prepare you for the real exam since these tests are partially endurance tests and the more times you practice taking the test in full, the more used to it you will become and the less tiring the test will become for you.
Essay
Don’t take the essay.
The essay is optional for the ACT, and most colleges do not require it. It has low value and takes a lot of time to prepare for, so it is best to invest our time elsewhere.
Grading the test
When the test is completed, please take the time to grade it to save time during our lesson. If you are grading by hand, you should mark which questions correct and incorrect, tally them up and calculate your score. The answer key for the ACT is in the ACT PDF. If you can’t work out how to calculate the score using the table in the PDF file, that is okay. A tally is sufficient, and Zev can convert the score quickly for you.
Graphing Calculator
You are allowed to use a graphing calculator on the math section but not the science section of the ACT (it is not necessary on the science section anyway).
What if I run out of time?
If you run out of time, you should clearly mark which questions you got to and which ones you did not. You can fill in the rest with guesses (perhaps make all answer choices A or F). If you would like to see how you would have done had you reached the end, then after the timed test, you can go back and try to answer the rest. In that case, you should send two different score tallies (the one where you didn’t finish and guessed -and- the one that you gave yourself extra time to answer all of the questions).
ACT Standard Timing
The test takes 4 hours. Here is the timing for the ACT:
1. English 45 min
2. Math 60 min
Break 10 min
3. Reading 35 min
4. Science 35 min
Break 5 min
5. Optional essay 40 min
Total: 3hr 10min with no essay. (3hr 50 min with Essay)
ACT Extended Timing
1. English 70 min
2. Math 90 min
BREAK 15 min
3. Reading 55 min
4. Science 55 min
BREAK 5 min
5. Writing (optional essay) 60 min